So What’s Wrong With Urban Farming Anyway?

Photo by Chris Fore

What are the truly compelling reasons as to why a large urban farm wouldn’t be a good idea for Detroit?

By Darrell Dawsey
Time – The Detroit Blog
September 9

Excerpt:

In addition to opposing land management strategies that would “displace” Detroit residents by clearing out abandoned homes, Jesse Jackson is also now coming out strong against the idea of large-scale farming in the city limits.

“Detroit needs investment in industry, housing and construction — not bean patches,” Jackson told host Paul W. Smith on WJR-AM 760. “If people want to farm, they’ll farm in zones.”

OK, I agree that Detroit is, or at least should be, a manufacturing power first and foremost. Building stuff that people want to buy will always be the key to economic relevance. Nothing wrong with planning for the day when we can churn out pallets of solar panels and windmill blades over at the old Budd plant or wherever.

But why does this totally preclude the idea that agribusiness can thrive here? Why can’t Detroit seize on its manufacturing roots to revitalize its industrial sector, spur growth in construction and, at the same time, make space for substantial agricultural operations?

We have more than 138 square miles of land, plenty of it having been empty for a very long time. You mean to tell me that there’s nowhere in Detroit that would be feasible for growing food on any sizable scale?

Read the complete article here.