Feeding the City: Center for an Urban Agriculture Network

“It is useless to force the rhythms of life. The art of living is learning to give time to each and every thing.” - Carlo Petrini, Founder of Slow Food International

The modern industrial food system threatens global food security- squandering resources, contaminating soil, and destroying the world’s biodiversity. Our current eating habits are not only risking our own health, but the health of the environment that sustains all life on earth. Industry has created what is termed a global food shed. On any given day we can buy apples from Australia, pasta from Europe, bananas from Central America, and rice from Asia. This may sound desirable, but with a global food shed comes the overly complex and unnecessary world of preservatives, genetically modified organisms, food processing plants, distribution centers, highway networks, fossil fuels, fertilizers, and pesticides. With skyrocketing fuel prices and dwindling biodiversity, the industrial food system is failing to feed humanity.
Along with humanity’s exponential population growth there is a global shift from rural to urban dwelling. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations says over half the world’s people live in cities. “Supplying them with safe and affordable food will strain the food supply and distribution chain to the breaking point” (FAO). Massive urbanization puts great pressure on arable land, water, energy, and biological resources. Cities have their physical footprints as well as a whole other ecological footprint needed to supply food and resources. To make matters more concerning, urban lifestyles typically spend 30 percent more on food than rural lifestyles yet they consume fewer calories. “The difficulties of matching supply and demand and problems with transport, refrigeration and markets lead to losses and raised prices.” (FAO).
Most disturbing, however, is our disconnection with the food we eat. Somehow quantity and speed have replaced quality and enjoyment. We have lost our ability to truly taste- disregarding food knowledge and culture. We have lost respect for our health- foolishly inhaling Whopper’s and guzzling Big Gulps. In an age of consumption, we are convinced to eat worse food so that we can consume more of other stuff. Perhaps we should reconsider what is important to us. Perhaps we should begin to place more value on ourselves.
This architectural project proposes reconnecting people with their food by creating local networks of gardens in existing urban places. As vacant urban plots and suburban lawns transform into edible gardens, individuals and communities will begin to appreciate the benefits of local food. Cultivating your own food is physically and psychologically healing. It establishes a sense of freedom and pride. It cherishes self-sufficiency and ecological stewardship.
Through the integration of architectural, agricultural, and ecological ideas, this project will exemplify how we can indeed produce good food in our cities. It shows how healthy and delicious food can become a part of the urban lifestyle. Growing, cooking, and eating are at the heart of human existence. This project will attempt to clarify our understanding of food, while rejuvenating all the joys and pleasures that should naturally come with it. It’s about enriching our food experiences through knowledge, self-respect, and environmental consciousness. It’s about building a healthy culture. Its about truly tasting the good things in life.

More images of Ray Chirgwin's thesis project can be found at Re:Vision.

From The Oregonian, Steve Woodward's article on Ray's project.

From Land Letter, Scott Streater's article on Ray's project.