Urban Agriculture and Beekeeping Kori Nadine Armstrong http://www.forwardthinkingmuseum.com/exhibitions/solo_tourneret_03.php
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Urban Agriculture and
Beekeeping Kori Nadine Armstrong
http://www.forwardthinkingmuseum.com/exhibitions/solo_tourneret_03.php
What is Urban Agriculture?
Definition: the practice of cultivating,
processing, and distributing crops/animals in, or
around a village, town, or city.
Integrated into and interacting w/ the urban
economic and ecological system.
Practiced by over 800 million people worldwide.
Takes place intra-urban (within-city limits) or peri-
urban (urban outskirts)
Arose due to rapid urbanization and rising
population levels.
Provides a complementary strategy to reduce
urban poverty & enhance food security and
environmental management
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/urban-
farming/#/earth-day-urban-farming-new-york-rooftop_51631_600x450.jpg
Brooklyn Grange in New York grows more than 50,000 pounds of produce each year in its rooftop gardens. Photo © Brooklyn
Grange Rooftop Farm / Anastasia Cole Plakias. (Ensia “Urban Farming is Booming But What Does It Really Yield?”
Importance of Urban Agriculture
Growing populations
Increased urbanization
See expansion of megacities:
over 10 million people
i.e Mexico City, Tokyo
http://www.megacities.uni-koeln.de/documentation/
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Importance of Urban Agriculture (cont.)
Industrial agriculture
consequences
Growing expense of biofuel
Production and transportation
Monocrops
Diseases
Food Shortages
Environmental impact of cities
“heat islands”
Food deserts
Impact on quality of life
Fair World Project
Types of Urban Agriculture
Micro-farming (in and around the home)
Roof gardens, container gardens, traditional backyard
gardens, raised beds
Community gardens
Institutional gardens
Schools, churches, prisons
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Types of Urban Agriculture (cont.) Small-scale horticulturalists
Small-scale livestock/fish-farming
Chickens, goats, tilapia, trout, BEES
Small-scale specialist producers
Mushroom farming
Large-scale agro-enterprises
Bring large amounts of food to dense urban populations
https://www.google.com/search?q=urban+farmers&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=939&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjI__LeoOTLAhWENiYKHV2hAZsQ_AUIByg
C#imgrc=niJV5tht7Rb_vM%3Ahttp://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anthfood/afurbanfarming.html
http://grocycle.com/urban-mushroom-farm/
So what are the benefits of urban
agriculture?
Educational/ skill-building
Local food
Improved food security and household diet quality
Biodiversity
Less transportation
Reduces transit-related costs, carbon emissions
Economic development
Local restaurants
Farmers markets, Whole Foods, Wal-Mart
Mental health and social benefits
Reduces waste
Last longer on shelves and refrigerators
Composting
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http://foodtank.com/news/2015/07/urban-farms-and-gardens-are-feeding-cities-around-the-world
Composting
Often goes hand-in-hand with urban agriculture.
Enriches soil
Encourages production of beneficial micro-organisms.
Helps clean contaminated soil
Absorbs odors and treats semi-volatile and volatile
organic compounds.
Economic benefits
Reduces need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides.
https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food
http://www.charlestonparksconservancy.org/blogs/view_article/looking_at_an_urban_farm
http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/features/foodwaste111215.aspx
So what are the benefits of urban
agriculture? (cont.)
Environmental
Vertical gardens and
wastewater
Control building temperature
Smog
Utilization of space
Urban design appeal
Urban farms make good
neighbors
http://www.cityfarmer.info/2012/02/27/urban-agriculture-minneapolis-needs-your-voice/
http://inhabitat.com/kasetsart-university-in-thailand-builds-an-innovative-rooftop-garden-on-campus/kasetsart-university-
urban-farm-vertical-green-block1/
Urban Agriculture and Beekeeping
Rise in urban beekeeping (along w/ other types of
sustainable development and green building) in past
few years.
White House
70,000 bees
Chicago
City-managed apiaries
New York, Denver, Milwaukee, Santa Monica
All recently legalized beekeeping.
Beekeeper Michael Thompson applies smoke to settle down the more than
1000,000 bees in a hive on top of City Hall in Chicago. (WBUR)
http://citybees.blogspot.com/2009/03/excellent-white-house-bee-adventure.html
Why the buzz?
Pollination services
Community gardens
Bolsters local economies
Restaurants, grocery stores, natural remedies shops
Bee catchers
Local food movement
Honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, pollen
Health benefits
Alternative to sugar
Allergies
Stress Relief
Get back to nature
http://www.cityfarmer.info/2012/06/27/forward-thinking-museum-exhibits-eric-tournerets-urban-beekeeping-photos/
Noah Link checks on his bees at Food Field, a commercial farm in Detroit. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski.
Why the buzz?
Pollination services
Community gardens
Bolsters local economies
Restaurants, grocery stores, natural remedies shops
Bee catchers
Local food movement
Honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, pollen
Health benefits
Alternative to sugar
Allergies
Stress Relief
Get back to nature
Environmental
Helps offset Colony Collapse Disorder.
Bees Benefit as Well
City’s abundant and mostly pesticide-free flowers
Biodiversity
Organic gardening trend
Vs. monocultures in countryside
Longer nectar flow in cities
People planting flowers that bloom spring to fall
Beekeeping methods in cities
Small-scale beekeepers in cities usually rely on natural, non-chemical
beekeeping practices.
Build hives from local “survivor bees”
Result: Healthier bees
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beekeeping
Rooftop Bees in Brooklyn (Popular Mechanics)
Possible Cons
Too many bees in one city.
Competing for food and airspace
Swarms
Expanding hives
Solution: Give them room or move them
Note: Swarming bees are not usually aggressive
Stings
Solution: proper hive placement
Away from heavy traffic
Fencing
Signs
Overall thought: Pros outweigh cons.
JP “The Beeman”
Additional Readings and Questions
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