Urban Agriculture

Urban agriculture may be found in backyards, like these raised garden beds in Houston, Texas, which also serve as rotating compost bins

Source: Ron Francis/Natural Resources Conservation Service

Urban agriculture is any agricultural production—including the cultivation of crops and animal husbandry—both within and on the fringe (peri-urban) of a metropolitan area. Urban agriculture is distinguished from rural agriculture in that it is embedded in an urban political ecology and draws on resources from the city to produce resources for the city. The integration of agricultural production into urban life draws on urbanites for labor-power, provides direct food distribution to urban consumers, reduces urban ecological impacts, and uses urban resources such as organic waste, wastewater, [Page 436]and vacant land. Urban agriculture may be found in a variety of ...