Office Buildings Add Cash Crops To Their Balance Sheet

From | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation
As those who have met me know, I am determined to see year-round growing (and of course, year-round farmers markets) in every part of North America. When I say that in cold climes, people quickly counter with “”well, you can’t grow here in the winter”, and so I am usually ready with my regular reply: ‘well, someone USED to grow (or can or pickle or hunt) in the winter; are you SURE you can’t?”
Technology is not always the enemy of farming. And in some cases, offbeat ideas have furthered agriculture much more quickly than would have happened without them. Michael Pollan raises that theory in his classic book “The Botany of Desire” with his chapter on marijuana growing. He contends that hydroponics and greenhouse technology was greatly aided by the innovative and yes illegal activities of growers in the Nordic countries in the 1970s. Think of the seed-saving, the homemade lighting systems, watering systems and precise cultivation that now aids farmers growing lettuces, tomatoes and hundreds of other food crops.
With the amount of energy and infrastructure available to urban growers, it makes sense to me that most of them should attempt different farming systems than the rural or exurban farmers who have access to acreage to rotate crops and diverse landscapes. Farming in or on a building seems like a no-brainer as far as what is available. And look folks- this project is starting in Montreal and coming soon to a Northern urban city in the U.S. probably near you.

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Darlene Wolnik

Community activist, public market consultant and writer

Working since the 1980s on social change issues while encouraging civic activity across North America. I live in the Gumbo Nation (New Orleans) and raised here some but mostly in Buckeye Nation (Cleveland). I provide support and consulting for localized food systems, especially farmers markets. Bicycling, clean water, pocketbook issues, true wealth generation, reanimating public spaces and direct action democracy are also within my focus. Have blogged for a decade, have published essays and non-fiction since 2001.

Helping Public Markets Grow