Urban agriculture can provide green spaces, fresh food, and healthy activities, but urban gardeners and foragers face many obstacles.
“The concept of food production in urban areas has gained visibility in recent years in tandem with discussions of food insecurity, climate resilience, and equitable access to green space, but the challenge of understanding and representing such a diverse range of stakeholders persists.” In a piece for The Architect’s Newspaper, Melody Stein describes the steps New York City gardeners want the city to take to support their efforts.
New York’s newly established Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture (MOUA) is tasked with developing a strategic plan for supporting urban agriculture, and local gardeners have some suggestions that include tax rebates for buildings with agriculture projects that would be passed on to farmers and encouraging food production on green roofs, already mandated in some cases by the city’s sustainability initiatives.
The city can also take steps to eliminate current roadblocks to urban agriculture. “Growing or foraging edible foods in NYC Parks & Recreation–managed public space is currently illegal. The Bronx River Foodway is a pilot program that operates in exception to this rule and has allowed public foraging since 2017 to great success.” Cities can also support gardeners by providing assistance with setting up sustainable irrigation systems.
FULL STORY: A new generation of community gardeners have big goals for cultivating the concrete jungle
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Agrihoods Still Proving Popular
Agrihoods emerged in the 1990s as a master-planned alternative to the golf-centered communities of the past. Many of these developments are going strong, and gaining in popularity.
Home Builders Sow Seeds for Urban Agriculture
In the Stapleton neighborhood of Denver, developer Forest City has recognized the growing interest in urban gardening by partnering with The Urban Farm Company to offer ready-made raised-bed gardens to homebuyers.
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The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
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Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
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