More than a token: Urban agriculture ‘not gonna feed the world,’ but has much to offer close to home
Urban agriculture is considered everything from community gardens and people growing food in their yards, to people with specialized systems in buildings, to urban farms.
By Sarah Donaldson
Farm and Dairy
September 3, 2020
Excerpt:
COLUMBUS — Jodi Kushins, of Over the Fence Urban Farm, knows she doesn’t grow a lot compared to some farms. She feeds about 20 households through her CSA program, with 2,500 square feet in her yard and her neighbor’s yard.
“It’s like a drop in the bucket,” she said. “Seeing a semi truck full of produce and then thinking about the very, very tiny amount of food I’m able to produce in my yard definitely gives me pause.”
Kushin’s farm is one of more than 30 in Columbus, up from about five in 2014. Urban agriculture is driven by desires for food security and fresh foods, vacant land in post-industrial areas and interest in connecting with farmers, said Mike Hogan, of Ohio State University Extension.
“We know we’re not gonna feed the world with urban agriculture,” Hogan said.
But Hogan believes that urban agriculture needs to be part of the city food systems. In Cleveland, about 80% of the vacant land could provide 20% of all the produce needed.
