Urban Farming

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Comment by Randy Chatterjee on June 12, 2012 at 9:37am

An article from BBC Scotland about the movement to free up unused p... is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18405257

This issue is crucial to us in a City regulating itself and its residents to death, or at least into homelessness and malnutrition. In my book, homelessness and malnutrition are tantamount to death, and death by the cruelest of means. Recognizing the core democratic principle that the people most affected by any issue are those most knowledgeable about solutions, we find in this City an army of politicians and bureaucrats laying waste to our livability by arbitrarily applying a set of rules that serve no one. Here from Scotland, a nation with a similar Common Law and colonial background as BC, are possible solutions:

'Rising numbers' growing own food
Scotland first to map green space

The Scottish Parliament is to be asked to make it easier for people to grow food on underused ground owned by public bodies and private businesses.

A petition to Holyrood says there should be a presumption in favour of allowing access.

It argues that allowing people to grow and harvest food on derelict and unused land would be good for their diets and budgets.

The petition will be considered by a committee of MSPs later on Tuesday.

The Scottish government last week launched a consultation on its proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill.

Among the questions asked in the consultation are whether communities should have a right to use or manage unused and underused public sector assets.

Food security
The consultation also asks what measures can be introduced to provide people with space to grow fruit and vegetables or establish community gardens.

The petitioners argue that bodies such as councils, health boards, power companies and conservation organisations all own large amounts of unused land, some of which is derelict or unused.

They state: "We believe that much land is needlessly unproductive, and would urge the Scottish government to encourage ways to allow people to use land more intelligently.

"We believe that making land available to poorer Scots offers them a way to grow healthy, accessible local food, and build skills and food security at a local level.

The petition was lodged with the parliament by John Hancox, who has been involved in a number of community garden projects.

He has been involved in cultivating fruit trees close to the River Kelvin in Glasgow.

He said: "We identified a bit of land that was basically being used for not very much else. It's actually a really nice bit of ground.

"It's south-facing, and we planted three plum trees, which have done really well. They're all covered in plums now, which is really nice.

"Having a few fruit trees next to the Kelvin - it's a no-brainer. Why not more of this kind of thing?"

Wildlife habitats
However, some organisations named in his petition as holding large amounts of land which might be suitable for growing food told BBC Scotland there would be practical difficulties with implementing Mr Hancox's proposal.

They included RSPB Scotland, which said the land it owns is looked after specifically to promote conservation and to provide habitats for many of the country's rarest and most threatened species.

Permitting a deliberate change in management practice that would potentially devalue its suitability for those species would be against its principles as a wildlife conservation charity, it added, and would also likely be illegal.

And Scottish Natural Heritage said it was "supportive" of the idea but pointed out that its land is quite often not suitable for growing things and can be distant from communities who may be interested in it.

Comment by Randy Chatterjee on April 10, 2012 at 8:14am

The latest in Urban Market Gardens is that San Francisco is now rezoning larger city sites for food production specifically in "urban market gardens."  One of the first, Little City Gardens at 3/4 acre, has its website here. A recent short article from the SF Planning and Urban Renewal Association (SPUR) about the recent approval of Little City Gardens is also great reading.

Meanwhile, after a year-long effort by dozens of Main Street Neighbourhood urban food activists, two Village Vancouver proposals for theLittle Mountain Commons collaborative community garden on a 8000 square-foot city lot that's been empty for 10 years have been turned down.  So also rejected was a more modest proposal for Kits Point in an unused field adjacent to Vanier Park.  We are still hopeful for a new community garden in Grandview-Woodlands Village (Commercial Drive area) at Woodlands Park.  We are uncertain what portion may be allowed to be farmed collaboratively, instead of in individual small plots.

Comment by Hella Dee on September 5, 2011 at 2:58pm

Thanks for that Randy!

Comment by Randy Chatterjee on September 5, 2011 at 7:42am

Sharla Stolhandske of UBC has just completed her PhD dissertation on urban farming in Vancouver, its history, economic viability, and prospects.  She also makes several policy recommendations to improve Vancouver's food security and local economy.  Download and read it here.

Comment by Susanne Talkington on April 11, 2011 at 8:22pm

Hello Cylia

Thanks for the reply. You didn't even comment on the fact that I was slightly confused, so thanks for going with it! Please let me know what time the meeting is tomorrow night....have a class tomorrow night...but timing might work. I'd like to attend if possible. Also your spring fling sounds like it will be fun!

Comment by Cylia on April 10, 2011 at 4:57pm

Hi Susanne:  our event is very low key if you want to give us a try.  I know it's only a couple of weeks away. I look forward to meeting you at the April meeting which is this Tuesday.  cylia 

Comment by Susanne Talkington on April 10, 2011 at 10:10am

Hello Cylia

I had been in touch with Renee some time back to inform her that I was interested in being involved with the Underground Market, potentially as a vendor. Renee encouraged me to let the group know and to attend the next planning meeting in April. I have been thinking about it for some time now, so I'd really like to be involved in some capacity, however, not certain that I will be ready to participate as a vendor by May's spring fling event.........

Comment by Cylia on April 9, 2011 at 10:44pm

Looking for urban farmers and/or vendors who have produce/crafts/arts to sell at our May 1 spring fling event. If you're interested, email me. 

Comment by Susan Jane Bibbings on November 22, 2010 at 4:03pm

Hi! This is Susan Bibbings and I am one of the 'City Farm Girls' - glad to join.

Comment by Randy Chatterjee on November 20, 2010 at 11:42pm

This discussion is here. Click this link to find it.

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