New Yorker artist Victoria Tentler-Krylov’s on Urban Farms “Peak Season”
The artist discusses onions, parsley, and urban life.
By Françoise Mouly
Art by Victoria Tentler-Krylov
August 7, 2023
Excerpt:
You have mentioned to me your interest in urban farming and its potential role in fighting climate change. Can you say more?
New York City has a lot of innovative urban farms and smaller community gardens, which is fantastic. I’ve been doing research on urban farming for a book, and I’m fascinated by how efficient it is for fighting climate change. The best sustainability projects go after more than one or two goals, but urban farms go beyond that. They reduce the urban heat-island effect, because the plants cool the air; they absorb rainwater and reduce risk of flash floods; and they help improve air quality and traffic congestion, because there’s less need to import produce from elsewhere. And, of course, they also help fight against food insecurity and provide educational opportunities for kids. It’s not easy to find space for new urban farms, but we must foster many more: they don’t have to be big, and creativity is key.
