Community gardens, rooftop farms, hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic facilities, and vertical production, are all examples of urban agriculture. The market gardens and urban farms of Cuyahoga County provide different agricultural products in our region and are a source of economic development. Where a community garden is designed to grow food for community use, market gardens aim to produce fruits, vegetables, honey, eggs, livestock, herbs, and cottage foods for profit. Sales may take place in your front yard, at a farmers’ market, local restaurant, CSA, or other outlets. Regardless of the scale of production, market gardeners and urban farms are a growing trend in local food.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), a type of direct marketing, consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production. Visit the USDA’s website to find CSA resources for farmers, information and research about CSA, historical data, access to local food directories, and more.
Are you farming or gardening in a city or suburb? Urban agriculture provides critical access to healthy food for local communities, as well as jobs, increased green spaces, and closer community ties. Visit the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service website to get information on related news and events, as well as to learn how to get assistance as an urban farmer.
The OSU Extension Farm Office is your operations agricultural law and management resource partner. The Farm Office is a team of experts that represent OSU Extension programs in Agricultural & Resource Law, Farm Management, Production Business Management, and Tax who have collaborated to form a one-stop shop for navigating the legal and economic challenges of agricultural production. Visit their website to connect to their blog, browse the law library, and take advantage of their farm management and tax tools.