Urban food security, urban resilience and climate change - weADAPT

community groups, churches or schools and often with the support of localgovernments. Browne et al., (2009) describe a number of their benefits:while:Community gardens increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly forparticipants, and provide opportunities for physical activity, community pride andsocial interaction through gardening. (Browne et al., p. 12)The value of school based gardens is that learning about gardening, composting,healthy eating and cooking can be integrated into the school curriculum in apositive and practical way (Browne et al., p. 12).They also describe the long established practice of municipal allotments in the UK,where small plots of land are leased very cheaply to local residents so that they cangrow their own produce. In these settings communal activities may occur but are not anexpectation or requirement of the lease, which typically requires only that the plot iskept free from invasive weeds.PMSEIC (2010) acknowledges the range of benefits and motivations for urban foodproduction:There is evidence that the increased production of food in urban environments isin response to heightened awareness of the environmental impacts of foodproduction, food transport costs and the costs of inputs such as energy andwater. The urban production of food can have a range of social, environmentaland health benefits that address issues of food security. These include increasingthe consumption of fresh foods, developing and strengthening communities,providing culturally appropriate foods and increasing awareness of foodproduction systems (PMSEIC, 2010, p. 44).Urban agriculture is seen in this view to be both a response to greater publicawareness of the quality and price of fresh locally grown food, and as a means ofraising awareness even further.Brown’s (2002) analysis of urban agriculture in cities of the USA expands on this multifacetedview of the benefits:Urban farming is an essential tool that addresses a number of these problems ininnovative ways. Environmental stewardship is enhanced through urbanagriculture’s efforts to green cities. Economic development and communityrevitalisation are also achieved through urban farming when neighbourhoodstake new pride in a community garden, when inner-city residents gain the abilityto grow and market their own food, when inner-city farmers’ markets provide newopportunities for entrepreneurs and commercial farmers. Individual health and asense of empowerment and well-being are created when urban dwellers haveaccess to local food and greater control over their own food system. Urbanfarming takes account of the real cost of food, and the real benefits from localand regional food. (Brown, 2002, p. 6)Brown also points to the importance of seeing urban agriculture in a wider metropolitancontext that includes activities in the peri-urban fringes as well as within the city proper:The full scope of urban agriculture appears if the city is seen in its relationships tothe urban fringe and the surrounding region. Urban dwellers want local suppliesof food to remain healthful, abundant, and accessible. This is far easier to doUrban food security, urban resilience and climate change 86