Troy Gardens, Jan. 2003, Site Plan (Overall)

Annie Myers conducted a research project focused upon urban farms and city planning, for the course City Planning 252 (”Land Use Controls”)
May 2008, CP252, Professor Fred Etzel
University of California, Berkeley
Department of Urban and Regional Planning

An urban farm is considered to be one or more sites within the boundaries of a city, where the soil is cultivated for edible plants, and where the food produced is shared (whether for-profit or not, by sales or donation) with individuals other than the farmers themselves. The existing sites currently known as urban farms usually occupy a total of at least 1/4 acre (or 10,890 ft2) and have established a formal food distribution system, often selling through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), at farmers markets, and to local restaurants.

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Photo caption: Environmental activist Karen Wristen (front) and City Farmers Sharon Slack (left), Carole Christopher (back) and Michael Levenston stand in the City Hall plot that will be reserved for a community garden to grow food.
Photo by Bill Keay, Vancouver Sun

By Doug Ward
The Vancouver Sun
7 Mar 2009

Plot set aside for community garden

Barack Obama’s got nothing on Gregor Robertson when it comes to having green cred with the local food movement.

Organic food activists in the United States have been urging the new president to install a community garden at the White House.

A few days ago, Vancouver’s new mayor announced that a portion of the city hall lawn, just north of the main city hall building, will be converted into a community garden for people to grow food.

“Vancouver has really beat Obama on this one,” said Mike Levenston, executive director of the City Farmer Society.

The idea of bringing agriculture to 12th and Cambie comes from Robertson’s Greenest City Action Team, which has been charged with making Vancouver the greenest city in the world.

“If we want Vancouver to be a truly sustainable city, City Hall needs to lead the way,” said Robertson.

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