The How-to-Guide for Aspiring Urban Micro-Agricultural Entrepreneurs was created by Sustainable Urban Development for residents of West Philadelphia who want to increase their access to fresh, healthy and affordable food. The guide equips anyone interested in urban farming with the information they need to reclaim vacant lots in the city and build a for-profit urban farm.
The guide contains information on building raised beds and maintaining healthy soils; zoning, code and permit requirements for community gardens; and business and market planning. While the guide is based off of research in West Philadelphia, it is intended to be a replicable model for individuals in other urban areas.
The project team taught their program to community members in West Philadelphia’s Haddington neighborhood over the course of three classes in one week. Watch video footage of each course:
Want more information? See the related SARE grant:
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.