Metro Vancouver: Designing for Urban Food Production

Abstract

This article focuses on the role landscape architects and planners can take in the creation of urban food production landscapes. It draws upon a series of local projects and visions to demonstrate how this can be accomplished. Within the context of Metro Vancouver, there are signifi cant constraints to expansion due to geographical limitations, a steadily growing population, and large low-density residential areas. Successful food production strategies for the future can be achieved by integrating urban agriculture into a wider city planning context, and transcending the creation of community gardens. The challenge is to provide custom solutions for specifi c neighborhoods, at all scales, from the urban core to the suburbs, and beyond. The design of food production sites within the urban core and, particularly, the edge condition between residential development, and farmland, will challenge landscape architects to create real places of interaction between man and land.

Urban crops and livestock: The experiences, challenges, and opportunities of planning for urban agriculture in two Canadian provinces

“…In conclusion, studies exist that suggest that urban agriculture is often not integrated within the realm of planning, with policies, regulations, and zoning by-laws that can act as barriers (De Zeeuw et al, 2000;LeJava and Goonan, 2012;Richter, 2012;Roehr and Kunigk, 2009). While this is true, our findings indicate that there are several examples in Ontario and British Columbia where municipalities are attempting to address this issue by incorporating policies that facilitate urban agriculture over the recent years.…”

“…Therefore, the policy implementation process can benefit from strategies that enhance public knowledge about food-related issues through community learning, as concluded in the studies by Campbell (2004) and Roehr and Kunigk (2009) with respect to the role of education on the integration of urban agriculture and food systems.…”

“…Policies, regulations, and zoning by-laws can also hinder the implementation of urban agriculture initiatives, as noted by Castillo et al (2013), Roehr andKunigk (2009), andVoigt (2011). An example of these hindrances is the keeping of hens in urban areas.…”

“…As expressed by a Victoria planner, public support is one of the key factors necessary for urban agriculture to reach the policy agenda of local governments. Similarly, Roehr and Kunigk (2009) state that the degree of public awareness and acceptance affects how successful the practice of urban agriculture is integrated. They mention that public perception is an important factor because urban agriculture might be considered as an unsuitable activity in the city.…”

Growing in the city: Analyzing public urban agriculture in Ottawa

“…Examples of urban food production are numerous, including private gardens, community and school gardens, edible green roofs, urban farms and orchards, and beekeeping. Aside from the environmental benefits related to shortened supply chains and food distribution networks, and urban green space, urban agriculture also provides a wide array of social, community, and health benefits, and has received support from urban planners (Roehr & Kunigk, 2009), health professionals (Brown & Jameton, 2000;Wakefield, Yeudall, Taron, Reynolds, & Skinner, 2007), food security / food justice advocates (Corrigan, 2011;Milbourne, 2012), and community organizers (Larson, 2006).…”