Eat the City: The Art of Urban Farming

Architectural historian Richard Ingersoll surveys creative 'civic agriculture' projects in the United States and Europe where abandoned lots have been transformed into edible landscapes.

1 minute read

June 24, 2013, 8:00 AM PDT

By Places Journal


"Urban development has eaten away the clear edges of cities," writes Richard Ingersoll, "leaving ambiguous empty spaces."

On Places, IIngersoll explores how innovative landscape architects and urbanists are grappling with these "patchy areas," and he proposes an alternative approach he calls "civic agriculture" — the reconceptualization of cities as diverse agricultural zones, from productive parks to allotments, with the ultimate goal of a richer public realm.

He discusses landscape designs and artworks by Gilles Clément, Alan Sonfist and Carlo Scoccianti; as well as models of urban farming in Denmark, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the United States.

Monday, June 17, 2013 in Places Journal

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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