Alexander Ball is the owner/farm manager of Old City Acres. He started the farm in 2013 with the simple goal of growing high quality food for those in his local community. Although his life revolves around food, in his free time he enjoys movies, hiking, and spending time with friends.
Ron is a sociocultural anthropologist. He and his wife live in Ypsilanti, and both teach at Eastern Michigan University. His current research interest is in local alternative food networks and the production and marketing relationships through which small farmers make themselves viable. As part of his research, he's worked on the farm since 2018, including working the farm's stand at the Depot Town Farmers' Market
Old City Acres was started in a backyard with a shovel and the sole purpose of increasing access to fresh local foods for folks in SE Michigan, and over the last decade has evolved into a year round & vertically integrated local food delivery business. By combining online ordering, convenient pickup locations, and year round ecological farming methods, the farm has built a community-centric flexible CSA model that continues to drive yearly growth through shared mutual investment and collaborative ownership. A dream of strengthening the local food economy and increasing fresh food access has driven the farm over the last 10 year as it continues to feed the communities of Ypsilanti, Belleville, Romulus, and Ann Arbor Year Round.