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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.
List of contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTIONCHAPTER 1: PLANNING Mission
Experiential Capital
Financial Capital
Fundraising Principles
Selecting and Accessing Land
Permits and Policy Challenges
CHAPTER 2: GROWING Infrastructure
Soil/Fertility
What to Grow
Time, Space, and the Importance of a Farm Plan
Creating an Annual Farm Plan
Implementing the Plans
Crop Rotation
Soil Preparation
Propagation
Direct Seeding vs. Transplanting
Beginner's Mind: Walking, Seeing, and Responding
Never Weed, Always Cultivate
Water Wisdom
Pests and Diseases
Season Extension
Birth, Delivery, and Postnatal Care (Harvest/Post Harvest)
Alive and Still Moving
CHAPTER 3: MARKETING Where and To Whom
Farmers' Markets
Onsite Retail
CSA
Restaurant Sales
Direct to Retail Sales
Wholesale
Value-Added
Pricing
Your Story
CHAPTER 4: PEOPLE AND PRINCIPLES The Human Element
Urban Farming Manifesto
An Urban Orchard
INDEX
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT NEW SOCIETY PUBLISHERS
About the author
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
Summary
Farm the City is an introduction to the principles, methods, and realities of starting an urban farm derived from the success of Sole Food Street Farms, one of the largest urban agricultural enterprises in North America. Covers navigating regulations and finding land, to crop planning, fundraising, marketing, and more.
Foreword
- Galleys available to sales reps, trade publications, and long-lead media
- Digital galleys on Edelweiss
- National advertising: Acres U.S.A., Urban Farms, Mother Earth News, Harrowsmith
- National print campaign: Acres U.S.A., Urban Farms, Mother Earth News, Civil Eats, Small Farmers Journal, Yes! Magazine, Treehugger, Food Tank, Eating Well, Growing for Market
- Online/social media campaign:
- Outreach to: Ecological Farming Association, Sustainable Food Trust, Sole Food
- Promotion on New Society Publishers social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, our blog, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube
- General eBook marketing plan
- eBook will be available simultaneously with print publication to maximize sales
- eBook ISBN will be included on all press materials, author and publisher websites, and whenever print ISBN is listed
- publisher and author will be promoting both e and p through social media
- Excerpts target for first serial rights: Urban Farms, Yes! Magazine, Acres U.S.A., Mother Earth News, Growing for Market
- Promotion through the author's websites: www.michaelableman.com, www.solefoodfarms.com, www.foxglovefarmbc.ca
- Bookseller/library promotions: Baker & Taylor Super Annotation
