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FIGURE 3. Range of Urban Agriculture Activities in Philadelphia
of people and the planet, and working to restore the soil, improve air and water quality, mitigate heat and flood risk, and reduce waste. And it means doing all of these things right here, in all neighborhoods across Philadelphia.
This broad and community-informed definition of urban agriculture was shaped by over 180 statements submitted by participants in Growing from the Root’s first public meeting, representing Philadelphia’s diverse urban agriculture population. Participants’ submissions emphasize the importance of food access, land access, and the benefits that stem from coming together to learn and share as culturally diverse communities. They speak to human relationships to the natural world around us, to history, culture, livelihood, and selfdetermination—the freedom and ability to take action with purpose.
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IN THE WORDS OF GROWERS FROM ACROSS THE CITY, URBAN AGRICULTURE IS:
“green space that is permanent, protected, and public for growing and gathering/building community. a space to produce food for neighbors, and a place to learn together. A place where nature is valued and respected.” “the cultural, economic, historical, educational, intergenerational practice of growing food, preserving food, cooking food, and sharing food in a city.”
“[a tradition that] promotes community building and healing, and pushes us to think about ouR position as environmental stewards, and lastly our social responsibility to one another.”
“[a process that] gives agency to individuals over their lives, health, and well-being. it helps people understand what it takes to grow food and puts a higher value on the food they purchase. it roots us in our past and the lived experience that many of us have had and want to keep up with in urban environments.”
- Quotes from the first public meeting
