Urban Agriculture Overview & Introduction

Food deserts and nutritional needs are driving forces in the urban agriculture movement. Volunteer activists are taking a leading role in establishing urban systems which empower people to produce some of their own produce and even some for others. This presentation will address and overview of urban agriculture issues and the efforts of the presenter and others in the creation of Transition Denver and becoming the Director of the Grow Local Colorado Campaign. The Grow Local Colorado Campaign mission to promote local food, local economy and local community will be addressed. The localization movement to inspire citizens to create vibrancy, sustainability and resiliency in their own neighborhoods will be described. The process of creating Grow Local Colorado, founded by representatives from Transition Denver, the Mile High Business Alliance, the Living Earth Center and Denver Botanic Gardens, with support from community partners such as Denver Urban Gardens, Slow Food Denver, Feed Denver, among others, will be discussed. More information about Grow Local Colorado and Transition can be found at www.growlocalcolorado.org and www.transitioncolorado.ning.com.