Becoming an Urban Farmer
We are in the mist of a revolution. A food revolution to transform our industrial food system into local food systems that grow healthy, ripe in season food, provide local jobs and build community. There are many ways to participate from shopping at your local farmers market and supporting your local farmer to joining a community garden, growing your own AND becoming an urban farmer.
First of all urban farming is just growing food in cities – where over 50% of the world’s population lives. Already cities like Hong Kong and Havana Cuba grow a significant amount of food within their boundaries. U.S. cities are jumping on board with organizations like Growing Power in Milwaukee and Chicago building significant infrastructure to feed our urban populations.
Then there is you and I…just what can we do? The notion of becoming an urban farmer is actually a quite simple three step process.
Then there is you and I…just what can we do? The notion of becoming an urban farmer is actually a quite simple three step process.
1. Grow food.
2. Share food.
I suspect if you are growing food then you are already sharing it. So the hard work is done.
Step three is the fun part.
3. Name your farm.
A name builds place and community. Names like Fairview Gardens in Santa Barbara, The Farm at South Mountain and The Urban Farm in Phoenix are creating a place for the community to come together and begin the process of reassociating where our food comes from. Contrary to what some people think food does not come from the grocery store.
Names like ‘Wish We Had Acres,’ and ‘Jack’s Bean Stalk’ put a smile on our face and begin to associate us with the awesome urban farmers behind the food. Our bloggers Shannon Boomer calls her farm The Boomery and Melanie Van Kort has named her farm ‘Two Fat Cats Apartment Garden.’ As you might guess she lives in an apartment. YES growing herbs and veggies on your front porch in a pot does count.
Hey I tell people all the time that the most expensive thing to buy and the easiest plant to grow are herbs and you can do them in a pot. Jump in, take a class, experiment, that is the only way to learn how to grow food.
