The document summarizes a presentation given by Brad Masi on February 18, 2011 for the Summit Urban Farming Initiative (SUFI) Market Gardener Training. The presentation discussed the role of urban agriculture in local food systems, providing examples of urban farming initiatives in Northeast Ohio. It covered reasons for local food systems including economic resilience and public health. Urban farming was discussed as a way to address issues like vacant land reuse, food access, employment and more.
1. Farming the City-
Role of Urban Agriculture
in Local Food Systems
Summit Urban Farming Initiative (SUFI)
Market Gardener Training
Presented by Brad Masi,
February 18, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
2. Summit Urban Farming
Initiative (SUFI)
• Why local food systems?
• What part does urban farming play in
cultivating local food systems?
• Examples of urban farming initiatives in
Northeast Ohio
• Networks and collaboration
Friday, February 18, 2011
3. Schedule
6:15-6:25: Write name and one sentence vision statement on what you
hope to do with this class
6:30-7:15- overview of local food systems and urban agriculture
7:15-7:30- map your vision and take a break
7:30-8:30- video case studies of urban farms
8:30-8:45- break
8:45-9:00- What assets are in the room?
Friday, February 18, 2011
4. Reason #1:
Resilient Economy
Friday, February 18, 2011
6. Distribution of Food Dollar
1900-2005
Farmer: 40 cents
to 7 cents
Distribution:
42 cents to 73
cents
Friday, February 18, 2011
7. Distribution of Food Dollar
1900-2005
Distribution:
•Refrigeration
•Processing
•Packaging
•Transport
•Advertising
Friday, February 18, 2011
8. Distribution of Food Dollar
1900-2005
These are all activities that take
place outside of our regional or
local economies.
Friday, February 18, 2011
9. Distribution of Food Dollar
1900-2005
Opportunity Space:
There’s a huge opportunity
for us to take over more
of the dollars spent
on long-distance food
shipment and processing
by reducing distribution
costs of local and
showing higher return
for farmer
Friday, February 18, 2011
10. Reason #2:
Public Health and Social Equity
Friday, February 18, 2011
12. Health is more than
just health care
• Where we live matters
• Cuyahoga County exploring the connection
between health and land-use
• Access to food, gardens, green space,
exercise are all driven by land-use
• Leadership from first Lady Obama
Friday, February 18, 2011
15. City of Cleveland
• Passes New Years Resolution legislation to
address health and nutrition issues
• Cleveland Clinic, UH, Metro, and Vincent-
Chairty hospitals collaborate to connect
healthy food and local food
Friday, February 18, 2011
16. Reason #3:
Energy and Climate
Friday, February 18, 2011
17. Queensland, Australia
The disruption of exports including coal and cotton caused the Australian dollar to fall to $98.32 in
early trade...
As some economists’ predictions on the damage and clean-up doubled to $13 billion, PM
Julia Gillard has so far ruled out increasing the budget deficit to help Queensland re-build...
Friday, February 18, 2011
20. A 5% increase in soil organic
matter (carbon) in the top
12 inches of topsoil would
off-set carbon emissions in
the United States released
since the 1950’s
Friday, February 18, 2011
21. A 5% increase in soil organic Water storage
matter (carbon) in the top Water infiltration
12 inches of topsoil would + Fertility
Soil microbial life
off-set carbon emissions in Productivity
Soil structure
the United States released
since the 1950’s
Friday, February 18, 2011
22. Where to get leverage?
• Economic recession, job loss?
• Public health challenges?
• Climate change and energy?
Friday, February 18, 2011
23. Environment
Carbon sequestration
Carbon reduction Healthy
Soil building Local Food
Clean water Systems
Restored biodiversity
Job creation Healthy individuals
Enterprise development Reduced health care cost
Community wealth Social mixing
Economic linkages Equitable access to food
Economy Community
Health
Friday, February 18, 2011
24. Role of Urban Farming
in Local Food Systems
Friday, February 18, 2011
25. Why Urban Farming?
“By
beautifying
vacant
lots
and
yards
in
nearly
every
section
of
the
city,
it
has
greatly
increased
realty
values
beside
adding
to
the
beauty
of
the
city.
But
what
is
more
important,
it
has
made
the
health
of
the
city
better.
It
has
got
the
people
out
of
doors
to
cultivate
<lower
and
vegetable
gardens
who
before
never
ventured
into
a
garden.
They
feel
and
live
better.”
Friday, February 18, 2011
26. Why Urban Farming?
“By
beautifying
vacant
lots
and
yards
in
nearly
every
section
of
the
city,
it
has
greatly
increased
realty
values
beside
adding
to
the
beauty
of
the
city.
But
what
is
more
important,
it
has
made
the
health
of
the
city
better.
It
has
got
the
people
out
of
doors
to
cultivate
<lower
and
vegetable
gardens
who
before
never
ventured
into
a
garden.
They
feel
and
live
better.”
-Cleveland Plain Dealer Article
on Home Gardening Association, 1907
Friday, February 18, 2011
27. Back to the Future!
• School garden program
developed as way to promote
home gardening and use of
vacant lots in Cleveland in
1904
• Involved both youth and adult
education
• Active until school deficits led
to its closure in 1977
• Initiative replicated
throughout the world to
adapt school garden concepts
for their cities
Friday, February 18, 2011
28. Work Relief
Gardens
Gardens for
unemployed
workers in
Cleveland in
1930’s
Friday, February 18, 2011
29. Greenhouse Production
Northeast Ohio the “greenhouse capital” of America with more
per capita production under glass than any other region in the
United States. Much production concentrated along Schaff Road in
Old Brooklyn near Cleveland until late 1970’s
Friday, February 18, 2011
30. Historic Role of Urban
Farming
• Urban beautification (Home Gardening
Association)
• Learning and community building (school
gardens)
• Unemployment and economic relief (Work
Relief Gardens)
• Economic production (greenhouses)
Friday, February 18, 2011
31. Urban Farming Today
• Vacant land re-utilization
• Food security/food access
• Employment
• Entrepreneurship
• Community building
• Learning and education
• Health
• Beautification
Friday, February 18, 2011
32. Vacant Land Re-Use
Full Circle Fuels, Oberlin OH
Friday, February 18, 2011
33. Food Access
Huron Road Hospital, East Cleveland, OH
Friday, February 18, 2011
34. Employment
Stanard School, Cleveland, OH
Friday, February 18, 2011
35. Entrepreneurship
EcoVillage Produce, Cleveland, OH
Friday, February 18, 2011
36. Community Building
Berkeley Street Garden, Boston, MA
Friday, February 18, 2011
38. Diet and Health
Vel’s Purple Oasis, Cleveland, OH
Friday, February 18, 2011
39. Beautification
The “Yarden”, Columbus, OH
Friday, February 18, 2011
40. Mental Health
Hitchcock Center for Women, Cleveland, OH
Friday, February 18, 2011
41. Business Development
Tunnel Vision Hoops, Cleveland, OH
Friday, February 18, 2011
42. Stormwater Management
Alley Garden CoHousing,Vancouver, BC
Friday, February 18, 2011
43. Waste Re-Use
Lucky’s Cafe Gardens, Cleveland, BC
Friday, February 18, 2011
44. Art!
City Farm,Vancouver, BC
Friday, February 18, 2011
45. Fun!
George Jones Farm, Oberlin, OH
Friday, February 18, 2011
46. Urban Farming Today
• Many historic strands to connect us to
historical trends in the past century
• Many modern and future trends connecting
us to more long-term notions of “green and
sustainable” cities in the post-cheap energy
era
• 25% localization of food purchasing in NEO
means 27,000 new green jobs, including
many in cities
Friday, February 18, 2011
47. Types of Urban Farms
• Home garden-
• Community garden-
• Urban market garden
• Learning garden
• Social service garden-
Friday, February 18, 2011
48. Types of Urban Farms
• Home garden- personal consumption, sharing
• Community garden-
• Urban market garden
• Learning garden
• Social service garden-
Friday, February 18, 2011
49. Types of Urban Farms
• Home garden- personal consumption, sharing
• Community garden- personal consumption, donations
• Urban market garden-
• Learning garden
• Social service garden-
Friday, February 18, 2011
50. Types of Urban Farms
• Home garden- personal consumption, sharing
• Community garden- personal consumption, donations
• Urban market garden- commercial sales
• Learning garden-
• Social service garden-
Friday, February 18, 2011
51. Types of Urban Farms
• Home garden- personal consumption, sharing
• Community garden- personal consumption, donations
• Urban market garden- commercial sales
• Learning garden- education, research, learning
• Social service garden-
Friday, February 18, 2011
52. Types of Urban Farms
• Home garden- personal consumption, sharing
• Community garden- personal consumption, donations
• Urban market garden- commercial sales
• Learning garden- education, research, learning
• Social service garden- mental health, job training
Friday, February 18, 2011
53. Trends in Urban
Farming in Cleveland
• 1970-2005: Community gardens and city
summer sprout program
• 2005-2009: Transition to market gardens
growing food for income generation
• 2009-2010: Urban agriculture commons
and more complex community partnerships
Friday, February 18, 2011
54. Types of Urban Farms
• Home garden- personal consumption, sharing
• Community garden- personal consumption, donations
• Urban market garden- commercial sales
• Learning garden- education, research, learning
• Social service garden- mental health, job training
Friday, February 18, 2011
55. Where does your
vision fit in?
• Place your vision on a sheet for one of the
types of gardens. Is your garden a home
garden, a community garden, a market garden,
learning garden, or social service garden?
Friday, February 18, 2011
56. Case Studies
• Intergeneration School Permaculture
Garden (Learning Garden)
• Strawbale Greenhouse at Vel’s Purple Oasis
(Community Learning Garden with some
marketing)
• Stanard School (Social service/employment)
• Ohio City Fresh Food Collaborative (mix of
community, market, social service, and
learning)
Friday, February 18, 2011
57. Local Food Value Chain
Informal Market
Infrastructure Consumption
Economy Economy
Aggregation
Urban Market Markets
Gardens
Community
Production
Distribution
Rural Eaters!
Farms
Processing
Friday, February 18, 2011
58. Collaborative Networks
• How can you as a class organize a
collaborative network to advance urban
agriculture and local food systems in Akron?
• What is the primary asset that you bring to
the table right know (land, knowledge, tools,
markets, construction)?
• To learn more and stay in touch check out:
www.NEOFoodWeb.org
Friday, February 18, 2011