The idea of urban farming has gone from fringe to functional, with backyards plots and small infill operations teeming across North America. Lloyd Alter takes a look at the trend.
Writing for Azure Magazine, Alter looks at how urban farming has brought new life to barren plots within cities, and how this new form of farming is providing an economic boost to locals and local economies.
"The relocalization of agriculture can be as simple as a backyard garden for those who have the space, and the allotment or community garden for those who don't. In the Rust Belt of the United States, community gardens are converting abandoned land into productive gardens; Detroit alone has dozens, aimed not only at producing food, but also at creating jobs.
Detroit and other shrinking cities have hectares of land covered with derelict houses where the soil is relatively free of the contaminants found in brownfield sites. Detroit was built on high-quality farmland, and now 27 per cent of the land within municipal boundaries is considered vacant. In 2007, the city's community and family gardens yielded 108 tonnes of produce, funnelled to restaurants, food banks and farmers' markets."
FULL STORY: The Urban Farm

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie