Urban Agriculture
Terri Roberts
During WWIl, officials from the U.S. War Department encouraged urban dwellers to use any available space to plant victory gardens. As the war continued, the price of fruits and vegetables skyrocketed. Small vegetable and fruit gardens helped reduce the pressure on the public food supply.
By eating the vegetables grown in their gardens, citizens were able to decrease the cost of produce needed to help feed the troops. The city gardens grown on apartment building rooftops and in vacant lots produced forty percent of the vegetables consumed each year. Once the war ended, many people abandoned their gardens and returned to grocery stores to purchase their produce.
Today, a resurgence in urban agriculture is sweeping across the nation. Many modern concerns have contributed to the recent popularity of city farms. One of the most pressing issues is the high cost of oil and gas. The ingredients used to prepare most meals travel an average of forty-five miles each before reaching the local supermarket. In times when gas costs upwards of four dollars per gallon, buying locally helps offset the expense of transportation. This helps reduce the overall cost of produce for everyone. City farms also address growing concern over carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming. Purchasing locally grown foods can help reduce a citv's carbon footprint.
There are many other advantages to urban agriculture, including the comfort that comes from knowing exactly where your food Jame from. City gardens also tackle nutrition by providing citizens with access to fresh, affordable produce. There are economic advantages to building gardens in vacant lots or unused lawns. Many city gardens supply food banks with much needed vegetables and fruit. Others sell the crops for profit, with the money going back into city projects. Guided tours of the garden can also add to students' knowledge of the importance of agriculture and nutrition.
City gardens also help promote community. Many of the non-profit organizations that help establish and manage city gardens enlist neighborhood volunteers to help with weeding, watering, planting, and harvesting. A box of vegetables and the knowledge that they are helping their communities are the only rewards these volunteers seek.
5Urban agriculture has taken hold in many cities across Canada and Europe - the practice is still a novelty in many U.S. cities. Organizers are hoping to change people's ideas about farming by showing people that big things can happen with a little patch of soil and some seeds. Recently, volunteers transformed the lawn in front of San Francisco's city hall from a quarter acre of grass into a lush garden of tomatoes, spinach, and beans.
San Francisco's Food Bank will receive donations from the harvested food
§Though these are all wonderful contributions, many urban farmers are looking at an even bigger picture. Many people believe that the goal of urban agriculture is to create a sustainable food supply for the entire city. While this could take years and a lot of elbow grease, people are quickly realizing the benefits of city farming. Which of these is written in the narrative mode? A) The most important aspect of urban agriculture is the way it fosters community. People who lived down the block from one another had never spoken before we planted the garden. Now, neighbors wave to each other on the street and have a real relationship.
B) Urban agriculture is an undertaking that our city just cannot afford at this time. How can we spend millions of dollars to clear the land and build a garden when we don't have enough money in the budget to get our children the education they deserve? It seems like an expense that will just have to wait.
C) I had never been to a farm before my class took a trip to a city garden.
When we arrived, I spotted chickens walking around. There were even two goats grazing on a patch of grass. The tour guide explained the importance of city farmers while showing us around the tiny garden. She handed me a fresh green bean to try. It tasted really sweet!
D) I think that urban agriculture is a great solution to many of our city's problems. It's difficult for many families to find fresh, affordable produce in the city. With a city garden right down the road, it would be easy for people to get the vegetables and fruits they need. This would also help our citizens begin to adopt healthier lifestyles.