front yard farm in Boulder, CO
There is a growing movement I’m calling Yard Farming of people looking to turn their own front or back yards or any swath of green into food production. Businesses like Community Roots in Boulder, CO are “cropping” up all over! Community Roots is an urban farming project founded by farmer Kipp Nash, which has ”successfully converted 13 front and back yards, and church lawns into vegetable gardens for neighbors and CSA shareholders, with surplus for the Boulder Farmer’s Market and food for families in need – while creating increased community connections among neighbors at the same time.”
From Heather Flores’ book, Food Not Lawns: “The average urban lawn could produce several hundred pounds of food a year. Whether you live in an apartment, in the suburbs, on a farm, or anywhere in between, growing food is the first step toward a healthier, more self-reliant, and ultimately more ecologically sane life.”
There are lots of organizations and businesses yard farming in our area and across the country – here are just a few:
The Food Project‘s Community Programs, Boston
The Neighborhood Farm, Needham
Rad Urban Farmers, Arlington
Your Backyard Farmer, Oregon
Food Not Lawns, an international movement hub site started by Heather Flores from Oregon
