2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Food insecurity and economic difficulties cause some people to turn to urban agriculture to supplement the household food supply or income. Others turn to urban agriculture as part of the local food movement and for community building. There are, however, barriers to urban agriculture that impact its form and growth. Both the motivations for participating in urban agriculture and the barriers to urban agriculture can result in a wide diversity of practices used. A survey was conducted to collect information on urban agriculture in central Kentucky. Survey questions included sections on farm/garden description, farming/gardening practices, and farmer/gardener demographics. Farm description data can include information about the farm itself, such as location, number of employees, goals, what growing strategies are used, such as permaculture or season extension, and soil testing. The farming practices section includes questions on crop selection, including both plants and livestock, nutrient management practices, irrigation systems, pest and disease management, and the tools and implements used on the farm. Phase one data were gathered through in-person interviews. Phase two data collection included both in person interviews and a web based survey. Both phases of the survey were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Data were analyzed for descriptive statistics and correlations between variables using R.

The survey has provided a wealth of information about urban agriculture, urban farming and gardening practices, and the people who participate in these activities. Selected results from phase one reveal some interesting information. Most of the farms/gardens are not run for profit (77%), but only 22% are registered as 501(c)3 nonprofit businesses. Most farms reported that they do not keep records of either crop yields (66%), nutrient applications (77%), or irrigation applications (100%). Most farms (88% in both cases) use compost to supply nutrients and manual watering with either a hose or sprinkler, which can make record keeping more challenging. Urban farmers/gardeners are predominantly male (62%), white (75%), and non-Hispanic (100%). All respondents reported a bachelor’s education or higher and 62% reported a field of study was related to sustainability and environmental science. The average number of years in farming is 28, with variation between new farmers and those with over 60 years of experience. The results of this survey will inform the direction of future research and extension projects especially in the areas of production practices, crop selection, and management choices, such as record keeping and nutrient management.