My first encounter with urban farming was in Philadelphia, smack in the middle of downtown. Between cheesesteak joints and T-shirt stores lay a gorgeous green lot, tended by a happy mix of young and old people. Children were gleeful with fat watering cans in their arms. A man carried a handful of carrots fresh from the earth, the skinny kind with green stalks still on them. The kind I had only ever seen on TV, held by Bugs Bunny. Everyone had a job, and everyone was happy.

The scene was so gosh darn wholesome, I wondered if there was a director and TV crew staked out in the toolshed.

But no, it was the real deal; one more green patch in the ever-growing urban agriculture trend. Urban farming has gained popularity in North America in recent years, as we learn more about the emissions impact of our imported produce.

The trend is taking on some pretty creative forms. The green living site Earth Eats has published a list of six urban agriculture success stories in the United States. This list includes a converted freeway on-ramp in San Francisco and a communal backyard in Seattle, where property owners get a share of the harvest in exchange for use of their land.

My hands-down favourite project is in Cleveland, where an old shopping mall in the city’s downtown core has been converted into an eco-village. The space will include farms, community education programs, and green retailers (think vegan cafes).

I think it’s a brilliant way of re-using old commercial space. In a big city, who would really miss one less mall?

Photo by Gabriel Kamener

I admit, I’ve never farmed much beyond a few berry-picking afternoons. I’m a born-and-bred city girl, and thought that farming anything beyond a basil plant in the windowbox was best left to, well, farmers. But these urban agricultural projects are a chance for us city folk to bridge that divide.

It’s a great way to better understand the field-to-table journey of my daily fruit and veggies. How satisfying would it be to eat a salad from your own farm? To bite into a tomato that you grew yourself? How much fun would it be, I wonder, to get my hands dirty with that pastoral community garden that I watched with envy in Philadelphia?

That’s the appeal of urban farming for me. Not just the food you can eat, but the communities that build around a shared interest in a greener, healthier city.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Have you ever participated in Urban Agriculture? Or have you ever encountered such a project in your town? Share your stories in the comments below.

For more inspiration, check out our articles Chicken Coops in Your Backyard and Urban Homesteading: Turn Your City Home Into Country Living.

Photo by empracht.

Farmers’ markets today can present quite a challenge to conscientious shoppers. There are so many different labels used to describe produce and meat – local, sustainable, free range, cage-free and so on – that the process of shopping can become rather daunting.

This no-nonsense food label dictionary will help you work out what it is you’re really buying.

Cage-free

This is an unregulated claim. It generally means the hens who laid the eggs were allowed to live outside of cages, as opposed to conventionally raised chickens that are stuffed into high-density cages (and probably fed animal protein).

Cage-free birds don’t necessarily have access to the outdoors, though. It’s best to ask the farmer how he or she raised the birds.

Certified organic

A farm must be chemical-free for three years, meaning no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or chemical herbicides can be used. Organic meat, eggs, and dairy products must come from livestock that have not received antibiotics or growth hormones, and were given only organic feed.

Photo by anemoneprojectors.

The farm has to pay for the organic label. Most certifications in the US are handed out by the USDA, and any other certifying bodies must be approved by them.

Farm-raised

Fish or other seafood deliberately grown, rather than caught wild. Many environmentalists object to farm-raised seafood because the farms often have the same environmental impacts as other industrial farms. They may use antibiotics or other chemicals, and can cause water pollution.

It’s generally better to buy seafood that has been caught wild and comes from a well-managed source that isn’t over-fished.

Free range

This can apply to meat, dairy, or eggs. The USDA only regulates this claim for chickens and eggs, and it means the birds were allowed access to the outdoors. Whether they were actually outside, or for how long, is not regulated. When in doubt, ask the farmer how things are done. Free range livestock generally roam freely outdoors.

Grass-fed

Grass-fed cattle eat what cattle have evolved to eat: grass. They are allowed to graze naturally, and the meat can be up to six times higher in healthy omega-3 fatty acids than conventionally raised beef.

Grain-fed or conventionally raised cattle are forced to eat corn, and probably animal waste products too. Because cattle haven’t evolved to eat this way, they are plied with antibiotics to keep them from getting sick. These antibiotics end up in the manure, are transferred to water sources and can then enter the entire food chain.

Grass-finished

Can mean one of two things: that the cattle were fed grass their entire lives, or that they were fed grain until they approached slaughter, at which point they were switched to grass. To find out which it is, you’ll need to ask the farmer.

Photo by Ed Yourdon.

Heirloom

These plants have never been hybridized (bred for specific qualities) by humans, a process that reduces biodiversity and results in fewer varieties of produce on the market. Heirloom plants are often considered to be varieties grown during earlier periods of human history. They are sometimes bizarre colors and shapes, like purple cauliflower or blue potatoes.

Heritage

This is the animal version of heirloom. Heritage breeds have been pushed out of the food chain in favor of the few livestock breeds that do well in industrial agriculture. Heritage breeds are often centuries old. Farming them helps promote biodiversity, and their meat can be healthier and more flavorsome.

Local

Usually defined as food grown within a one hundred mile radius. Advantages of buying local are that the food is fresh, its environmental impact is less, and you are most likely supporting a small farm and making an investment in the community you live in.

Natural or All natural

These labels are unregulated and have no agreed-upon meaning! Be sure to ask or do some research to find out more.

Organically grown

Some small farmers can’t afford to pay for the organic label, but they subscribe to the same – or stricter – organic practices and so use this term instead.

Photo by Chris Runoff.

Pastured

Pastured livestock and poultry are raised outside in fields and allowed to eat a natural diet. Meat, dairy, and eggs from pastured animals generally have higher levels of nutrients.

Sustainable

Some farmers have opted out of the certified organic label, recognizing that it is increasingly meaningless as big farms figure out ways to meet the bare minimum for certification.

They’ve chosen instead to practice what was really at the heart of the organic movement when it first started: farming practices that minimize impact, forgo the use of chemicals, and embrace a more holistic approach to growing food that recognizes biodiversity and animal ethics. For specifics, ask the farmer.

Transitional organic

A farm currently practicing organic farming that hasn’t reached the three year mark needed to become certified.

The most important piece of advice

Whenever you are in doubt about what a label means or exactly how some food was produced, just ask the farmer. That’s the beauty of a farmers’ market: you should be able to get reliable information right from the source.

To find a farmers’ market near you, visit Local Harvest.

For more information on these topics, check out The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, and To Buy or Not to Buy Organic by Cindy Burke.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Any other food labels you are still confused about? Ask Megan in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like Going Organic: 6 Reasons Why You Should (Or Shouldn’t) and A Matador Guide to Joining Your Local CSA.

I have a few recommendations:

-Don’t trespass. Especially avoid fields with signs that read “No Trespassing, We Don’t Call 911″.
-Don’t slam on the brakes and veer off the highway when you spot a patch of blue in the ditch.
-Don’t trample all the flowers. Don’t allow your kids and dogs to do it either.

If you are free right now, come visit. The flowers are starting to bloom.

1. They aren’t at their peak yet, but thanks to the right weather patterns through the fall and winter, this is supposed to be an amazing year for wildflowers.

2. Central Texas is popular among both types of bikers.

3. Texan tidbit: All species of the bluebonnet are considered to be the state flower of Texas.

4. It is best to get off the crowded highways and drive the country roads. Just be respectful of private property.

5. If you can’t find a reliable wildflower spot, you can go to a wildflower farm – where this photo was taken.

6. Stuck at home? You can watch bluebonnets bloom on the Bluebonnet Cam.

7.Wildflowers popping up among the cacti.

8. Bluebonnet festivals appear in small Texas towns all through the month of April.

9. A lot of Texan families return to the same spot every year when the wildflowers bloom again.

Community Connection

Planning a trip to central Texas? Check out another photo essay on Climbing Enchanted Rock. Enchanted rock is less than 40 miles from where most of these wildflower photos were taken.

Plastic bags, the scourge of our planet. On the one hand, plastic bags are innocuous carriers of stuff. We use them to bring home groceries. A restaurateur ties them carefully around our take-out soup to prevent spills. They keep the wet swimsuit from soaking our clothes in an overnight bag.

Yet they also serve as the modern marker of impending doom. In movies or photographs, every bad neighborhood, every empty stretch of road where evil is surely soon to invade, is populated by a plastic bag impaled on a barbed-wire fence or blowing listlessly across the street.

Photo by Samuel Mann

Plastic Damage

That doom, of course, also applies to our planet. Only about 12 percent of plastic bags and film were reused or recycled in 2007, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The rest were discarded. Plastic bags are lodged in our waterways, creating irreversible harm to animals on a physical level — bags in stomachs or around necks — and on a molecular level as the bags disintegrate, the chemicals they release into the environment can create hormonal changes in living things.

While China has banned plastic bags — reportedly saving 1.6 million tons of petroleum for bag production in just one year — most of the rest of us are offered plastic bags daily. Reduce your plastic-bag impact on the world by taking personal action.

How to Keep the Plastic in Check

First, just don’t take a bag – Bring your own with you. If you travel by car, keep a stash of reusable bags in the car. Carry a knapsack or messenger bag where you can stash purchases. Invest in a few expandable string or nylon bags. Bring along reusable mesh produce bags for fruits and veggies, and reusable muslin bags for bulk buys.

What if the deed is done? Put your stash of bags to good use by reusing them. Here are seven ideas to get you started.

Line the trash

Many people reuse plastic bags as small trash can liners. But don’t use this as a reason to get bags, necessarily — we avoid accepting plastic bags and leave our trash cans unlined, putting all our trash into one larger, recycled plastic bag that we dump each week. It doesn’t smell, because we compost our degradable waste.

Photo by ThisParticularGreg

Fuse your own plastic “fabric”

If you have a stack of bags, an iron and some parchment or other non-waxed paper, you can fuse layers of plastic bags together to make waterproof linings for other bags, floor cushions, and more. Be sure to open a window and maybe even wear a respiratory mask to keep the fumes out of your body. Watch a tutorial, and visit Craft for ideas of what to do with the fabric — like making a raincoat!

Fill a flowerpot

You can crumple up plastic bags to put in the bottom of a flowerpot, before filling with potting soil. The pot will be lighter, have easier drainage and require less dirt. Best for non-edible annual plants.

Be ready for emergencies

Throw one or two in your bag or luggage to keep dirty shoes off your packed clothes, or keep your notebook dry even with a damp umbrella in the same bag.

Make plarn

If you’re a knitter or crocheter, consider slicing and dicing bags into plastic yarn, or “plarn.” See a tutorial here from Helle Jorgensen, who crochets phenomenal plastic sea creatures from old bags.

Recycle the bags – and other plastic

While the EPA reports that only about 6.8 percent of all plastics were recycled in 2008, many communities now have drop-off sites that accept plastic bags for recycling. And “filmy” plastic includes more than just grocery sacks. In the same bin, you can return dry cleaning bags, shrink-wrap from boxes, clean plastic wrap, newspaper bags or any lightweight plastic to be turned into another product, like lumber, garbage bags or milk jugs.

Buy recycled plastic

If you must buy plastic bags — to carry away major garbage, for instance — buy recycled.

Community Connection

Several countries have banned (or taxed) plastic bags in an effort to reduce plastic bag usage. To learn more check out our page on green living.

Photo by Don Hankins

Atlanta, Chicago, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver are just some of the major cities that allow beekeeping. But in New York City, bees are prohibited along with crocodiles, lions, and pit vipers. In comparison to venomous snakes and giant cats, bees seem hardly a threat.

This month, New York City Council member David Yassky introduced a bill to remove the ban. The health department initially gave the green light, but the action requires a second vote in March after a public comment period.

Why do we need more bees?

People generally don’t like bees because they’re ugly and they carry a mean sting. I’m always reminded of that scene from Honey I Shrunk the Kids when the kids get stuck to that giant hairy bee because of the sticky pollen.

See? They’re misunderstood creatures.

But beekeeping is incredibly environmentally friendly and a sustainable practice. Their honey is delicious, and buying local goods means cutting back on food’s travel time and consequently environmental impact. You will also have some backyard pollinators handy, and their honey is chock full of vitamins and antioxidants.

Photo by ComputerHotline

But their most significant role is pollination: bees pollinate fruits, vegetables, trees and more. However, bee colonies are collapsing for some unknown reason, and experts are worried that food resources will become depleted. Lifting a ban like the one in NYC gives people the opportunity to help fight the problem hands-on.

So you want to be a beekeeper?

If the beekeeping ban is entirely removed, it doesn’t mean everyone should pick up the job. Sami Grover discusses some steps to prepare for being a beekeeper:

1. Read everything you can get your hands on, including Beekeeping for Dummies.

2. Check out a local beekeeping course…yes, they exist.

3. Get involved with some hives to become more comfortable around the bees. If you’re afraid of bees, they’ll sense it.

4. Check with your neighbors: the last thing you want are the angry folks next door calling you “Loony-Beekeeping-Betty.”

That’s just the beginning, the learning process is long but potentially saving the planet is worth it, don’t you think?

Community Connection

Do you want to see New York City lift the beekeeping ban? Sign this online petition.

Urban homesteaders can grow their own food and stockpile it for the winter, raise chickens, and yield rainwater for household purposes. Some families even practice making homemade crafts, like soapmaking, and use solar energy to power their greenhouses.

While there are some obvious restrictions, like climate and lack of space, nearly any family can create a home-based economy.

Urban Homesteaders Are Nice People

Community connections are an important part of this lifestyle: one of the rules of being an urban homesteader is being a good neighbour. The Dervaes family from Pasadena, California, suggest in their 10 Elements of Urban Homesteading to always lend a hand for free. Additionally, events focusing on jam making, wine production and other home-based activities attract people of like-minds from all over.

Photo by david owen

Urban homesteaders are also always willing to share their knowledge. Dozens of blogs like the Urban Homesteader offer a wide variety of resources for being self-sufficient, including recipes and crop cultivation tips. Cool off with homemade naturally sweet tea? Don’t mind if I do.

No lie, converting your modern home to an urban homestead is a tough move — one that requires patience and time — but the long-term benefits of living green are outstanding. Organic foods are easy on the body and easy on the planet. Using bio-fuels, taking public transportation, and growing your own crops are huge money-savers.

Plus the workload encourages the whole family to participate, so drag the kids off the couch and have them tend the chicken coops.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Have you created a urban homestead? Share your experiences in the comments.