From Foodsystems
[edit] La Sistema Alimentaria y la Agricultura Urbana en Latinoamérica
[edit] Ciudades
[edit] Resumen
Research Questions and Methodology
I would like to explore three interrelated research questions:
- How does the foodshed for typical urban households in several Latin American cities compare with the one I have mapped for West Oakland? How does the cost of food in each foodshed to compare to average income?
- What are the characteristics of an urban landscape where agriculture is successfully integrated into the urban fabric? How do residents feel about urban agricultural land?
- How much of a typical urban household's food needs can be met through small-scale, intensive urban agriculture? How much land is required, and how much time must that household devote to cultivation?
All this will allow me to one day make better recommendations for urban agriculture programs here in California. I will employ the following methods to gather this information, spending ten days in each city:
- Mapping: before departure, I will prepare base maps indicating geographic and political features, population density if available, and known urban agriculture projects. These maps will be used in the field to record the form and location of agricultural projects.
- Interviews: I will speak with the directors and other employees of major urban agriculture initiatives to learn what they feel is working, and what needs to be improved. I will ask how much land and time is required for successful projects, and what proportion of household food needs the urban farmers participating in their programs are able to meet. I will ask neighborhood residents what they think about the gardens in their community.
- Produce Price and Availability Study: When visiting stores and markets, I will record the selection and prices of available produce. I will compare these prices to prices in the United States, and also compare average incomes to determine the relative cost of food. If possible, I will note the origin of each food item in order to map the city's foodshed.
- Observation: In each city, I will spend several days walking, biking, or driving through neighborhoods and regions with active urban agriculture projects. I will record the physical form of each area through sketches and photographs, annotated with notes on what seems to be working well, what the challenges are, the attitudes of residents I talk to, and any visible signs of the health and prosperity of the residents.
I will also ask residents about a typical day's meals in their household.
