Michael R. Bloomberg signed into law on Wednesday a bill urging city agencies to buy more often from the state’s farms.

“Even in a city as highly developed as New York, urban farms are growing at an astounding rate.”

By Matt Flegenheimer
New York Times
Aug. 17, 2011

Excerpt:

The mayor also signed a bill to exempt rooftop greenhouses from being counted toward buildings’ height and floor area measurements. The greenhouses will join structures like roof tanks, air-conditioning equipment and chimneys as apparatus that are not factored into buildings’ official totals, easing limitations on the construction of such structures.

In a statement, Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker, noted the progress of urban farming.

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Latest archaeological discovery: we’re pretty sure this is the murder weapon. Photo: Nina Lalli

Nina Lalli lives with one man, two dogs, and six chickens in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

By Nina Lalli
Grist
17 Aug 2011

Excerpt:

I brag a lot about the various smells and chores generated by farm life in Bed-Stuy. But it surprises even me to hear myself go on about which hen is laying the biggest eggs or how the squash is taking over the garden. How did I go from being a single lady in a third-floor walk-up to running a farm with a guy I had known for less than a year?

Considering my inclination toward rescuing filthy, abandoned street animals and my love of food, it’s really a wonder it took so long to happen.

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City Farm, Chicago.

“Some people just buy it because you can’t find it elsewhere and it tastes better.”

By Marissa Lee
Seedstock Digest
August 17, 2011

Excerpt:

City Farm used to be a gas station. It was also a de facto dumping site for debris from a demolished building located nearby. Before the organization could grow any vegetables, the land had to be remediated. To insure against soil contamination the land was capped with a four to six inch layer of clay to control potential site contamination. The clay cap acts as a barrier to protect the crops from absorbing any chemicals that might have seeped into the ground. Otherwise, Rozendaal is not too anxious about pollution – an issue all urban farms encounter.

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