WILL FRESH FOOD-LOVING NEW YORKERSEMBRACE URBAN AGRICULTURE?

BCB PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Living in a city ironically nicknamed the

Big Apple, people all too easily become

disconnected from nature and forget that

their food–particularly fresh food–must

be imported from outside the city limits.

How can a city renowned for its

cuisine maintain its reputation with

such limited access to green space?

Sustainable rooftops are in

development throughout in the city;

vertical growing and gardening is

also a popular green space saver.

Urban agriculture and green

space expansion are increasingly

popular investments with offices

and residential complexes.

They can add significant, long-term value

to a real estate holding and heighten the

appeal for other investors and buyers.

Curbed profiled Gwen Schantz, who fell

into the New York urban agriculture

landscaping scene as it gained

popularity over the past decade.

Schantz points out that the disconnect

between city dwellers, food sources,

and green space makes environmental

education even more urgent.

Urban Land Magazine quotes Sibella

Kraus, head of Sustainable Agriculture

Education (SAGE) in Berkeley, saying

that “urban agriculture is not just a way

to grow vegetables, but also a way to

strengthen communities.” Kraus points

to cities developing “greenprints” for

urban agriculture growth as a strong

sign of people’s priorities.

In addition to fresher food, urban

agriculture can teach urbanites about the

environment and how to better preserve it.

“Out of sight, out of mind” cannot hold sway

in an age when more people than ever are

gravitating toward cities, but the

environment is simultaneously suffering a

decline caused by human intervention.

Now, when we can appreciate fresh food

more than ever, we need to take steps to

ensure our access and implement

sustainable environmental measures.

Recognizing urban agriculture as an asset

to real estate development aligns business

interests and conservation efforts.

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