Assignment 3: Community Amenities- Urban Agriculture

My group consisted of Kaidy, Yigi, Brett and myself. We focused on community amenities and I specifically focused on urban agriculture. Urban Agriculture is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in, or around a village, town or city. Urban agriculture is often
described as bringing the farm into the city.

There are multiple options when deciding to practise urban agriculture. A community garden is one example of urban agriculture. Community gardens provide access to fresh produce and plants as well as access to satisfying labor, neighborhood improvement, sense of community and connection to the environment.

Setting up a small garden in the front or back yard is another option that can provide you daily with healthy vegetable and herbs.

Another option to urban agriculture is a green roof. Though it is a more elaborate and expensive option, a green roof can provide a healthy bed of soil to grow all sorts of food on. Green roofs also act as an insulator and thus will reduce your energy consumption. Intensive green roofs can be a great place to relax on a lunch break allowing people to escape the busyness of the city for an hour

An example of a community garden in Vancouver

An interesting intensive green roof in NYC

The benefits of urban farming are numerous. Locally grown food have less environmental impacts then food shipped from other parts of the wordl. Urban Agriculture allows us to get a better understanding of our food and gives us a sense of control over its safety and security. Also Urban Agriculture gives us the opportunity to teach today`s youth about food and the earth. There are also health benefits, as urban farms are usually free of the harmful pesticides and fertilizers that most large commercial farms use. Finally, urban agriculture such as a community gardenening provides a space for leisure and socializing. Many believe home grown food tastes better, and those who practice urban farming say it gives them a feeling of personal satisfaction.

An example of a city that recognizes the importance of urban agriculture is Vancouver. In 2006, Vancouver City Councillors issued a challenge to individuals, families, community groups and neighbourhood organizations to establish more food-producing gardens in Vancouver.
Their goal was to have 2010 new garden plots by 2010.

an example of a backyard garden plot