In Buffalo, NY where there’s an abundance of vacant lots, many adjacent to each other and interspersed among existing housing the use of this land to provide food, flowers, and tree seedlings has long seemed an obvious choice. But outdated zoning regulations and misconceptions about urban farming have made farming in the city difficult. In spite of the obstacles urban farmers have made headway and policymakers are open to remaking the zoning code and designating land within the city limits as allowable for farming.

Private urban landowners and renters have long gardened for food production. Most of this production has been in backyards or shielded from view by rows of trees. Newer farms are easily visible. Many are not fenced. Young people get involved in food production and learn to identify, cultivate, cook and eat a variety of fresh foods. Seniors share gardening tasks and their harvest with each other and with others in need. Some farmed land is farmed just because, other land is farmed for educational purposes and yet other land is farmed for profit and to prove that urban farming can be sound economic development.

The farm at the Community Action Organization of Erie County (CAOEC) is one such farm. Farm operator Mike Lee farms organically in high tunnels and in raised beds in open fields. The farm is not certified organic but he uses organic methods. He’s also set aside space for community residents to rent beds for a small fee and gives  these gardeners advice and guidance. There’s a waiting list for these beds.

Over the last few years the farm at CAOEC and NYSAWG have partnered to promote urban farming. The farm is breaking even after only two years and becoming profitable. The farm sells fresh produce to residents and to chefs. WIth NYSAWG, the farm engages in community outreach that includes workshops for urban and rural farmers, a film series, community meetings, and displays at public events. The farm at CAOEC was recently named the number one best CAO program in the nation.

This summer the farm at CAOEC had a display under the Food Access Tent at the Great Lakes Experience Festival. NYSAWG organized the tent and with Learning Sustainability Campaign presented material on pollinator conservation. Ted Universal stood beside his demonstration recirculation tank where large mouth bass swam. He spoke to visitors about growing edible fish in large-scale tanks. Sharon Bachman, Community Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County had a display featuring Extension programs and projects. David Eckhardt set up a wall of beautiful photographs he’s taken of agriculture in Western NY.  Over 200 people visited the Food Access Tent, including the Mayor of Buffalo who seemed especially interested in the economic development potential of farmed fish.

There are two other established urban farms in Buffalo. One is the Wilson St. Farm which operates as a small CSA. The other is Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP), the oldest of these organized farms, which is known for it’s work with youth. All the urban farms, along with NYSAWG, share a commitment to equality of access to fresh, nutritious, locally-sourced food.

NYSAWG, MAP, Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo, Healthy Kids Healthy Communities, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, the University at Buffalo and the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo are partnered to present the Buffalo Food Policy Summit on Sept. 20 and 21, 2011. The Summit will have sessions for policymakers, for the public and for academics. It will include a bus tour for policymakers to highlight sites of interest in Buffalo that make a significant contribution to food production, processing, marketing and distribution. An impressive array of speakers will present at each of the sessions.

For more information visit http://buffalofoodpolicysummit.blogspot.com/

Buffalo has a burgeoning opportunity and optimism that urban farms, not just urban gardens, can transform both local economics and the access to fresh local food in an urban area. Three farms in particular are leading the way. This year, the Community Action Organization of Erie County Urban Farm was named as the "Best CAO Project in the Nation". Two other urban farm organizations, The Massachusetts Avenue Project and the Wilson Street Urban Farm are local leaders.