9-20 IAT Boise Gardens

Oregon State University Agricultural professor Weston Miller has launched the concept of urban gardening and I had a discussion with him relating to Boise. "In Boise we have lots of little vacant lots whether they are owned by the city or a private entity that says go ahead and plant your tomato garden or your beans, is that what urban hardening is all about? Yes. Where lots are available and people want to use that land for more than just weeds, if they can aid your out a way to get it leased and get water access and grow food in that setting provided that they do soil tests and make sure that there is no lead or petroleum products or other things that might be dangerous, folks who want to have a quarter time job growing food might be able to use a quarter acre or half acre, it wouldn't be there bread and butter but they certainly would the hitting a good amount of exercise and would be able to market local produce to restaurants and have something that is meaningful for them to do. In cities like Cleveland and Detroit and St. Louis where there is a lot of urban land that is neglected and houses have been removed, in those cities there is a big push by various community groups and entrepreneurs wanting to use that space or mostly vegetable production but sometimes it could include animals like chickens and goats.