COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State University Extension will host a free viewing of a film next month that examines urban agriculture and the ways growers are increasing food production in urban settings.
"Growing Cities: A Film About Urban Farming in America" is a documentary that examines urban agriculture as a way to help growers develop local food systems, said Mike Hogan, an OSU Extension educator and sustainable agriculture coordinator.
OSU Extension is the outreach arm of Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
Hogan said the viewing is part of the college’s overall efforts to help expand agriculture into more urban areas and to help promote the understanding of how to create or expand agriculture-related business opportunities for people who want to get into the food and crop production industry.
One example of those efforts is the college’s new Ohio Master Urban Farmer Workshop Series, which is designed to help urban farmers become food and crop producers within city limits. The course was held over a series of seven workshops in April and May and was created to offer participants knowledge on how to produce and market foods in urban settings. The course included how to choose a farm enterprise, the site selection process and how to test soil for urban food production.
“Urban agriculture and local food production is a growing phenomenon in areas across the country,” Hogan said. “People want to do it for a number of reasons: as an economic enterprise, for community building, to grow food for their families, as job training for young people and others.
“Growers, producers, policymakers -- anyone interested in growing foods in urban areas should come and see this film.”
The event is from 6:30-9 p.m. on June 27 in the Ohio Union Conference Theater, 1739 N. High St., on Ohio State’s Columbus campus. The event will include local-food refreshments and a panel discussion on creating and expanding agriculture and food production in urban areas.
A trailer of the documentary is available for viewing at growingcitiesmovie.com.