New Stories From 'Urban Agriculture Notes'
Random header image... Refresh for more!

Urban Farmers facing challenges this summer in Buffalo

Urban farms and rural farms are struggling to produce crops due to the moderate to severe drought many communities are currently battling.

By Liz Lewin
(WGRZ)
July 25, 2022

Excerpt:

5 Loaves Farm on Buffalo’s West Side has been providing for the community for a decade. What was once a small community garden, has grown into a large urban farm producing 80 different crops – including fruit trees and berry bushes.

Matt Kauffman is the founder and farm director of 5 Loaves and says this Summer season has been particularly challenging, for some crops over others.

“Because of the dry weather we are running a little bit low on Lettuce this week,” Kauffman says. “Germinating them and keeping them from suffering from drought and heat stress has been one of our biggest struggles.”

Urban farms also have water challenges, especially as it relates to accessibility given the nature of their locations.

“We water with sprinklers and overhead,” Kauffman explains. “It’s a little bit less efficient in getting the water precisely to the plants that need it but efficient in utilizing the infrastructure and getting the most water over the most space.”

Read the complete article here.