The document discusses how to get urban agriculture in Philadelphia to a tipping point where it transforms into a social epidemic. It proposes establishing farming centers as hubs for organizing food production, jobs, education, and building community on 3-4 adjacent vacant lots. Farming centers would function by managing assets, skills, knowledge, volunteers, and communication to supply the community. The centers could be staffed by farm/garden supervisors, information specialists, coordinators, and retail managers. Starting more centers could create social capital through education, opportunities, communication, beautification, and jobs. An income statement projects revenue and expenses for the first start-up year.
2. How can we get urban agriculture
in Philadelphia to the tipping point?
3. Tipping Point as defined by Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point"
the dramatic moment when ideas, messages,
behaviors, and products suddenly become so
popular that they transform into social epidemics.
4. The Three Rules of Epidemics
1. Spread by a very few extraordinary people
2. Sensitive to the conditions and circumstances of the specific time and place
3. Information is packaged in a way that makes it irresistible
5. growlots
Farming Centers will act as central hubs for
organizing food production, creating green jobs,
building community, and education. Occupying
3-4 adjacent abandoned lots (3/8 - 1/2 acres),
Green Centers have an Office/Storage Area,
an on-site Garden, two High Tunnels, and a small
Greenhouse for starts.
6. Research, Interviews, Observations
Community Gardens &
Members Communication Agri-Programs
Jobs
Develop
Beautification Vacant Lots
City Government
7. How does a Farming Center function?
Managing Assets
Tools for Rent
Gardening Skills
Gardening Skills
Managing Assets Knowledge
Compost in Exchange Knowledge
Recruiting Volunteers
Recruiting Volunteers
Portion of Crops
Communication
Communication
Services
Supplies
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8. Who would work at a Farming Center?
Farm/Garden Supervisor The Information Specialist Garden/ Farm Coordinator Retail Manager
10. Farming Centers Create Social Capital
Education and Nutrition
Provides Agricultural Opportunities Tourism boosts local economy
Meeting place for gardeners Communication
Healthy city = healthy bodies
Forum for neighbors Increases pride
Creates a sense of safety
Beautification
Develop Vacant Lots
City green spaces increase
Residents come together
Local produce improves health
Expands gardening as a profession
Creates a garden network
Hires agricultural students
Trains workers to be collaborative
Create Green Jobs
Green Center's success increases revenue in local economy
11. Income Statement for Start-Up Year
Downpayment
$30,000
Renting
Garden Tools
Office, greenhouse,
$10,000 high tunnels, garden
$20,000
Finished Compost
(soil)
$35,000 Compost System
(If there are extra funds)
Income $20,000
$340,000 Startup Capital
(1st Year)
Plant Starters
$330,000
and Seeds
$150,000
Equipment/Materials/Tools
$35,000
Produce
(CSA, Farmer’s Markets,
and Local Businesses)
$145,000
Brochures/Literature
or Education
$25,000
Salaries/Wages
$200,000
14. Who is responsible for the center?
Jobs vs. Volunteering
Do we need an applicable farming protocol?
Lacking man power
Substantial amount of workable land
Farming is not a job
15. People are disconnected from their food
Niche Markets vs. Regional Foods
Urban Agricutlure vs. Big Business
Reaching the bottom line
Who is responsible for the center?
Jobs vs. Volunteering
Do we need an applicable farming protocol?
Lacking man power
Substantial amount of workable land
Farming is not a job
16. Sometimes social capital is not enough
People are disconnected from their food
Niche Markets vs. Regional Foods
Urban Agricutlure vs. Big Business
Reaching the bottom line
Who is responsible for the center?
Jobs vs. Volunteering
Do we need an applicable farming protocol?
Lacking man power
Substantial amount of workable land
Farming is not a job
17. What about a shared equity model?
Sometimes social capital is not enough
Urban Agriculture could be temporary
Develop wasteland communities
People are disconnected from their food
Selling in niche markets
Niche Markets vs. Regional Foods
Urban Agricutlure vs. Big Business
Reaching the bottom line
Who is responsible for the center?
Jobs vs. Volunteering
Do we need an applicable farming protocol?
Lacking man power
Substantial amount of workable land
Farming is not a job
18. What about a shared equity model?
Sometimes social capital is not enough
Urban Agriculture could be temporary
Develop wasteland communities
People are disconnected from their food
Selling in niche markets
Niche Markets vs. Regional Foods
Urban Agricutlure vs. Big Business Effects of Farming Center success?
Reaching the bottom line Competition between players
Who is responsible for the center?
Jobs vs. Volunteering
Do we need an applicable farming protocol?
Lacking man power
Substantial amount of workable land
Farming is not a job
19. What about a shared equity model?
Sometimes social capital is not enough
Urban Agriculture could be temporary
Develop wasteland communities
People are disconnected from their food
Selling in niche markets
Niche Markets vs. Regional Foods
Urban Agricutlure vs. Big Business Effects of Farming Center success?
Reaching the bottom line Competition between players
City's long-term goals need small steps
Can we change land zoning codes?
Who is responsible for the center?
Create a farm network
Jobs vs. Volunteering
Do we need an applicable farming protocol?
Lacking man power
Substantial amount of workable land
Farming is not a job
20. What about a shared equity model?
Sometimes social capital is not enough
Economics
Urban Agriculture could be temporary
Develop wasteland communities
People are disconnected from their food
Food Access
Niche Markets vs. Regional Foods
Selling in niche markets
Urban Agricutlure vs. Big Business Effects of Farming Center success?
Reaching the bottom line Competition between players
Land Ownership
City's long-term goals need small steps
Green Jobs Who is responsible for the center?
Can we change land zoning codes?
Create a farm network
Lacking man power
Jobs vs. Volunteering
Integrative Development
Do we need an applicable farming protocol?
Substantial amount of workable land
Farming is not a job
22. 1. Bring local food within reach of 75% of residents
2. Provide park and recreation resources for 75% of residents
3. Create open spaces for neighborhoods
23. 1. Bring local food within reach of 75% of residents
2. Provide park and recreation resources for 75% of residents
3. Create open spaces for neighborhoods
4. Transform vacant land
5. Leverage vacant land
6. Promote commercial farming
7. Promote CSA’s
24. 1. Bring local food within reach of 75% of residents
2. Provide park and recreation resources for 75% of residents
3. Create open spaces for neighborhoods
4. Transform vacant land
5. Leverage vacant land
6. Promote commercial farming
7. Promote CSA’s
8. Create support for food cooperative expansion
9. Create demand for locally grown foods
10. Publicize local food efforts
25. 1. Bring local food within reach of 75% of residents
2. Provide park and recreation resources for 75% of residents
3. Create open spaces for neighborhoods
4. Transform vacant land
5. Leverage vacant land
6. Promote commercial farming
7. Promote CSA’s
8. Create support for food cooperative expansion
9. Create demand for locally grown foods
10. Publicize local food efforts
11. Entrepreneurial and workforce development to double high and low skill green jobs
12. Provide technical assistance for farming and gardening
26. 1. Bring local food within reach of 75% of residents
2. Provide park and recreation resources for 75% of residents
3. Create open spaces for neighborhoods
4. Transform vacant land
5. Leverage vacant land
6. Promote commercial farming
7. Promote CSA’s
8. Create support for food cooperative expansion
9. Create demand for locally grown foods
10. Publicize local food efforts
11. Entrepreneurial and workforce development to double high and low skill green jobs
12. Provide technical assistance for farming and gardening
13. Foster school based efforts
14. Create an urban agriculture strategy
15. Integrate anti-hunger efforts and urban agriculture initiatives
27. 1. Bring local food within reach of 75% of residents
2. Provide park and recreation resources for 75% of residents
3. Create open spaces for neighborhoods
4. Transform vacant land
5. Leverage vacant land
6. Promote commercial farming
7. Promote CSA’s
8. Create support for food cooperative expansion
9. Create demand for locally grown foods
10. Publicize local food efforts
11. Entrepreneurial and workforce development to double high and low skill green jobs
12. Provide technical assistance for farming and gardening
13. Foster school based efforts
14. Create an urban agriculture strategy
15. Integrate anti-hunger efforts and urban agriculture initiatives
