According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over half of the American population lives in cities. Urban Farming is a revolutionary re-examination of agriculture, land use, community, and food security that focuses on bringing farms to the city. Produce-supporting gardens are popping up on rooftops, unused plots of land and abandoned buildings all over U.S. cities. As micro-agriculture techniques and technology develop, urban farming will only become an increasingly normative part of city-life.
3 Benefits of Urban Farming
1. Increased Food Security
Food security is all about access to affordable, healthy food. Urban populations aren't particularly well-known for always providing equal access to this type of food--In Chicago, over half a million people live in "food deserts". However, urban farming can increase food security by giving city-dwellers local access to fresh, nutritious food.
2. Strengthens Community
Urban farming requires a type of social organization that engenders closer community bonds. It encourages neighborhood goal-oriented interaction and productivity. Whereas urban areas can sometimes feel isolating, urban farming can make for a tighter-knit community.
3. Creates a Mixed-Land Use Landscape
Urban farming makes for diverse and productive use of a small amount of land and disrupts single-land use neighborhoods. This addition of green space to the urban landscape not only stimulates an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere but also can increase property value for the neighborhood.
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