Regional and Urban Design Committee

Urban Farming - A passing Fashion or a viable Solution?

  • 1.  Urban Farming - A passing Fashion or a viable Solution?

    Posted 02-13-2015 04:53 PM
    This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Committee on the Environment and Regional and Urban Design Committee .
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    Klaus Philipsen FAIA
    Archplan Inc. Philipsen Architects
    Baltimore MD
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    Friday, February 13, 2015

    Urban Farming - A passing Fashion or a viable Solution?

    Many legacy cities are saddled with high rates of vacant buildings or land, crime, a falling tax base, food deserts, huge health disparities, and high unemployment.
    A solution that promises job creation, healthy, locally-produced food and the recycling of lands lying fallow in the core of cities all at once, therefore, would have obvious appeal.
    Urban farming makes that promise. Although it started on tiny lots with a few volunteers dabbling in homegrown tomatoes and basil, it has grown into a full blown urban strategy coddled by administrations in cities here and in many other countries. Sustainability offices and, at times even economic development agencies actively promote urban agriculture and everything that goes with it. Can it deliver?
     
    A real glass green house at Great Kids Farm, a Baltimore
    City Farm operated by the Baltimore School system. 
    The commitment of city government was clearly on display when Holly Freishtat, Baltimore City Food Policy Director addressed a busload of conference participants from all over the country. The story she had to tell is a good one, it is so good, in fact, that even Associated Press, the US Conference of Mayors and others took notice of Baltimore as city on the forefront, a city that "get it" when it comes to

    Friday, February 13, 2015

    Urban Farming - A passing Fashion or a viable Solution?

    Many legacy cities are saddled with high rates of vacant buildings or land, crime, a falling tax base, food deserts, huge health disparities, and high unemployment.
    A solution that promises job creation, healthy, locally-produced food and the recycling of lands lying fallow in the core of cities all at once, therefore, would have obvious appeal.
    Urban farming makes that promise. Although it started on tiny lots with a few volunteers dabbling in homegrown tomatoes and basil, it has grown into a full blown urban strategy coddled by administrations in cities here and in many other countries. Sustainability offices and, at times even economic development agencies actively promote urban agriculture and everything that goes with it. Can it deliver?
     
    A real glass green house at Great Kids Farm, a Baltimore
    City Farm operated by the Baltimore School system. 
    The commitment of city government was clearly on display when Holly Freishtat, Baltimore City Food Policy Director addressed a busload of conference participants from all over the country. The story she had to tell is a good one, it is so good, in fact, that even Associated Press, the US Conference of Mayors and others took notice of Baltimore as city on the forefront, a city that "get it" when it comes to

    Friday, February 13, 2015

    Urban Farming - A passing Fashion or a viable Solution?

    Many legacy cities are saddled with high rates of vacant buildings or land, crime, a falling tax base, food deserts, huge health disparities, and high unemployment.
    A solution that promises job creation, healthy, locally-produced food and the recycling of lands lying fallow in the core of cities all at once, therefore, would have obvious appeal.
    Urban farming makes that promise. Although it started on tiny lots with a few volunteers dabbling in homegrown tomatoes and basil, it has grown into a full blown urban strategy coddled by administrations in cities here and in many other countries. Sustainability offices and, at times even economic development agencies actively promote urban agriculture and everything that goes with it. Can it deliver?
     
    A real glass green house at Great Kids Farm, a Baltimore
    City Farm operated by the Baltimore School system. 
    The commitment of city government was clearly on display when Holly Freishtat, Baltimore City Food Policy Director addressed a busload of conference participants from all over the country. The story she had to tell is a good one, it is so good, in fact, that even Associated Press, the US Conference of Mayors and others took notice of Baltimore as city on the forefront, a city that "get it" when it comes to food, health, 

    Friday, February 13, 2015

    Urban Farming - A passing Fashion or a viable Solution?

    Many legacy cities are saddled with high rates of vacant buildings or land, crime, a falling tax base, food deserts, huge health disparities, and high unemployment.
    A solution that promises job creation, healthy, locally-produced food and the recycling of lands lying fallow in the core of cities all at once, therefore, would have obvious appeal.
    Urban farming makes that promise. Although it started on tiny lots with a few volunteers dabbling in homegrown tomatoes and basil, it has grown into a full blown urban strategy coddled by administrations in cities here and in many other countries. Sustainability offices and, at times even economic development agencies actively promote urban agriculture and everything that goes with it. Can it deliver?
     
    A real glass green house at Great Kids Farm, a Baltimore
    City Farm operated by the Baltimore School system. 
    The commitment of city government was clearly on display when Holly Freishtat, Baltimore City Food Policy Director addressed a busload of conference participants from all over the country. The story she had to tell is a good one, it is so good, in fact, that even Associated Press, the US Conference of Mayors and others took notice of Baltimore as city on the forefront, a city that "get it" when it comes to

    Friday, February 13, 2015

    Urban Farming - A passing Fashion or a viable Solution?

    Many legacy cities are saddled with high rates of vacant buildings or land, crime, a falling tax base, food deserts, huge health disparities, and high unemployment.
    A solution that promises job creation, healthy, locally-produced food and the recycling of lands lying fallow in the core of cities all at once, therefore, would have obvious appeal.
    Urban farming makes that promise. Although it started on tiny lots with a few volunteers dabbling in homegrown tomatoes and basil, it has grown into a full blown urban strategy coddled by administrations in cities here and in many other countries. Sustainability offices and, at times even economic development agencies actively promote urban agriculture and everything that goes with it. Can it deliver?
     
    A real glass green house at Great Kids Farm, a Baltimore
    City Farm operated by the Baltimore School system. 
    The commitment of city government was clearly on display when Holly Freishtat, Baltimore City Food Policy Director addressed a busload of conference participants from all over the country. The story she had to tell is a good one, it is so good, in fact, that even Associated Press, the US Conference of Mayors and others took notice of Baltimore as city on the forefront, a city that "get it" when it comes to

    Friday, February 13, 2015

    Urban Farming - A passing Fashion or a viable Solution?

    Many legacy cities are saddled with high rates of vacant buildings or land, crime, a falling tax base, food deserts, huge health disparities, and high unemployment.
    A solution that promises job creation, healthy, locally-produced food and the recycling of lands lying fallow in the core of cities all at once, therefore, would have obvious appeal.
    Urban farming makes that promise. Although it started on tiny lots with a few volunteers dabbling in homegrown tomatoes and basil, it has grown into a full blown urban strategy coddled by administrations in cities here and in many other countries. Sustainability offices and, at times even economic development agencies actively promote urban agriculture and everything that goes with it. Can it deliver?
     
    A real glass green house at Great Kids Farm, a Baltimore
    City Farm operated by the Baltimore School system. 
    The commitment of city government was clearly on display when Holly Freishtat, Baltimore City Food Policy Director addressed a busload of conference participants from all over the country. The story she had to tell is a good one, it is so good, in fact, that even Associated Press, the US Conference of Mayors and others took notice of Baltimore as city on the forefront, a city that "get it" when it comes to