Great Kids Farm has greenhouses for growing well, greens — along with several acres for warmer-weather crops, goats, and bees. Photo by Christine Shenot.

Baltimore’s urban agriculture movement has quietly taken off in the past couple of years

By Christine Shenot
Grist
9 August, 2010

Excerpt:

For many Americans, any mention of Baltimore conjures up images from two popular TV dramas set in the city: NBC’s Homicide: Life on the Street and HBO’s The Wire. For nearly two decades, those glimpses of Baltimore’s drug trade and violent crime helped define the city.

But that era is fading. In some circles, there’s now a lot more talk of sustainability and green living than of the murder rate, and it’s an agenda that goes beyond the traditional focus on parks, transit, affordable housing, and other longstanding goals.

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In New York City, senior gardener Abu Talib oversees the Bronx’s Taqwa Community Farm and its 13 chickens. “Just get a few chickens and you can feed yourself,” says Abu Talib. “He who controls your breadbasket controls your destiny.” Photo by Ira Block

Taqwa Farms is definitely an oasis

Michelle Knapik,
Environment Program Director
Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Blog
Aug 9, 2010

Excerpts:

The explosion of interest around urban ag is undeniable. It is little wonder as it serves as a portal to community building, local pride, skill building, the knitting of relationships across perceived cultural and age divides, the physical and psychological transformation of vacant lots, the growing of food, and the feeding of people, body and soul. Funders large and small are clamoring to learn more about the social change mechanisms presented in urban ag. The Sustainable Ag and Food System funders dedicated a number of sessions and field visits to urban ag during its 2010 annual conference.

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