Urban Agriculture

Evan Weissman

Urban agriculture is any agricultural production—including the cultivation of crops and animal husbandry—both within and on the fringe (peri-urban) of a metropolitan area. Urban agriculture is distinguished from rural agriculture in that it is embedded in an urban political ecology and draws on resources from the city to produce resources for the city. The integration of agricultural production into urban life draws on urbanites for labor-power, provides direct food distribution to urban consumers, reduces urban ecological impacts, and uses urban resources such as organic waste, wastewater, and vacant land. Urban agriculture may be found in a variety of locations, including backyard, patio, and rooftop gardens; commercial operations of all sizes; vacant lot cultivation; institutional gardens (e.g., schools, hospitals, and prisons); and community gardens. Popular perceptions often view urban agriculture as a transitory redress for specific social, political, and economic problems, but advocates of urban agriculture insist on its permanence. Site-specific ...

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