It also reduces the greenhouse gas emissions associated with growing, fertilizing, processing and transporting food grown far from home, and helps retain at least rudimentary knowledge about how to grow one’s own food.
Opportunities exist in both the public and the private realms. Setting aside new areas for gardening will probably require collaboration.
Some issues to consider:
- Design of the food growing area (e.g. plot dimensions and integration with other uses).
- Technical components (e.g. irrigation and tool storage).
- Management strategies (i.e. who will implement the program?).
Creating space to grow food in urban areas requires leadership and innovation.
Elements of a successful program include:
- Guidelines: These should outline the major considerations, such as who qualifies for plots and what type of pest control is allowed.
- Incentives: Combined with requirements for developers, property managers and homeowner associations to incorporate food-growing opportunities.
- Integration: Bringing urban food gardening into parks or other public spaces in ways that enhance existing programming and minimize conflicts with other objectives.
- Public engagement: Community input on where and how urban food gardening should occur.
- Partnerships: Engaging with local non-profit groups to manage urban food gardens in public spaces and to share information about growing techniques and food preservation skills.
- Outreach: Public outreach programs that highlight the benefits of growing food locally.
