Tag Archives: Urban Agriculture

Detroit: Urban Agriculture Capital of America?

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I was watching some television show about Detroit not long ago and the state of the city saddened me. What was once the bustling, busy Motor City, home to Motown and a thriving auto industry, has now become a ghost town in many areas. It is estimated that there are about 33,000 vacant homes in Detroit, with many city blocks being totally abandoned. Overall, there is approximately 25,000 vacant acres in Detroit. City officials are facing a daunting task – how to revive this once lively city. Detroit seems the perfect place for urban agriculture. After all, there are cheap, … Continue reading →

What is Urban Agriculture? Part 2

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The other day, I was talking about urban agriculture in America through World War I. When the Great Depression hit in the U.S. in 1929, it hit hard and lasted about 10 years. During that time, many cities instituted what became known as relief gardens. These gardens, also called welfare garden plots, were used to not only feed people, but also take their minds off desperate times. In places like Detroit, city employees who still had jobs donated money to help finance the gardens. Soon, organizations such as the Family Welfare Society and Employment Relief Commission were formed to help … Continue reading →

What is Urban Agriculture? Part 1

When you think of farms, you usually think of rural areas, but urban farms are becoming much more popular. Urban agriculture, or urban farms, can involve growing, processing, and distributing food as well as raising and breeding livestock, aquafarming, agro-forestry, and horticulture. Why have urban farms? Well, for one, it offers city folks locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Some people also do it as a way to earn income and some even do it as a form of relaxation. Urban agriculture isn’t a new thing. As far back as 1893, vacant city lots were turned into urban farms. Such … Continue reading →