Home Builders Sow Seeds for Urban Agriculture

In the Stapleton neighborhood of Denver, developer Forest City has recognized the growing interest in urban gardening by partnering with The Urban Farm Company to offer ready-made raised-bed gardens to homebuyers.

1 minute read

August 8, 2013, 12:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


"Conservatory Green, which developer Forest City Stapleton is advertising as 'urban' and 'garden-ready,' is embracing the idea that individuals can become farmers, or at least gardeners, even in tight urban areas," reports Matthew Patane. "Forest City Stapleton recently entered into an agreement with The Urban Farm Company of Colorado to offer homebuyers raised-bed gardens for their front yards or backyards."

"These huge corporate home builders, they have begun to realize that this is what people want," said Bryant Mason, the founder of Urban Farm.

"Tim Aston, Colorado State University extension director in Arapahoe County, said planned housing developments, such as Stapleton, are taking a different approach to neighborhoods," adds Patane. "Developers are 'emphasizing the communal aspect more,' instead of simply maximizing housing space."

"It's a big perk now for new development to have (urban gardens), along with a pool or a dog park option, even if it's just a community garden," Aston said.


Tuesday, August 6, 2013 in The Denver Post

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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.

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