Urban Agriculture to Build Stronger Communities Ally Schonfeld

What is Urban Agriculture? Production of fruits and vegetables, raising of animals, and cultivation of fish for local sale and consumption More holistic definition includes its influence and dependence on a variety of economic, environmental, and social resources Varies broadly by region and country, as well as by field of study (Public Health and City Planning) Past 5 years- definition includes more than just food production in urban areas

The Situation Now Food Security Resources (Economic, Social, Business, Community) PolicyAcceptance Urban Farms Impact Factors Community Development Who?? 

Impact Factors History (area and people) Subsidized Food Drugs Violence (perception of) City Planning/Development Government Health Accessibility Economy Motivation Knowledge of resources

Community Development Community Bonds People coming together Neighbors Opportunities to be involved Community Issues 40/whitelock-community-farm 40/whitelock-community-farm

Resources Weak and Strong Ties Nonprofits, NGOs and locally based change organizations Mentorship Demonstrations Small Business Models Extension Architecture/Building Social Economic Financial Gaps in Research Prerequisites (Hodgson et al) Climate Weather Insects and Pests Land or growing space Secure land tenure Healthy, uncontaminated soil or growing medium Water Labor Capital and operating funds Financial and technical assistance Agricultural skills and knowledge Processing and transportation infrastructure Distribution channels Consumer demand Viable markets

Who? Youth Entrepreneurs New Residents College Educated Artists Social Sciences Retirees

Outcomes Efficacy Exposure to food origins (start to build literacy) Further Community Development Food Security (efficacy and value) Community Power Value within society Vein for Commercial Agriculture

Potential Questions Are Farmers Accessing their Resources and positioning themselves as leaders in their community? Are Resources available to Farmers? Case Study- Is the organization able to tackle the issues in their mission statement? Are there too many barriers in place for anyone to make effective change now or in the long run? What are other cities doing?

Resources United States. Environmental Protection Agency.Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. (2011). Urban agriculture. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Cabannes, Y. (2012). Financing urban agriculture. Environment & Urbanization, 24(2), doi: / Kimberley Hodgson, Marcia Caton Campbell, & Martin Bailkey. (2011). What is urban agriculture? Planning Advisory Service Report, (563), 9.

Questions?