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Urban Harvest

When people say that you can’t grow stuff because you live in the middle of a city, they are wrong, very wrong. We know that. But it’s lucky that the owners of the Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens, California know it too. The Center was founded in 1997 to maintain Fairview Gardens, a farm founded in 1895, and believed to be the oldest organic farm in southern California.

Fairview Gardens is situated bang in the middle of an average suburban sprawl, and aerial photos show a big patch of green in the centre of hundreds of identical streets. The farm grows over one hundred varieties of fruits and vegetables and feed five hundred families. They also offer the community education, by providing workshops and classes. It’s great for the local community as well, and means they are more connected to their food and where it comes from. The farm is an inspiration for other city farms. There’s maybe even one in your town.

 



The Center staff say their mission is "to preserve the agricultural heritage of this 100-year-old farm; provide the local community with fresh, chemical-free fruits and vegetables; demonstrate the economic viability of sustainable agricultural methods for small farm operations; research and interpret the connections between food, land, and community well being; and nurture the human spirit through educational programs and public outreach both on and off the farm".

The farm has a produce stall, that is open all day, and this is a great way for local people to buy their fresh fruit and vegetables. Even if you aren’t lucky enough to live near something as spectacular as Fairview Gardens, you may find that you have a local food co–operative near you. It’s a way for you to buy good food from a local and reliable source, and means that more money goes to the farmers.

Why not try and find out more about what is going on in your local community? There is often a whole subculture going on that most people don't know about, and your life could be richer because of it.