Putting a New SPIN on Farming

Much of the current failings of our food system are caused by the geographical separation between where we grow our food and where we live and work, and they can be alleviated by re- integrating food production back into cities and towns.

To rebuild local food systems, at least two things need to happen. First, because most of the population in this country, and increasingly the world, live in urban and suburban areas, the practice of farming has to be right-sized to become compatible with densely populated areas. Because of its sub-acre scale, SPIN-Farming greatly reduces the amount of land needed for commercial vegetable production, and integrates it into the built environment without conflicts. By using backyards and front lawns or vacant and underutilized lots as their land base, SPIN farmers are recasting farming as a small business in a city or town.

What else is needed to create local food systems is more farmers - lots of them. And SPIN-Farming removes the two big barriers to entry for new farmers - land and capital – and makes the farming profession accessible to many more people.

As importantly, SPIN-Farming is serving as a catalyst for inventive activity by designers, planners and developers who understand that because food systems are universal in reach, creating a sustainable food system will take us a long way toward creating a sustainable world.