DOCSLIB.ORG

Urban and Peri-Urban Horticulture Development in Practice: FAO's

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Urban and Peri-Urban Horticulture Development in Practice: FAO's Urban and peri-urban horticulture development in practice: FAO’s approach Urban and peri-urban horticulture (UPH) helps to grow greener cities by contributing to food security, employment, waste management and community well-being. FAO’s Programme for Urban and Peri-urban Horticulture has adopted a five-point approach to the sustainable development of the sector Ensure political and institutional demarcate peri-urban zones for horticulture commitment. Although UPH is a reality or combine UPH with compatible uses, such 1in most developing cities, it often goes as green belts. In urban areas, it supports unrecognized in agricultural policies programmes for household and community and urban planning. The essential first step gardens. FAO projects promote rooftop towards sustainable management of urban collection systems to harvest rainwater, and and peri-urban horticulture is the official drip irrigation to reduce water consumption. recognition of its positive role in urban development, particularly in the nutrition Ensure product quality while protecting the and livelihoods of the urban poor. FAO has environment. FAO uses Farmer Field been instrumental in raising awareness of 3Schools to promote intensification and UPH among policy makers in Africa and diversification of horticultural Latin America and the Caribbean. It assists production. Field schools introduce small- governments in framing measures to scale growers to Integrated Production and promote UPH development as part of Protection Management (which reduces the national food security strategies, and advises use of toxic chemicals to control pests and city authorities on integrating horticulture diseases), and to improved cultivars and into urban master development plans. cropping practices adapted to local conditions. By fostering good agricultural Secure land and water for horticulture. practices, field schools help to build Political and institutional support sustainable production systems that are 2facilitates the legal measures needed to environmentally friendly and ensure the secure land for UPH, especially market safety and quality of produce. FAO projects gardening. Often, the process begins by encourage the use of organic compost in registering informal groups of growers as urban environments and train vegetable associations. Once the land and its users growers in the safe recycling of wastewater have been identified, city authorities process for irrigation. their requests for temporary permits or long- term leases. FAO encourages planners to Ensure participation by all stakeholders in the Secure new markets for fruit and vegetables. UPH sector. The primary beneficiaries of In developing countries, fruit and 4 FAO interventions in support of 5vegetable intake is far below commercial UPH development are recommended levels. To promote low-income, small-scale vegetable growers, consumption, FAO supports crop who have very limited access to the services diversification, improvements in storage and and inputs needed to increase the quantity processing, public information campaigns, and quality of production. Low output and labelling of produce, and the creation of low incomes perpetuate their poverty. FAO neighbourhood collection points and fosters the professionalization of small-scale markets. It encourages growers’ associations growers by securing access to training, tools to explore new channels to consumers, such and inputs – especially quality seed and as farmers’ markets and supply contracts planting materials – and to micro-credit. Its with restaurants and supermarkets. Niche projects encourage growers to form markets for herbs, spices and organic producer associations (which help them to produce are another profitable alternative. reduce their costs along the value chain) and FAO supports school garden programmes, facilitate linkages with extension, research, which provide children with gardening city administrators, private supply services experience and lay the foundations for daily and development NGOs. fruit and vegetable consumption at school and at home. FAO projects help governments and city administrations to optimize policies, institutional frameworks and support services for UPH, to improve production and marketing systems, and to enhance the horticulture value chain Plurinational State of Bolivia Democratic Republic Nicaragua In El Alto municipality, FAO of the Congo This project will provide drip trained some 1 500 low-income FAO is supporting horticulture irrigation systems and training households in organic development in five cities. The in intensive vegetable cultivation of fruit, vegetables project has introduced production to some 9 500 low- and herbs in small greenhouses. improved vegetable varieties, income beneficiaries. To ensure The gardens provide fresh installed or upgraded 40 sustainability, beneficiaries will produce all year round for irrigation structures, and be trained to operate and home consumption and sale. trained more than 10 000 maintain UPH infrastructure. Funding: Belgium growers in good agricultural Funding: Spain practices. Burundi Funding: Belgium Rwanda This project is helping to FAO advised the Kigali city establish a UPH programme in Guatemala administration on measures the capital, Bujumbura. It will Launched in 2010, this project aimed at integrating form a UPH consultative seeks to enhance the food horticulture into its long-term committee, chaired by the security and incomes of 11 500 urban development plan. The mayor, and improve access to residents of Guatemala City project also assisted in credit, inputs and training for and surrounding areas by establishing 40 micro-gardens 7 500 to 10 000 residents who improving the availability of and introducing rainwater practise horticulture. good quality water for harvesting systems. Funding: Belgium vegetable production. Funding: Italy, City of Rome Funding: Spain Senegal Contact Colombia Namibia In collaboration with the Programme for Urban and Peri-urban Assistance from FAO and other Target beneficiaries were Ministry of Agriculture, FAO Horticulture organizations has helped to unemployed slum dwellers in helped to introduce micro- Plant Production and Protection introduce various types of the cities of Windhoek and gardens in low-income areas of Division (AGP) urban gardening – including Rundu. The project helped to Dakar. In 2008, the programme Food and Agriculture Organization backyard plots and micro- establish community won UN-HABITAT’s Dubai of the United Nations gardens on terraces and demonstration plots and train Award for Best Practices to Viale delle Terme di Caracalla rooftops – to 50 000 residents groups of young vegetable Improve the Living 00153 Rome, Italy of Bogota, Medellin and growers in micro-garden and Environment. Cartagena. micro-irrigation technologies. Funding: Italy, City of Milan, [email protected] Funding: Colombia, Italy Funding: Belgium Spain www.fao.org/ag/agp/greenercities/.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Sustaining America's Urban Trees and Forests
    United States Department of SSustainingustaining AAmerica’smerica’s Agriculture Forest Service UUrbanrban TTreesrees andand ForestsForests Northern Research Station State and Private Forestry General Technical DDavidavid J.J. NNowak,owak, SusanSusan M.M. Stein,Stein, PaulaPaula B.B. Randler,Randler, EricEric J.J. GreenGreenfi eeld,ld, Report NRS-62 SSaraara JJ.. CComas,omas, MMaryary AA.. CCarr,arr, aandnd RRalphalph J.J. AligAlig June 2010 A Forests on the Edge Report ABSTRACT Nowak, David J.; Stein, Susan M.; Randler, Paula B.; Greenfi eld, Eric J.; Comas, Sara J.; Carr, Mary A.; Alig, Ralph J. 2010. Sustaining America’s urban trees and forests: a Forests on the Edge report. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-62. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 27 p. Close to 80 percent of the U.S. population lives in urban areas and depends on the essential ecological, economic, and social benefi ts provided by urban trees and forests. However, the distribution of urban tree cover and the benefi ts of urban forests vary across the United States, as do the challenges of sustaining this important resource. As urban areas expand across the country, the importance of the benefi ts that urban forests provide, as well as the challenges to their conservation and maintenance, will increase. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the current status and benefi ts of America’s urban forests, compare differences in urban forest canopy cover among regions, and discuss challenges facing urban forests and their implications for urban forest management. Key Words: Urban forest, urbanization, land Lisa DeJong The Plain Dealer, Photo: AP management, ecosystem services Urban forests offer aesthetic values and critical services.
    [Show full text]
  • Urban Horticulture Prospective to Secure Food Provisions in Urban and Peri-Urban Environments
    Suman and Bhatnagar Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 7 (3): 133-140 (2019) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 Available online at www.ijpab.com DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.7469 ISSN: 2320 – 7051 Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 7 (3): 133-140 (2019) Review Article Urban Horticulture Prospective to Secure Food Provisions in Urban and Peri-Urban Environments Mahaveer Suman1* and Prerak Bhatnagar2 Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalrapatan Campus, Jhalawar, Agriculture University, Kota, Rajasthan *Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected] Received: 12.04.2019 | Revised: 18.05.2019 | Accepted: 22.05.2019 ABSTRACT According to the latest estimate of the United Nations, the World's urban population is expected to increase at burgeoning explosion from 2.76 billion in 1995 to 5.34 billion in the year 2025 at which time more than half (2.72 billion) will reside in Asian cities. Insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables is the probable reason for micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition in developing countries. With urbanization, globalization and a growing world population, it becomes imperative and of utmost importance to secure sufficient food supply for the world’s population. Many cities are expected to boom in the near future or are already entrenched with nearly insurmountable problems such as employment for often fairly uneducated migrants from rural areas, proper disposal of an abundance of refuse from households, commerce and industry by making available safe and sufficient supply of cheap but nutritious food rich in vitamins and minerals to feed ever increasing the population of these expanding urban centers.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustainable Urban Agriculture in Developing Countries. a Review Hubert De Bon, Laurent Parrot, Paule Moustier
    Sustainable urban agriculture in developing countries. A review Hubert de Bon, Laurent Parrot, Paule Moustier To cite this version: Hubert de Bon, Laurent Parrot, Paule Moustier. Sustainable urban agriculture in developing countries. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Springer Verlag/EDP Sciences/INRA, 2010, 30 (1), 10.1051/agro:2008062. hal-00886446 HAL Id: hal-00886446 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00886446 Submitted on 1 Jan 2010 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 30 (2010) 21–32 Available online at: c INRA, EDP Sciences, 2009 www.agronomy-journal.org DOI: 10.1051/agro:2008062 for Sustainable Development Review article Sustainable urban agriculture in developing countries. A review Hubert De Bon1*,LaurentParrot1,PauleMoustier2 1 Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), UR HortSys, TA B-103/PS4, boulevard de la Lironde, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France 2 Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), UMR MOISA, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France (Accepted 31 October 2008) Abstract – The population living in cities is continuously increasing worldwide. In developing countries, this phenomenon is exacerbated by poverty, leading to tremendous problems of employment, immigration from the rural areas, transportation, food supply and environment protection.
    [Show full text]
  • The Possibility of Sustainable Urban Horticulture Based on Nature Therapy
    sustainability Opinion The Possibility of Sustainable Urban Horticulture Based on Nature Therapy 1, 1,2, 1, 1 Na Lu y, Chorong Song y , Takanori Kuronuma y, Harumi Ikei , Yoshifumi Miyazaki 1,* and Michiko Takagaki 1,* 1 Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba 277-0882, Japan; [email protected] (N.L.); [email protected] (C.S.); [email protected] (T.K.); [email protected] (H.I.) 2 Department of Forest Resources, Kongju National University, Yesan 32439, Korea * Correspondence: [email protected] (Y.M.); [email protected] (M.T.) These authors contribute equally to this work. y Received: 16 April 2020; Accepted: 17 June 2020; Published: 21 June 2020 Abstract: Population growth and increased stress caused by urbanization have led to social problems that are predicted to intensify in the future. In these conditions, the recently established ”nature therapy” has revealed that an environment rich in various plant life significantly contributes to the relief of physical and mental stress. Meanwhile, from the perspective of reduction in the energy required for transportation and the retention of plant freshness, urban horticulture, in which plant life exists harmoniously with the city, has attracted considerable attention. Interactions between humans and plants in urban horticulture are considered to contribute to the good health and wellbeing of people. Therefore, we incorporate human-centered thinking based on nature therapy into horticultural produce-centered thinking based on conventional urban horticulture. By introducing a pioneering urban horticulture plant factory as an example, we propose the possibility of sustainable urban horticulture based on nature therapy.
    [Show full text]
  • Urban Agriculture: Growing Healthy, Sustainable Places
    Urban Agriculture: Growing Healthy, Sustainable Places Kimberley Hodgson, Marcia Caton Campbell, and Martin Bailkey American Planning Association Planning Advisory Service Report Number 563 Urban Agriculture: Growing Healthy, Sustainable Places is the result of a collaborative partnership between the American Planning Association (APA) and MetroAg: Alliance for Urban Agriculture. Funding for this project was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization. This report was developed under the auspices of the Planning and Community Health Re- search Center, one of APA’s National Centers for Planning. The Center engages in research, policy, outreach, and education to advance healthy communities through planning. For more information, visit www.planning.org/nationalcenters/health. APA’s National Centers for Planning conduct policy-relevant research and education involving community health, natu- ral and man-made hazards, and green communities. For more detail, visit www.planning .org/nationalcenters. Kimberley Hodgson, aicp, is a registered dietitian and the manager of APA’s Planning and Community Health Research Center. She served as the project manager and primary author. Marcia Caton Campbell is a coauthor and the Milwaukee director for the Center for Resilient Cities and a MetroAg associate. Martin Bailkey is a coauthor and the evaluation and outreach coordinator for Growing Power, as well as a MetroAg associate. The lead author of the history section of Chapter 2 was Domenic Vitiello, assistant profes- sor of city planning and urban studies at the University of Pennsylvania, with contributions from David Morley, aicp, research associate and PAS coordinator at APA. The lead author of the economic development section of Chapter 4 was Ken Meter, president of the Cross- roads Resource Center.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing the Direct Resource Requirements of Urban Horticulture in the United Kingdom : a Citizen Science Approach
    This is a repository copy of Assessing the direct resource requirements of urban horticulture in the United Kingdom : a citizen science approach. White Rose Research Online URL for this paper: http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/172095/ Version: Published Version Article: Dobson, M.C. orcid.org/0000-0001-7446-2206, Warren, P.H. and Edmondson, J.L. (2021) Assessing the direct resource requirements of urban horticulture in the United Kingdom : a citizen science approach. Sustainability, 13 (5). 2628. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052628 Reuse This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence. This licence allows you to distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon the work, even commercially, as long as you credit the authors for the original work. More information and the full terms of the licence here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Takedown If you consider content in White Rose Research Online to be in breach of UK law, please notify us by emailing [email protected] including the URL of the record and the reason for the withdrawal request. [email protected] https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ sustainability Article Assessing the Direct Resource Requirements of Urban Horticulture in the United Kingdom: A Citizen Science Approach Miriam C. Dobson * , Philip H. Warren and Jill L. Edmondson Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK; p.warren@sheffield.ac.uk (P.H.W.); j.edmondson@sheffield.ac.uk (J.L.E.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Interest in urban food production is growing; recent research has highlighted its potential to increase food security and reduce the environmental impact of food production.
    [Show full text]
  • Curriculum Vitae
    SUSAN BELL Extension Educator, Horticulture Susan is a leader in consumer and commercial horticultural education in the University of Idaho’s Southern Extension District. She provides practical educational programming for Ada County (Boise) and surrounding counties. Susan collaborates with Extension faculty in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon, along with state and county agencies, city departments, and private businesses and civic groups to deliver workshops, seminars, symposiums, and garden schools. She directs the Master Gardener, Advanced Master Gardener, Continuing Master Gardener and Master Composter Volunteer Training Programs, and trains and supervises 100 volunteers annually. College of Agricultural and Life Sciences UI Extension, Ada County Education M.A., Interdisciplinary Studies, Oregon State University, 1985 M.S., Horticulture, Southern Illinois University, 1978 Courses Taught PlSc 212: Master Gardener Education PlSc 404/504: Advanced Master Gardener Education PlSc 472: Master Gardening Principles Research/Extension Interests Volunteer development Urban horticulture Sustainable garden & landscape practices Home vegetable & fruit production Soil improvement & composting Xeriscaping (water efficient landscaping) Publications Susan has authored or co-authored over 30 handbook chapters, manuals, journal articles, and Extension publications. The following are some examples. Guggenheim, R. and S. Bell. 2017. Plant Disease Diagnosing and Management. Chapter 13, Idaho Master Gardener Handbook. Young, M. and S. Bell. 2016. Plant Management: Choosing, Planting and Maintaining Plants. Chapter 7, Idaho Master Gardener Handbook. Bell, S.M. and L.D. McKay. 2015. Turfgrass Establishment and Managements. Chapter 15, Idaho Master Gardener Handbook. Jensen, J., S. Bell, W. Bohl, and S. Love. 2012. Basic Botany. Chapter 3, Idaho Master Gardener Handbook. Love, S., K. Noble, S. Parkinson, and S.
    [Show full text]
  • HAITI Dawn of Hope Pacific Islands. HAITI Dawn of Hope Pacific Islands
    CThe urierN. 4 N.E. - JANUARY FEBRUARY 2008 The magazine of Africa - Caribbean - Pacific & European Union cooperation and relations REPORT HAITI Dawn of Hope DOSSIER Pacific Islands. ClimateClimate changeschanges inin fullfull viewview AfricaAfrica toto getget moremore fromfrom itsits diamondsdiamonds Not for sale ISSN 1784-6803 CThe urier The N. 4 N.E. - JANUARY FEBRUARY 2008 The magazine of Africa - Caribbean - Pacific & European Union cooperation and relations C urier Editorial Committee Co-presidents Sir John Kaputin, Secretary General The magazine of Africa - Caribbean - Pacific & European Union Development cooperation Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States www.acp.int Mr Stefano Manservisi, Director General of DG Development European Commission ec.europa.eu/development/ Editorial staff Table of contents Director and Editor-in-chief THE COURIER, N. 4 NEW EDITION (N.E.) Hegel Goutier Contributors François Misser (Deputy Editor-in-chief), Debra Percival EDITORIAL REPORT Editorial Assistant and Production Haiti Of natural or political disasters… Joshua Massarenti 34 and other consequences of forgetfulness 3 Building on stability Contributed in this issue “We’ve got to know Ruth Colette Afabe Belinga, Marie-Martine Buckens, Jean-François Herbecq, Pierre Gotson, TO THE POINT Sebastien Falletti, Sandra Federici, Andrea Marchesini Reggiani, Mirko Popovitch who owns the land in this country” 37 Always talk to one another. Public Relations and Artistic coordination Interview with Giovanni Bersani 4 Haitian-Dominican relations and the media 40 Public Relations Andrea Marchesini Reggiani ROUND UP 6 “We need irrigation, reforestation and inputs” 41 (Public Relations Manager and Responsible for NGOs’ and experts’ network) Joan Ruiz Valero Credit sought for business 44 (Responsible for Networking with EU and National Institutions) DOSSIER Pacific Islands.
    [Show full text]
  • Urban Agriculture As a Tool for City and Landscape Planning in Iran
    Urban Agriculture as a Tool for City and Landscape Planning in Iran with Emphasize On the Role of Persian Garden vom Fachbereich Architektur/Raum- und Umweltplanung/Bauingenieurwesen der Universität Kaiserslautern zur Verleihung des akademischen Grades Doktor-Ingenieur (Dr.-Ing.) genehmigte Dissertation von Dipl.-Ing. Seyyed Mohammad Reza Khalilnezhad Kaiserslautern, im November 2016 Tag der wissenschaftlichen Aussprache: 12.12.2016 D386 Betreuung: Herr Prof. Dr. agr. Kai Tobias, Lehr- und Fachgebiet Landschafts- & Freiraumentwicklung Herr Prof. Dr. agr. Ali Tehrani Far, Lehr- und Fachgebiet Landschafts- & Gartenbauwissenschaften Ferdowsi Universität Mashhad, Islamische Republik Iran In the Name of God The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate Urban Agriculture as a Tool for City and Landscape Planning in Iran with Emphasize On the Role of Persian Garden Seyyed Mohammad Reza Khalilnezhad 2016 Technische Universität Kaiserslautern I Urban Agriculture as a Tool for City and Landscape Planning in Iran with Emphasize On the Role of Persian Garden A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Engineering Seyyed Mohammad Reza Khalilnezhad Department of Landscape and Open Spaces Development Faculty of Urban and Environmental Planning Technical University of Kaiserslautern Kaiserslautern, Germany 2016 II Abstract This Ph.D. project as a landscape research practice focuses on the less widely studied aspects of urban agriculture landscape and its application in recreation and leisure, as well as landscape beautification. I research on the edible landscape planning and design, its criteria, possibilities, and traditional roots for the particular situation of Iranian cities and landscapes. The primary objective is preparing a conceptual and practical framework for Iranian professions to integrate the food landscaping into the new greenery and open spaces developments.
    [Show full text]
  • How Can the Design of Landscapes in Wildfire Prone Regions of Northern
    HOW CAN THE DESIGN OF LANDSCAPES IN WILDFIRE PRONE REGIONS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PROTECT PROPERTY AND INFLUENCE FLOW PATHS? Firescaping in a hostile environment By: Zachary Schwartz Image 1: Ladder fuels act to spread the flames upward. Image source: http://www.napafirewise.org/defensable-space- live/06_defensiblespace.html Firescaping in a hostile Environment A Design Capstone submitted to The Department of Urban Horticulture and Design Of the State University of New York, Farmingdale State College By Zachary Schwartz in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor’s Landscape Development May 2019 Long Island, New York __________________________________ Professor Stevie Famulari I, Zachary Ian Schwartz grant permission for the State University of New York, Farmingdale State College, and the Department of Urban Horticulture and Design to reproduce any portion of this capstone for any purpose they deem proper. Signature__________________________________________ Date 03/05/2019 _ Zachary Schwartz Table of Contents Abstract Page 1 Keywords Page 2 Chapter 1 Statement of Intent Problem Statement Page 3 Project Typology Page 4 The Claim Page 5 Theoretical Premise/Unifying Idea Page 7-8 Project Justification Page 9-10 Chapter 2 The Proposal Narrative of Design Research Page 11 User/Client Description Page 12 Site Information Site Analysis, Quantitative Page 13-18 Site Analysis, Qualitative Page 13-18 Site Summary Page 19 Chapter 3 Case Studies Page 20-24 Case Study Summary Page 20-24 Itstorical Context Page 27 Major Project Elements Page 25 Capstone Goals Page 29 Closing Student’s Previous Experience/ Identification Page Page 30 Reference List Page 31 Appendix Design Elements(including): Project Solution Documentation page..
    [Show full text]
  • An Introduction to Urban Farming, from Types and Benefits to Strategies and Regulations
    WORK BOOK URBAN FARMING An introduction to urban farming, from types and benefits to strategies and regulations. the elemental group advancing the health and livability of our communities INTRODUCTION For nearly sixty years, the poet, environmentalist and farmer Wendell Berry has been championing agriculture that is local, culturally and contextually relevant, and that fosters a deep connection between people, community, food and the land. Berry famously declared that “eating is an agricultural act,” implying that whether we realize it or not, we all actively participate in agriculture.1 Given the great disconnect that arose between farming and most people with the industrialization of agriculture in the 1950s and 1960s, it is probably safe to say that many of us did not realize we were participants in agriculture. However, with the recent resurgence of farming in and Urban Farming, the third publication in the WorkBook Series, around cities, people have been reconnecting to agriculture introduces readers to the many aspects of urban farming, by growing food themselves, visiting farmer’s markets, from types and benefits to strategies and regulations. As participating in community supported agriculture programs the popularity of farming in cities has grown, there has or any number of other urban farming activities. Throughout been a proliferation of publications covering every aspect the country, urban farming is establishing itself as an integral of urban agriculture.* To help readers navigate this wealth part of local and regional food systems. In the Phoenix of information, this workbook provides a synthesis of metropolitan area, urban farming has taken root, increasing key topics and includes an extensive resource guide for access to healthy food and providing social and economic further reading.
    [Show full text]
  • Urban Gardens and Farms: Community Benefits and Environmental Risks
    Urban Horticulture in the Contemporary United States: Personal and Community Benefits∗ H. Patricia Hynes and Genevieve Howe Department of Environmental Health Boston University School of Public Health 715 Albany Street, #T2E, Boston, MA 02118 Prepared for Keynote Address to the International Society of Horticultural Science Conference, September 2-6, 2002 in Zurich, Switzerland. Published in Acta Horticulturae 643, ISHS 2004:171-181 Keywords: Agriculture, Gardening, Farmers’ Markets, Food Security, Greenspace. Abstract The early history of urban gardens in the United States is one of food production in response to war, economic depression, and short-lived civic reform movements. During the past thirty years, a broad-based community garden movement has spawned a wide variety of social, economic, health, and educational benefits in more than 250 cities and towns across the country. A companion food security movement has promoted urban-rural linkages, urban agriculture, and farmers’ markets. Studies have shown that community gardens and nearby green space in cities are an important response to needs for nutritious and affordable food, psychological and physiological health, social cohesion, crime prevention, recreation, and life satisfaction, particularly in low-income communities. INTRODUCTION Horticulture, the science and art of growing plants for consumption and happiness, for the health of communities, and for the integration of nature into human civilization (Relf, 1992), has always been practiced in cities. In our ancestors’ transition from nomadic to settled existence, their market gardens and farms gave birth to trading centers and cities; and cities became the incubators of insight, experiment, technique and exchange of ideas that advanced urban horticulture and that were disseminated to farmers in the hinterlands (Jacobs, 1969).
    [Show full text]