Bolstering City Food Security Through Community-led Farming
Urban agriculture is crucial for the future, reducing dependency on rural imports and bringing farmers closer to consumers. However, the financial security of small urban farmers is tenuous, as they often lack government support.
Jaklhof, a family-run farm near Graz, Austria, and other small independent businesses face these challenges, with sales heavily dependent on weather conditions. It's tough to keep a farm thriving without government subsidies, especially when they're based on land size, giving big farms an unfair advantage.
Smaller plots are more likely to practice crop diversity, which is beneficial for soil quality and produce variety, yet many common veggies like tomatoes, peppers, and courgettes are often imported due to a lack of financial and political support for these farms.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) offers a solution, providing a safety net for farmers while connecting them directly with consumers. CSA models vary, from democratic management to digital approaches like CrowdFarming, but Jaklhof follows a subscription model with constant pricing for regular fresh, organic, and seasonal produce.
In CSA, the farm delivers fruit and vegetable boxes to customers, serving around 150 households. Despite the weather hurting production in 2023, the farm's commitment to its customers enabled it to weather the storm. A small group of regulars even pitched in to help out during challenging times.
CSA isn't just convenient for consumers, it's essential for the financial security of small urban farms. When times are tough, these close-knit communities can provide the goodwill and support needed to recover.
Seed work, an ancient craft, is another aspect that preserves local food systems by breeding new crops resilient to local weather conditions. Jaklhof sells seedlings and seeds to other small farms and hobby gardeners, creating a network of urban farms and fostering food sovereignty in the region.
Jaklhof's work embodies the essence of urban farming: collaboration, community, and resilience. It demonstrates that Central governments' support for small urban farmers is essential, but those who innovate and nurture their communities will lead the most robust responses to the challenges of urban agriculture.
The financial security of urban farms relies not only on government support but also on innovative solutions like Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). This model, as demonstrated by Jaklhof, connects farmers directly with consumers, providing a stable income source and promoting local food systems. With CSA, goodwill from the community can significantly aid recovery during challenging times. Moreover, seed work, an age-old craft, plays a crucial role in breeding crops resilient to local weather conditions, fostering food sovereignty in the region.
