Wythe and Melissa are delighted to chat with not one but two experts on urban agriculture from two different parts of the United States Department of Agriculture: Nina Bhattacharyya, Urban Agriculture Specialist at the USDA Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP), and Blake Glover, State Conservationist at the New York State Office of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Nina and Blake clarify how the USDA supports urban growers around the country, with a focus on the People’s Garden program, founded in 2009 and renewed in 2022, which includes sites in Washington D.C. and New York City (Garden of Happiness, Taqwa Community Farm, and the Urban Soils Institute on Governors Island). In fact, gardens across the country can participate in the People’s Garden program by registering online at usda.gov/peoples-garden/registration-form.

We talk with Nina and Blake about urban agriculture policy across levels, local conservation practices, composting, how people in cities come to engage in agriculture, and how that interest empowers communities and transforms food systems. We also discuss the hurdles that many community gardens face, including zoning and permitting, access to water, and funding. One key point is that the People’s Garden program can provide funds to upgrade urban garden and farm infrastructure. And NRCS supports via funds and knowledge regarding high tunnels and other technologies that not only conserve soil but help local gardeners and farmers grow food for more of the year, and thus help communities become more food-secure.

And in recent news, the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) has provided additional resources and networking opportunities for the 1300+ registered gardens network. These resources include a webinar series and a subgroup on the Extension Foundation Connect site to help gardens network with each other. This is also a way for USDA to share funding opportunities with the garden network. Finally, OUAIP is highlighting gardens from across the country through our People’s Garden website, the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production newsletter (sign-up here), and USDA social media.

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