Statistics show that Americans live further from farms than ever before. The latest census found that 80.7 percent of the population lives in urban areas, which means that most food has to travel to get to our plates. But what if we brought farms closer to people?
In the new documentary “Growing Cities,” Omaha filmmakers Dan Susman and Andrew Monbouquette found city-dwelling farmers who are growing food in bustling hubs like New York City, San Francisco and Chicago. These urban farmers are feeding their communities with nutritious fruits and vegetables grown on windowsills or rooftops. Basically, their mantra is, Got land? Will farm.
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This doc teaches us several lessons about urban agriculture — it’s a solution that literally greens our cities; it brings us fresh, in-season food as locally as possible; it’s giving city dwellers the nutrition they need. Also, as an urban farmer puts it the film’s trailer above, it’s connecting our cities back to the farm: “There’s a great importance in making sure the next generation has the tools they need to feed themselves.”
The documentary has received accolades from film festivals and is currently screening in several cities. Find out how to host a screening in a city near you. Maybe you’ll be inspired to join the urban farming movement, too.
Tag: rooftop farm
Check Out the Largest Rooftop Farm in the World
You don’t normally think of New York City as a hub for agriculture, but at Brooklyn’s Navy Yard, there’s an enormous 65,000 square feet rooftop vegetable farm that grows kale, heirloom tomatoes, countless varieties of herbs, and seasonal vegetables for the Big Apple’s organically inclined stomachs.
Brooklyn Grange — the world’s largest rooftop farm — has released a fascinating time-lapse of its first seven months, where you can see a plain white roof transform into a flourishing vegetable garden in about two and half minutes. It’s hypnotizing to watch the old factory building withstand New York’s elements, from sunshine to snowstorms. By the end of the clip, you’ll see the roof blanketed in white, save a few patches of winter-resilient crops.
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Rooftop farms are a solution to feeding our cities’ increasing populations. When getting food for dinner is as easy as looking up, it reduces the distance that food has to travel to get to our mouths. It’s also a great way to connect city dwellers to the farm. Brooklyn Grange welcomes visitors from May through October and enlists volunteers as well. Check out www.brooklyngrangefarm.com to learn more.