Urban Farming
Urban farming is the practice of growing and distributing food within urban areas. According to this study summarized in the article, Urban farms: New study offers planners and growers food for thought, there are 8 different types of urban farming.
Community farms for personal or community uses
Community soil-based farms that use growing tunnels
Farms integrated with the built environment with less focus on produce output (growing rooms within restaurants, growing limited food for the restaurant)
Productive commercial farms that are integrate with the built environment (rooftop greenhouses, hydroponic farms)
Farms that are part of buildings (rooftop greenhouses/gardens)
Farms integrated into buildings or urban spaces for the community
Indoor farms with climate control
Completely automated commercial farms
One key theme with all these different types of farms is that urban farmers often use previously underutilized spaces, such as vacant lots, rooftops and walls, and turn them into something more productive. There are a few more benefits to urban farms too. One such benefit is increasing access to fresh food, and decreasing the long-distance travel that produce usually takes to get to various environments (like winter in 'Minnesota!). Another benefit of urban farming is the potential to contribute to a resilient urban environment. Urban farms can help reduce heat islands and reduce stormwater runoff. It’s also a great way to connect with your community!
The Twin Cities is a great place to demonstrate what an urban farm can do. If you google “Urban Farms Twin Cities,” there are numerous results that pop back at you. One example of a City program to promote urban farms is the Minneapolis Garden Lease Program. The City of Minneapolis is offering city-owned vacant lots to qualifying community garden programs. The community gardens can also apply for a garden hydrant permit, even further decreasing potential barriers for urban farms.
Check out the full study here to learn more about urban farming!