Several case studies from edible city innovators are offered in a new ASLA video that shows how you can transform your backyard, corner lot or rooftop into an urban farm, reports Jude Stewart.
Incongruently, as obesity continues to be among the nation's top public health challenges, millions of Americans consistently live without food security, writes Stewart. "Enter the urban farm: a fast, smart, cheap way to bring healthy food closer to those who need it, transform ugly vacant spaces into lush gardens, and promote a healthier, greener, more connected urban community."
A recent video from the American Society of Landscape Architects features lessons from cities like Cleveland and Detroit, who have successfully integrated urban farms into urban landscapes, and offers helpful tips on how you can do the same.
Ideas include planting gardens in backyards or leasing the space to other farmers, encouraging restaurants to harness their roofs to grow ingredients for their own meals, and selling produce in food trucks rather than resorting to once-weekly farmers markets.
FULL STORY: 4 Tips For Starting A Farm In Your City
A Microfarm Grows in an L.A. Front Yard
The founder of Asante Microfarm hopes his farm will serve as a model for bringing fresh produce to underserved communities.
Lockdown Benefits Urban Farmers In Paris
Pandemic induced lockdown kept Parisians within 1 km of their homes during lockdown, benefiting urban farmers and advocates for a diversified local food supply.
2019 Conferences in Planning and Design
An annual sampling of professional development conferences in the coming year for planning and design professionals, by L.A. County Planner Clement Lau.
The Roadway Expansion Paradox
Motorists want expensive roadway expansions provided that somebody else foots the bill, but when required to pay directly through tolls, the need for more capacity often disappears. What should planners do?
Urban Exodus: Data Don't Support the Popular Pandemic Narrative
Americans fled cities in waves during the pandemic, right? Not to so fast.
The YIMBY-NIMBY Debate Gets 'Uninteresting'
Labels like "YIMBY" and "NIMBY" may be crude—but so what? One of them wants to solve America's housing crises. The other does not. Un-housed and under-housed people cannot wait for a perfect ideology to come along, writes Josh Stephens.
'Nudges' Can Reduce Plastic Bag Use Even Where Bans or Fees are Banned
Even in cities where state law pre-empts plastic bag fees, there are ways to reduce plastic waste.
Swiss Vote to Retain COVID Mitigation Measures
A nationwide referendum held on Sunday, Nov. 28, on coronavirus measures enacted by the Swiss federal government, including the controversial Swiss Covid certificate (vaccination verification), passed with 62% of the vote.
Prince George's County Funds Right of First Refusal Program
Prince George's County, Maryland has provided a $15 million nest egg for a program designed to maintain its existing affordable housing stock.
Lassen County
City of Surprise
City of Manhattan - Community Development Department
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of San Carlos
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Royal Oak, Michigan
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.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
