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Urban Agriculture: Three Northeast Case Studies on Dimensions of Sustainability

This presentation explores the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of urban farms in northern climates in the United States and Canada. It examines the challenges and benefits specific to operating in an urban context and identifies areas where research could assist urban farms in being more sustainable.

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Urban Agriculture: Three Northeast Case Studies on Dimensions of Sustainability

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  1. Urban Agriculture:Three Northeast Case Studieson Dimensions of Sustainability Kathryn M. Werntz

  2. Research Questions: • To what degree do urban farms in the northern climates in the United States and Canada consider and address their environmental, social and economic sustainability? • Are there benefits and challenges to being sustainable which are specific to operating in the urban context? • What research could assist the urban farms in being more sustainable?

  3. Methods • Literature Review • Survey Development (and pilot test) • Phone Interviews with three urban farm managers • Survey Result Analysis • This Presentation

  4. To what degree do urban farms in the northern climates in the United States and Canada consider and address their environmental, social and economic sustainability? One Hypothesis: Urban farms struggle with environmental sustainability because they do not invest in analyzing and addressing nutrient budgets due to lack of knowledge, resources and land tenure Main Findings: “In general…” • Farmers do not keep tested and/or written nutrient budgets • Farmers do use several long-term soil health strategies, e.g. crop rotation, cover crops, companion planting and crop diversity • Farmers report lack of resources and need for more knowledge

  5. soil erosion disease pressure soil fertility weed pressure moisture/water pest pressure Resources Spent on Identifying and Analyzing Six Management Challenges Resources = time, money and brainpower 0 = none, 1 = a little, 2 = some, 3 = a lot

  6. Resources Spent on Addressing Eight Management Strategies crop diversity Insecticide app crop rotation herbicide app companion planting compost app cover crops fertilizer app Resources = time, money and brainpower 0 = none, 1 = a little, 2 = some, 3 = a lot

  7. Building Cob HousingMill Creek Farm, Philadelphia

  8. To what degree do urban farms in the northern climates in the United States and Canada consider and address their environmental, social and economic sustainability? One Hypothesis: Urban farms excel at social sustainability because they serve local residents Main Findings: • All farms had mission statements related to serving the community (food, education, jobs) • All farms reported high reliance on community for labor

  9. Free LaborThe Cutting Veg, Toronto, Canada

  10. To what degree do urban farms in the northern climates in the United States and Canada consider and address their environmental, social and economic sustainability? One Hypothesis: Urban farms struggle with economic sustainability because they do not benefit from federal or state subsidies and are providing for local, typically low-income customers Main Findings: • Labor: rely heavily on volunteers and some paid interns • Markets: work to keep food affordable • Land: are renters or “stewards” from city or non-profits • Farms did not report subsidies from government

  11. MarketEast New York Farms!, Brooklyn NY

  12. Are there benefits and challenges to being sustainable which are specific to operating in the urban context? Challenges: • supplies, e.g. tractor, manures • land availability and way in which to secure it Benefits: • free labor • invested local residents • networking/ entrepreneurial opportunities • can piggyback on general urban sustainability interest • closer drive to markets

  13. What research could assist the urban farms in being more sustainable? Environmental: • knowledge (nutrient budgets, pest pressures, waste water diversion) Social: • networking for shared resources Economic/Policy: • land availability and land rights • local food purchasing policy

  14. Conclusions: Urban Agriculture • More knowledge and resources, some specific to urban and local context, necessary to assist environmental and economic sustainability • Urban context contributes to social sustainability • Need for policy research and advocacy • More research needed on this topic in general

  15. Special thanks to… Mill Creek Farm Philadelphia PA East New York Farms! Brooklyn NY The Cutting Veg Toronto, Canada

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