Course Info

9 video lessons (47 Mins)
Published
2019

Preview Course

Browse Course Chapters

1.

Introduction

1 min
2.

What is Urban Agriculture?

4 mins
3.

City Slickers Farm

6 mins
4.

More Than Just a Garden

3 mins
5.

Urban Agriculture and the Community

10 mins
6.

Rooftop Farming

7 mins
7.

Challenges

3 mins
8.

Health and Food as Medicine

10 mins
9.

1 min

Course Description

Urban farming is becoming more popular around the state of California, taking many forms along the way, as documented in this film produced by experts from the University of California and the Cal State University system in cooperation with local organizations. As you'll see in this film, many urban farms are run by nonprofits to tap into the benefits of urban farms to promote social justice and equity, among other larger goals. Given the similarities in the shape, size, output, and management of urban farms, most tend to face similar challenges, and urban planners can have a role in supporting the growth and sustainability of existing farms, while creating opportunities for new farms in urban settings.

The end of the film also presents a vision for integrating urban farming into a more holistic concept of medicine, where food, rather than just prescription pills, provides the foundation for healthy lifestyles among previous marginalized communities.

More than just landscaping, which requires resources and maintenance, urban farms offer are a productive agricultural spine for cities. More than just a garden, urban farms offer an oasis in cities and neighborhoods surrounded by economic and environmental risks. Urban farms offer lessons in nature that are otherwise impossible to learn in urban environments.