Mixed-Ag

Abstract

Urban agriculture has taken root throughout Americas cities, and especially Detroit, with its shrinking population and expanding vacant land. It is a noble, effective, and productive conversion of unused blighted land throughout the city; but does it respond, or even acknowledge that it’s located in the city? There are certain benefits to living in a city, from community collaboration, economies of scale in the business community, and viability of cultural and artistic amenities such as parks and museums. But urban agriculture takes advantage of none. It behaves just as rural agriculture behaves; the land is used for utilitarian production with the yield shipped out for distribution. While there are many benefits to locally grown food, such as reduced transportation costs, fresher food, and local profit retention, there are many aspects of city life that urban agriculture can take advantage of. This is an exploration into integrating agriculture into the urban fabric, not just carved out from it.