Like Portland, Boulder rethinking concept of urban farming

Local leaders working to broaden use of community gardens

By Heath Urie
Daily Camera
08/27/2011

Excerpt:

Hunched over the miniature jungle growing along the street near his University Hill home in Boulder, Scott Hoffenberg plucked a glistening purple object from the ground and shook off bits of dirt.

“This is the first eggplant of the year,” Hoffenberg said. “In a couple weeks, we should be pulling 100 to 150 of these off each week.”

Hoffenberg — who has bronze skin from working under the sun and wears a straw hat only a gardener would truly appreciate — is something of a renegade in his aging but pricey neighborhood.

In 2008, the 52-year-old tore up his yard to make room for lettuce, peas, beats and other vegetables for his family. But his pet project nearly landed him inside a Boulder courtroom after a neighbor complained about the garden he installed in the public right of way between the sidewalk and street in front of his house.

The incident sparked the beginning of a sort of gardening Renaissance in Hoffenberg’s neighborhood, which since has caused the city of Boulder to rethink how it approaches the issue of urban food production.

Read the complete article here.