In 2050... "yards" will be used to meet a substantial amount of the agricultural needs of a community, they will also be a way to build community, and connect people with the fruitfulness of nature

Motivation:

• Food deserts and insecurity is a major issue even for so-called developed countries (i.e.30 million Americans last week went hungry, 12% Canadians food insecure - 3 levels of food insecurity)
  • We use 40% of our potable water on the East Coast of the US just to water lawns. Grass is the largest cultivated crop in the country…taking up more acreage than corn or soy.
  • Americans spend $40 billion on lawn care
• Transforming lawns from cosmetic (2020) → productive (2050)
• Project Drawdown suggests yard farming as a way to mitigate climate change because individuals who do become connected with earth and understand the abundance of it

Process:

• Soil testing to know what needs to be modified/ best crops to plant

• Remove invasive species

• Understanding climate and choose crops

  • Space-intensive crops like corn, potatoes, grains, onions, dry beans and other pulses are slow to mature and unlikely to be worthwhile where space is limited
  • Quick-turnover crops with a long growing seasons are a good choice which include kale, Swiss chard, parsley, tomatoes and perennial herbs
  • There are many vegetables that can be planted densely together to produce lots of yield. These include greens like spinach, arugula, lettuce, radishes
  • Many crops, like snap peas, cucumbers or zucchini, bear loads of fruit growing vertically if you build them some support

  

• Consider a green house to increase planting season

• Water & pest control

• In 2020, the food can be donated or sold to farmers markets/ restaurants, or participate in community sharing programs

Resources:

• Curtis Stone of The Urban Farming Co: high-value crops in small urban plots ($100k, quarter acre)
• The United Kingdom’s “Victory Garden” movement during World War II urged people to grow food in their yards. By the end of the war, there were 18-20 million Victory Gardens producing 40% of the nation’s household vegetable needs
• Community collectives: Community Supported Agriculture in Vancouver - provide your lot, community helps take care of, community members each get baskets throughout the season
• An article describing when to grow which vegetables
• The urban agriculture action plan for Toronto

Inspiration photos (for individual homes in 2020)