office of sustainability baltimore city department of planning

Urban Agriculture in Baltimore City

Abby CockeEnvironmental Planner

What’s currently going on?

2008: Real Food Farm starts with 3 hoop houses in Clifton Park

What’s currently going on?

2014: Real Food Farm has 7 hoop houses, two fields, composting, orchards, bees, mobile market, CSA, interns, classes, tours

What’s currently going on?

13+ farms total in Baltimore City, of which 11 belong to the Farm Alliance. More looking to start up all the time.

What is the City of Baltimore doing?

• 2009: Baltimore Sustainability Plan

What is the City of Baltimore doing?

• 2009: Baltimore Sustainability Plan

• 2010: Baltimore Food Policy Initiative

What is the City of Baltimore doing?

• 2009: Baltimore Sustainability Plan

• 2010: Baltimore Food Policy Initiative

• 2011: Urban Agriculture Land Leasing Pilot

What is the City of Baltimore doing?

• 2009: Baltimore Sustainability Plan

• 2010: Baltimore Food Policy Initiative

• 2011: Urban Agriculture Land Leasing Pilot

• 2013: Homegrown Baltimore: Grow Local

What is the City of Baltimore doing?

• 2009: Baltimore Sustainability Plan

• 2010: Baltimore Food Policy Initiative

• 2011: Urban Agriculture Land Leasing Pilot

• 2013: Homegrown Baltimore: Grow Local

...and much more! Permitting and zoning, animal husbandry regulations, soil safety policy, and related projects.

Land

Land

Water

Land

Water

Soil

Land

Water

Soil

Capital

Land

Water

Soil

Capital

Support

Land

Water

Soil

Capital

Support

Support incentives for gardens and farms on privately-owned land.

Land

Water

Soil

Capital

Support

Support incentives for gardens and farms on privately-owned land.

Develop soil standards.

Homegrown Baltimore Land Leasing Initiative

• 2011 Pilot: 10 applicants, 5 qualified

Homegrown Baltimore Land Leasing Initiative

• 2011 Pilot: 10 applicants, 5 qualified

• 2014 re-release: 2 new applications received

Homegrown Baltimore Land Leasing Initiative

• 2011 Pilot: 10 applicants, 5 qualified

• 2014 re-release: 2 new applications received

• Results so far:

Homegrown Baltimore Land Leasing Initiative

• 2011 Pilot: 10 applicants, 5 qualified

• 2014 re-release: 2 new applications received

• Results so far:o Big City Farms & Strength to Love II, 1.5 acres in

Sandtown-Winchester

Homegrown Baltimore Land Leasing Initiative

• 2011 Pilot: 10 applicants, 5 qualified

• 2014 re-release: 2 new applications received

• Results so far:o Big City Farms & Strength to Love II, 1.5 acres in

Sandtown-Winchestero Real Food Farm, 1.5 acres in South Clifton Park

Homegrown Baltimore Land Leasing Initiative

• 2011 Pilot: 10 applicants, 5 qualified

• 2014 re-release: 2 new applications received

• Results so far:o Big City Farms & Strength to Love II, 1.5 acres in

Sandtown-Winchestero Real Food Farm, 1.5 acres in South Clifton Parko In negotiations on 3 additional sites totalling 6 acres

What are the challenges?

• Community concerns about ag

What are the challenges?

• Community concerns about ag

• Competing plans for vacant land

What are the challenges?

• Community concerns about ag

• Competing plans for vacant land

• Extensive site prep needed

What are the challenges?

• Community concerns about ag

• Competing plans for vacant land

• Extensive site prep needed

• Soil testing and remediation costs

What are the challenges?

• Community concerns about ag

• Competing plans for vacant land

• Extensive site prep needed

• Soil testing and remediation costs

• Length of land tenure insufficient

What are the challenges?

• Community concerns about ag

• Competing plans for vacant land

• Extensive site prep needed

• Soil testing and remediation costs

• Length of land tenure insufficient

• Long timelines for results

Questions?

www.baltimoresustainability.org/homegrown-

baltimore-grow-local

abby.cocke@baltimorecity.gov

410-396-1670