Urban agriculture resource proves popular

Thursday, November 3, 2011

by SUSAN MANN

People are flocking to the Ontario agriculture ministry’s web-based resource information page on urban agriculture.

Since being launched on April 27, there have been more than 4,000 visits to the Urban Agriculture Business Information Bundle.

Joanne Handley, Ontario agriculture ministry manager of sustainable production for dairy swine and poultry, says the site is a one-stop resource for city dwellers or municipal policy makers looking for information on urban agriculture.

Urban agriculture refers to food production in urban areas, whether it’s for personal consumption, commercial sale, education or therapy, it says on the website. Currently about 15 per cent of the world’s food is grown in urban areas.

The site was established because the ministry was getting lots of questions about urban agriculture and raising poultry within city limits. “We thought it would be easier to direct them to one location to be able to access all the information that was available on this topic,” she says.

Topics covered include: growing fruits, vegetables and herbs, organic production, sales, raising livestock, finding space, composting, soil quality, dealing with wildlife, plus relevant legislation and regulations. BF