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?
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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,