People as do all other living beings need nourishment better known as food to survive and to thrive. Food production and food distribution, carried out to meet this basic need, are the common ground upon which we can build sustainable communities.
Food production, otherwise known as agriculture and food processing, can create sustainable employment, healthy neighbourhoods and a strong local economy.
How we grow and transport food from the farm to the kitchen defines our society. We can begin the process of rebuilding and reclaiming our urban centres as we reduce the distance our food travels from the farm to the table.
Urban agriculture has considerable potential. Goats, the pygmy variety, chickens and bees as well as a wide and diverse range of fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers offer economic opportunities that have positive environmental and social connections.
An urban agricultural enterprise is a business that is designed to show a profit. A well researched and detailed business plan is essential to the success of any urban agricultural enterprise.
What do urban agricultural enterprises require to thrive?
Municipally owned land and unused buildings could be ideal sites for urban agricultural enterprises. Cities ands towns often have vacant land that is not slated for urban development and these sites could be developed as urban agricultural enterprises.
In Thunder Bay, we leased the land for our community garden, from the City, for fourty dollars per year. A similar arrangement could be made for a community business. Also, urban properties are confiscated for failure to pay taxes and could be made available by lease, for example, for the creation of a community business.
Appropriate bylaws will need to be passed and urban planners will need to be encouraged to support urban agricultural enterprises as an appropriate and legitimate land use.
Urban agricultural enterprises can revitalize low-income communities. Brownfields and other vacant lands that are suitable for urban agriculture are often located in low income areas. These sites can be reclaimed by the community businesses and become attractive, productive enterprises rather than empty eyesores.
The establishment of an urban agriculture enterprise in a low-income community not only provides the residents with access to fresh fruit and vegetables but creates employment. On-the-job training could be incorporated into this enterprise.
Urban agricultural enterprises, because they relocalize food production, also jump start the relocaliziation of the economy through new business start-up and job creation.
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