Farm the City: A Toolkit for Setting Up a Successful Urban Farm - Paperback

by Michael Ableman (Author)

"A useful manual for anyone interested in turning the concrete jungle green . . . a must-have for any urban dweller serious about farming." --Publishers Weekly

In Farm the City, Michael Ableman, the "Spartacus of Sustainable Food Activism," offers a guide to setting up and running a successful urban farm, derived from the success of Sole Food Street Farms, one of the largest urban agriculture enterprises in North America. Sole Food Street Farms spans four acres of land in Vancouver, produces twenty-five tons of food annually, provides meaningful work for dozens of disadvantaged people, and has improved the surrounding community in countless ways. Coverage includes:

• Selecting land and choosing the right crops
• Growing food in city farms, including plans for planting and harvesting
• Fundraising and marketing strategies, philosophies, and vital information for selling fresh products
• Navigating local government and regulations
• Engaging the community and building meaningful livelihoods

Farm the City is an invaluable tool kit for entrepreneurs and activists looking to create economic and social value through urban agriculture.

Urban farming has the power to change diets, economies, and lives. Yet starting an urban farm can seem daunting with skills and knowledge that extend beyond growing to include marketing, sales, employees, community relations, and navigating local regulations. With this comprehensive guide, you'll be running a successful urban farm in no time.

"A story of how to bring cities back to life, literally and emotionally . . . Local food not only addresses quality of life, economy, and food security, it changes our hearts . . . [a] wonderfully written testament to life." --Paul Hawken, New York Times bestselling author of Drawdown

Front Jacket

AN ESSENTIAL PRIMER from ONE OF NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST URBAN FARMS

Whenever Michael Ableman sees a barrier, he runs over and kicks it in. Lucky for us, this strikingly focused anarchist writes about it too, sharing the deeply moving story of reclaim- ing land and building real community in the most unlikely places, from the ground up.
-- DAN BARBER, chef/co-owner, Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, author, The Third Plate

An inspiring how-to guide for any urban grower who is serious about success.
-- LEAH PENNIMAN, co-director, Soul Fire Farm, author, Farming While Black

URBAN AGRICULTURE has the power to change economies, diets, and lives. Yet starting an urban farm can seem daunting with skills and knowledge that extend beyond growing to include marketing, sales, employees, community relations, and navigating local regulations.

In Farm the City, Michael Ableman, the "Spartacus of Sustainable Food Activism," offers a guide to setting up and running a successful urban farm derived from the success of Sole Food Street Farms, one of the largest urban agriculture enterprises in North America. It spans four acres of land in Vancouver, produces 25 tons of food annually, provides meaningful work for dozens of disadvantaged people, and has improved the surrounding community in countless ways. Coverage includes:

• Selecting land and choosing the right crops
• Growing food in city farms, including plans for planting and harvesting
• Fundraising and marketing strategies, philosophies, and vital information for selling fresh products
• Navigating local government and regulations
• Engaging the community and building meaningful livelihoods.

Farm the City is an invaluable toolkit for entrepreneurs and activists looking to create economic and social value through urban agriculture.

A testament to all farmers: that our hard work has value and the food we grow and sell for any reason is invaluable.
-- KAREN WASHINGTON, farmer-activist, Rise and Root Farm

One of the handful of inspiring visionaries on the planet who are redefining our future food systems.
-- PATRICK HOLDEN, founding director, Sustainable Food Trust

MICHAEL ABLEMAN, a commercial organic farmer for the past 45 years, is co-founder and director of Sole Food Street Farms. He founded the non-profit Center for Urban Agriculture and has created urban farms in California and Vancouver, BC. He farms with his family at the historic 120-acre Foxglove Farm on Salt Spring Island, BC.

Back Jacket

AN ESSENTIAL PRIMER from ONE OF NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST URBAN FARMS

"Whenever Michael Ableman sees a barrier, he runs over and kicks it in. Lucky for us, this strikingly focused anarchist writes about it too, sharing the deeply moving story of reclaim- ing land and building real community in the most unlikely places, from the ground up. "
-- DAN BARBER, chef/co-owner, Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, author, The Third Plate

"An inspiring how-to guide for any urban grower who is serious about success. "
-- LEAH PENNIMAN, co-director, Soul Fire Farm, author, Farming While Black

URBAN AGRICULTURE has the power to change economies, diets, and lives. Yet starting an urban farm can seem daunting with skills and knowledge that extend beyond growing to include marketing, sales, employees, community relations, and navigating local regulations.

In Farm the City, Michael Ableman, the "Spartacus of Sustainable Food Activism," offers a guide to setting up and running a successful urban farm derived from the success of Sole Food Street Farms, one of the largest urban agriculture enterprises in North America. It spans four acres of land in Vancouver, produces 25 tons of food annually, provides meaningful work for dozens of disadvantaged people, and has improved the surrounding community in countless ways. Coverage includes:

• Selecting land and choosing the right crops
• Growing food in city farms, including plans for planting and harvesting
• Fundraising and marketing strategies, philosophies, and vital information for selling fresh products
• Navigating local government and regulations
• Engaging the community and building meaningful livelihoods.

Farm the City is an invaluable toolkit for entrepreneurs and activists looking to create economic and social value through urban agriculture.

"A testament to all farmers: that our hard work has value and the food we grow and sell for any reason is invaluable. "
-- KAREN WASHINGTON, farmer-activist, Rise and Root Farm

"One of the handful of inspiring visionaries on the planet who are redefining our future food systems. "
-- PATRICK HOLDEN, founding director, Sustainable Food Trust

MICHAEL ABLEMAN, a commercial organic farmer for the past 45 years, is co-founder and director of Sole Food Street Farms. He founded the non-profit Center for Urban Agriculture and has created urban farms in California and Vancouver, BC. He farms with his family at the historic 120-acre Foxglove Farm on Salt Spring Island, BC.

Author Biography

Michael Ableman has been a commercial organic farmer for the past 45 years. He is one of the early visionaries of the urban agricultural movement and founder of the nonprofit Center for Urban Agriculture. He has helped create high-profile urban farms in Watts and Goleta, California, and is co-founder and director of Sole Food Street Farms in Vancouver, British Columbia. Ableman is author of numerous books, including From the Good Earth, On Good Land, Fields of Plenty, and Street Farm. He is the subject of the award-winning PBS film Beyond Organic narrated by Meryl Streep. His work in Vancouver is profiled in the feature-length documentary A New Economy, and he is featured in the film The Evolution of Organic, which chronicles the birth of the organic food movement. He currently lives and farms with his family at the historic 120-acre Foxglove Farm on Salt Spring Island, BC. www.michaelableman.com