Urban Farming
Urban Farming’s Mission: is to create an abundance of food for people by planting, supporting and encouraging the establishment of gardens on unused land and space while increasing diversity, raising awareness for health and wellness, inspiring and educating youth, adults and seniors to create an economically sustainable system to uplift communities.
urbanfarming.org
75% of the nations food comes from 3% of it’s largest farms
NYT
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): a farm offers a certain number of “shares� to the public. Consumers purchase a share/membership and in return receive seasonal produce and other farm products weekly throughout that farming season.
localharvest.org
Advantages for Consumers: -Fresh food, with flavor and vitamin benefits -Get exposed to new vegetables and new cooking methods -Find that kids typically favor food from “their� farm -Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season -Develop a relationship with the farm and learn how their food is grown
localharvest.org
Advantages for Farmers: -Spends time marketing produce early in the year -Receive payment early in the season -Get to know the consumers who eat the food they produce
localharvest.org
Resources
Community
Involvement
City farms use resources that would have been wasted to produce new resources for the community.
Benefits of Urban Agriculture: Sprouts in the Sidewalk
creates jobs, income, and food
Benefits of Urban Agriculture: Sprouts in the sidewalk
“Creating soil from waste is what I enjoy most... anyone can grow food”. Will Allen of Growing Power
14 greenhouses crammed onto two acres in a working-class neighborhood on Milwaukee’s northwest side, producing a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of food in such a small space.
NYT
Composting = Upcycling Food Scraps
State/Federal Private Grants and Sponsorships are important to many urban farms survival.
Proposition 84 Prop 84 was passed November 7th 2006 in California which focused on Water Quality, Protection of Rivers, Lakes, and Streams, Flood Control, Sustainable Communities and Climate Change Reduction, Production of Beaches, Bays, and Coastal Waters, Parks and Natural Education Facilities, Forest and Wildlife Conservation, Statewide Water Planning. • Authorizes $5,388,000,000 in general obligation bonds to fund projects and expenditures, to be repaid from the state’s General Fund.
www.parks.ca.gov/pages/1008/files/prop_84_text.pdf
Guerrilla Gardening- “the cultivation of someone else’s land without permission.” “a catalyst for community conversation”
To solve the vacant property crisis must not only included innovative urban planning, but also try to restore employment opportunities.
NYT
Hayes Valley Farm “Through classes, workshops, events, and work days, we’re building an urban farm curriculum in concert with the site’s development to empower community members to participate in the transformation of the space.” Day Camps, Classes, Pot Luck Dinners, Film Nights
hayesvalleyfarm.com
Example of the Day Camp Schedule: Monday: Soil - Let’s get dirty! Tuesday: Food - Food Crafting on the Farm Wednesday: Water - Slow it, Spread it, Sink it Thursday: Art - Cultivating Creativity in Community Friday: Garden Detectives - See what’s growing’ around town
Sample Daily Schedule: 8:00 – 8:30am: Welcome Circle, Nature Name Game, Yoga 8:30 – 9:30am: Site Exploration, Urban Farm Education 9:30 – 10:00am: Farm harvested snacks: harvest, cook and enjoy! 10:00 – 11:00am: Expert Hour based on theme (ex. goats from City Grazing visit Hayes Valley Farm!) 11:00a – 12:00pm” Lunchtime & Food Waste Education/ Garden Games 12:00 – 1:00pm: Outdoor Art Activity/ Planting 1:00 – 1:30pm: Farm harvested snacks: harvest, cook and enjoy! 1:30 – 2:00pm: Farm Reflections: closing circle
hayesvalleyfarm.com
Grow NYC “Grow NYC is a hands-on non-profit which improves New York City’s quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities block by block and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations.”
grownyc.org
For 40 years, GrowNYC has been rolling up its sleeves alongside NYC residents to: -Provide access to healthy, fresh, local food for all New Yorkers -Grow and maintain vibrant green spaces and community gardens. -Help New Yorkers recycle more and reduce waste. -Create the next generation of environmental leaders through hands-on education programs.
grownyc.org
Mill Creek Urban Farm “An educational urban farm...(they) believe in food justice: that everyone has a right to affordable, healthy, quality, culturally appropriate food that is accessed in a way that is communitycontrolled, environmentally sustainable, and socially just. “
millcreekurbanfarm.org
Through farm-based learning programs, cultivating and distributing fresh produce, and demonstrating ecological technologies and creative resource use to provide for basic needs. Community Garden for over 15 years... Previously had been vacant for over 30 years.
millcreekurbanfarm.org
Emerald Street Urban Farm “Emerald Street Urban Farm Project is a neighborhood run urban farm/ garden... the community reclaimed 5 vacant lots on the corner of Emerald and Dauphin Streets. The space was originally filled with trash, a broken VW van and overgrown with weeds.�
emeraldstreeturbanfarm.wordpress.com
How they get people involved: -Spring Fling Concert -Volunteering -Classes and Programs -Yoga
emeraldstreeturbanfarm.wordpress.com
40,000 Vacant Properties in Philadelphia
NYT