Urban Agriculture

See a definition of urban agriculture by clicking here. Collective Roots has created a directoy of urban agriculture links and resources. You may access this directory by clicking here.

"A sustainable community is economically, socially and environmentally healthy, and it has the capacity to remain healthy over time. To achieve sustainability, a community must use its resources, including land, natural systems and people, in a way that does not exhaust them. To achieve sustainability, a community must balance human and natural needs with economic development.” -Weeks Neighborhood Plan

Collective Roots seeks to preserve some of the rich agricultural history of this region.

Many communities have rich agricultural histories that have helped to shape their unique character and culture. Preserving this history allows us to hold on to the soul of our communities and preserve the environmental integrity and sustainability of community development.

East Palo Alto

One of these communities is East Palo Alto. Like many communities in the Bay Area, East Palo Alto has a rich agricultural history that is on the verge of disappearing. One amazing element of this history was a visionary known as Charles Weeks. An amazing plan, inspired by Mr. Weeks and the agricultural history in East Palo Alto, was created to preserve East Palo Alto's history through sustainable development was developed in the 1990s. Read the visionary plan by clicking here.

This Initiative has several components:

• Establishing online archives of the rich agricultural history of the region
• Actively promoting the preservation of sites that have historical agricultural significance
• Developing new sites for urban agriculture
• Establishing an urban agriculture land trust
• Supporting and celebrating local farmers and gardeners who are carrying on the rich traditions of our past and present. Example: The Collard Greens Festival in East Palo Alto.

For more information, please contact Wolfram Alderson by clicking here. You may download a PowerPoint presentation providing an overview our urban agriculture work by clicking here (large PDF file-please allow plenty of time to download). Wolfram Alderson, Executive Director of Collective Roots, has a life-long involvement with urban agriculture and horticulture therapy. You may learn more about his work that extends over 3 decades by clicking here.

Health Benefits of Urban Agriculture

“Health professionals increasingly recognize the value of farm- and garden-scale urban agriculture. Growing food and non-food crops in and near cities contributes to healthy communities by engaging residents in work and recreation that improves individual and public well-being."

-Excerpt from an excellent paper (click here) from members of the Community Food Security Coalition's North American Initiative on Urban Agriculture. 12 pages with 15 page bibliography by Anne C. Bellows, PhD Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Katherine Brown, PhD Southside Community Land Trust; Jac Smit, MCP The Urban Agriculture Network.

This article outlines the benefits of urban agriculture with regard to nutrition, food security, exercise, mental health, and social and physical urban environments. Potential risks are reviewed. Practical recommendations for health professionals to increase the positive benefits of urban agriculture are provided.