San Francisco Passes Most Progressive Urban Agriculture Policy in U.S.

Photo: Little City Gardens, by Caitlyn Galloway.

“This legislation is proof that “the system,” as ossified and change-resistant as it may seem, can occasionally work.”

By Antonio Roman-Alcalá
Civil Eats
April 14th, 2011

Excerpt:

This week, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the most progressive legislation for urban agriculture in the nation. The new legislation has amended the zoning code to allow agricultural activities in all parts of the city, as well as defining the parameters by which urban agriculturists can sell their products. It doesn’t address the touchier subjects of animal husbandry or marijuana cultivation, but has created opportunities for and the legitimacy of urban fruit and vegetable cultivation.

The legislation was the result of a rare combined and cooperative effort between city officials and urban agriculture practitioners and advocates. This was accomplished mainly through the work of the San Francisco Urban Agriculture Alliance (SFUAA), an organization of which I am a member, which formed nearly a year ago to coalesce the various efforts and projects focusing on local food and agriculture into a cohesive political voice. The coalition is made up of over 300 individual and 40 organizational members, and its formation turned out to be very well timed.

Read the complete article here.