Urban farming is not an urban myth

Just rode home from Big City Farms, our fourth trip this season to our neighborhood “urban farm.” After hearing about this concept last year, we decided to test it out. To be real honest, we half expected that we would be out the few hundred bucks, but optimistically hoped for the best. So far, so good!!! The only issue for us is that after 10 years enjoying the urban restaurant-hopping lifestyle, we have had to break out the cookbook and figure out what to do with turnips, kale, and chard! (I hope I spelled those right!), and still might have a little work to make those items edible. I never really believed in the “all natural” hype, but after the first weekly pickup of vegetables, I can tell you that quality of unpreserved products is far superior, and I am no foodie! Upon first hearing of “urban farming”, I thought what an interesting concept for NY and LA, however from what I have been reading, this is spreading across the Midwest as we start to re-urbanize our cores. I have found out that there is quite a following here in my home town of Indianapolis, and I am starting to hear the buzz as I go to other cities. The City of Indianapolis is even holding forums, giving permission to plan on city owned property, and I am seeing gardens pop up throughout my neighborhood and in our downtown parks. From personal experience, I can tell you that it is something that is likely here to stay; at least I hope it does, as we are going to figure out how to cook those turnips!

I highly recommend any urban dwellers to join their local urban farm. Developers – this is a service/amenity that should be a part of the plan in any new urban or mixed use development.