> Begin forwarded message:
> *From: *Eli Zigas <ezi...@spur.org>
> *Date: *April 23, 2012 4:20:56 PM CDT
> *To: *<comf...@elist.tufts.edu>, <urba...@elist.tufts.edu>
> *Subject: **[URBANAG] New report about the use of public land for urban
> agriculture in San Francisco*
> Dear Comfood and UrbanAg members,
> The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) has just
> published a report, Public Harvest, about expanding the use of public land
> for urban agriculture in San Francisco. The report, though focused on San
> Francisco, also includes a rough comparison with programs in New York,
> Chicago, and Seattle.
> A short summary and highlights of the report are below. The full report
> can be downloaded at: www.spur.org/publicharvest
> If anyone else is doing similar work activating public land in or around
> cities, I'd love to hear about it.
> Sincerely,
> --Eli
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Summary and highlights of SPUR's "Public Harvest" Report
> Urban agriculture has captured the imagination of San Franciscans in
> recent years. More than 20 new urban farm and garden projects have launched
> since 2008, and in 2011 the city changed its zoning code to permit urban
> agriculture in all neighborhoods. City gardens and farms provide
> greenspace, recreation, education about fresh food, cost savings and
> ecological benefits. But the city will not fully capture these benefits
> unless it responds to the growing interest and energy behind the issue.
> The demand for more space to grow food is strong. In most neighborhoods,
> residents must wait more than two years for a community garden plot. The
> current amount of land dedicated to urban agriculture is insufficient,
> funding is down from its peak 10 years ago and support from city agencies
> is largely uncoordinated, understaffed and, as a result, inefficient. SPUR
> offers 11 recommendations to expand and coordinate the citys institutional
> support, increase funding and provide more access to public land.
> Read the report at: www.spur.org/publicharvest
> ~~~~~~~~~~~
> Highlights
> ~~~~~~~~~~~
> The first accounting of funding that has gone toward urban agriculture
> projects on city-owned land during the past five years. Averaging around
> $580,000 / year (with an upward trend in recent years) which is less
> (adjusted for inflation) than what the city put toward urban agriculture in
> the late 90's
> The first comprehensive inventory of urban agriculture sites on public
> land throughout the city, including an interactive map of urban agriculture
> sites in the city: http://g.co/maps/skzhk
> An analysis of the benefits of urban agriculture to the city
> A comparison of SF's funding of urban agriculture relative to programs
> in Seattle, Chicago, and New York. On a per-site basis, SF spends 55% of
> what Seattle spends, is about equal with Chicago, and spends more than NYC
> Recommendations for how the city can better support urban agriculture
> going forward
> ________________________________________________
> Eli Zigas
> Food Systems and Urban Agriculture Program Manager
> SPUR :: San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association
> 415.644.4881
> ezi...@spur.org
> Ideas + action for a better city >> spur.org
> --
> Martha Boyd
> Program Director, Urban Initiative (Chicago)<http://www.learngrowconnect.org/what/urban/chicago>
> Angelic Organics Learning Center
> Chicago Office: 6400 S Kimbark Avenue
> Chicago, IL 60637
> 773.288.5462 office
> 425.969.0317 fax
> 773.344.7198 mobile
> Growing food, farmers, and friendships since 1999!
> Angelic Organics Learning Center helps urban and rural people build local
> food systems.
> The Learning Center offers opportunities to grow healthy food and a better
> quality of life, connect with farmers and the land, and learn agricultural
> and leadership skills. To find out more, visit www.learngrowconnect.org.
> To find out about backyard chickens in the city, visit
> www.chicagochickens.org.
> --
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