What is urban farming?
Urban farming is farming in an urban setting. Why would anyone do such a thing? Simply put, urban farming alleviates many of the problems caused by conventional agriculture. While people engage in urban farming for many reasons, there are a few which seem to have the broadest universal appeal...
urban farming for our planet
Billions of tons of carbon emissions are emitted during the production and transportation of food. The average vegetable travels 1,434 miles before reaching our plates. With urban farming, food is produced where it will be consumed, greatly reducing the embodied carbon footprint of vegetable produce.
urban farming for our health
Food produced today is less nutritious, has more chemicals and is genetically altered for shelf life – not taste or nutrition. Would you like some Dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) in your salad? Neither would we. A distinct advantage of urban farms is that they give us control over our food supply. We have the freedom to grow heirloom varieties that greatly surpass store-bought produce in both taste and nutrition. Using 100 percent organic methods, we can be sure that your food is grown in toxin-free soil.
urban farming for our wallets
The cost of fuel used in producing and transporting food is rising. Food prices rose 4% in the United States last year, the highest rise since 1990, and are expected to climb again this year. By investing in and cultivating the infrastructure - MicroFarms - today, we can protect ourselves against rising food costs by having direct access to local food supplies.
The food culture in Seattle is changing. You can feel it. We can feel it. Seattle MicroFarm is here to facilitate this change. Growing food on local urban farms where it will be consumed is a large part of the solution to the present environmental crisis.
Seattle MicroFarmers
Grant Jones, Co-founder
grant@seattlefarm.com
Grant Jones earned his degree in English Literature and Philosophy from the University of Washington. Upon immersing himself in the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Rachael Carson, and a great number of other environmentally conscious thinkers, Grant decided to take action to preserve the environment and our future. An organic gardener his entire life, Grant combined his knowledge of organic growing practices with his passion for environmental sustainability to co-found Seattle MicroFarm.
Rob Fletcher, Co-founder
rob@seattlefarm.com
Rob Fletcher graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Economics. While pursuing a certificate in "Environmental and Natural Resource Economics", Rob began to see the need for building local economies based on sustainable principles. Co-founding Seattle MicroFarm was a natural progression for Rob whose mind for business is matched only with his dedication to growing a more sustainable society.
Seattle MicroFarm interns
Our interns are a lively and passionate group of people! By interning with Seattle MicroFarm, our interns gain hands-on urban farming experience that will prepare them for careers in the growing "Urban Agriculture" industry. To learn about career opportunities, check out our current Urban Farming Jobs.
