Urban Agriculture

The potential health, social, environmental and economic benefits of urban farms and gardens are far-reaching. Studies have found associations between urban community gardens and increased access to healthy food, opportunities for exercise, stronger social cohesion in neighborhoods and higher property values. And like any green space, urban farms and gardens offer essential ecosystem services like moderating temperatures and reducing storm water runoff.

Safe Urban Harvests Study

Researchers surveyed 104 farms and gardens in Baltimore City to learn about their growing practices and tested their soil, irrigation water, and produce for harmful metals. For comparative purposes, the researchers also collected and analyzed conventional and organic produce from grocery stores and farmers markets. Learn more about this study.

Research and reports

The Center for a Livable Future is engaged in several endeavors concerning urban agriculture, including original research, the creation of reports and aggregation of policy and legislation. Learn more about some of our most recent and essential work.

• The Safe Urban Harvests Study: A Community-Driven Cross-Sectional Assessment of Metals in Soil, Irrigation Water, and Produce from Urban Farms and Gardens in Baltimore, Maryland. Environmental Health Perspectives, 2021
• Characteristics and growing practices of Baltimore City farms and gardens. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2021
• The Safe Urban Harvests Study: An assessment of urban farms and community gardens in Baltimore City
  CLF Report, 2021
• Beyond backyard chickens: A framework for understanding municipal urban agriculture policies in the United States
  Food Policy, 2020
• Gathering Baltimore’s bounty: Characterizing behaviors, motivations, and barriers of foragers in an urban ecosystem
  Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2017
• Vacant Lots to Vibrant Plots: A Review of the Benefits and Limitations of Urban Agriculture
  CLF Report, 2016
• Bountiful Baltimore: One person’s weed is another person’s edible treasure
  Johns Hopkins Public Health, 2015
• Urban Community Gardeners' Knowledge and Perceptions of Soil Contaminant Risks
  
PLOS ONE, February 2014
• Integrating Urban Farms into the Social Landscape of Cities (Report, Summary)
  Report, 2014
• Soil Safety Resource Guide for Urban Food Growers
• Baltimore Urban Soil Safety Map
• Urban agriculture-related policy and legislation via Food Policy Networks