CHAPTER 11: The Agricultural Core



Boston Commons



Boston is not a part of the agricultural core; however, a different kind of agriculture is emerging in the city, known as urban agriculture. Urban agriculture is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in, or around (peri-urban) town, village, or city. This type of agriculture can also involve animal husbandry, aquaculture, and horticulture.

The documentary “Planting for Peace: Bury Seeds, Not Bodies” shows the impact of urban agriculture and support from organizations like The Food Project.

Urban agriculture in Boston, not only creates new food production and delivery systems, it also involves public health and service. One example is The Food Project, established in 1992, has been bringing young people and adults together to learn about creating new food systems through urban agriculture. They farm 4 acres in 7 urban communities and 36 additional suburban acres. Most recent harvests included over 200,000 pounds of produce, with 50,000 pounds donated to many different hunger relief organizations. The rest is sold via 492 Community Supported Agriculture and 4 farmers markets in low-income neighborhoods.

Innovative approaches to urban farming are also pursued by agricultural entrepreneurs in Boston. One technology is called “Verticrop,” a High Density Vertical Growing System (HDVGS) employed in a controlled environment, such as a glasshouse or warehouse. Plants are grown in a vertical plane in specially designed trays suspended from an overhead track. This system can be adapted successfully to the needs of vegetable, herb, fruit and flower producers.

http://www.valcent.eu/VertiCrop.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_agriculture

http://www.rendezvouscentralsquare.com/urban-agriculture-in-bostongrowing-promis-weeding-challenges/