Spring 2025: The Urban Agriculture Issue

How to overcome the shock doctrine, manage stress, and flourish during chaotic political times. These approaches promote well-being while fostering resilience and positive change.

Wildlife are always on the lookout for food, water, clean air, shelter, or rest. Insects are integral to the global food web, and green roofs can provide for the food needs of wildlife. In this article, four strategies are discussed to feed and support insects on green roofs. 

Vertical farming offers a climate-resilient approach to food production by using controlled environments to grow crops efficiently with less land and water. Despite challenges like high energy costs, its potential for food security and urban integration is rapidly expanding.

Blackwood Skyfarm at POST Houston is a pioneering 1-acre rooftop farm that enhances urban agriculture, promotes biodiversity, and fosters community education. Open daily, it offers workshops, volunteer programs, and a farmers market, serving as a model for sustainable rooftop farming.

Brooklyn Grange, a leader in urban agriculture, is expanding under new leadership. With a focus on rooftop farming, green infrastructure, and community engagement, the organization continues to transform urban spaces into biodiverse, climate-resilient ecosystems while promoting sustainability and food security.

Fenway Farms celebrates a decade of sustainability at Boston’s historic Fenway Park, producing thousands of pounds of fresh produce annually. This pioneering rooftop farm showcases how urban agriculture can thrive in unconventional spaces while enhancing community engagement and environmental stewardship.

Urban agriculture fosters ecological literacy, reconnecting city dwellers with nature. Explore how Toronto Metropolitan University’s Urban Farm cultivates sustainability, community, and hands-on learning. Read more on urban food systems and environmental awareness.

This episode of Sustainable Futures: Designing Green Communities and Buildings podcast features rooftop farmer and sustainable food systems advocate August Stubler, who oversees the operations of the Blackwood Educational Land Institute’s Skyfarm at POST Houston. Join us for a conversation on the importance of connecting people with food production and bringing farming into our cities.

A once-underutilized garage roof in Cambridge, MA, is now a thriving urban farm, blending food production, biodiversity, and sustainability. Featuring rainwater harvesting, native pollinators, and community education, this award-winning green roof exemplifies adaptive reuse and neighborhood engagement.

This article highlights the importance of food resilience and the climate crisis and other challenges that affect it and provides solutions for strengthening our food system. 

Explore GRHC’s 2025 event lineup, new training opportunities, and industry milestones. Learn about upcoming conferences, GRIMP certifications, and our newest corporate members. Stay informed and get involved in advancing green infrastructure across North America.

Sustainable Futures: Designing Green Communities and Buildings podcast features microbiologist and Columbia University Professor Emeritus Dr. Dickson Despommier discussing his pioneering work and thought leadership on vertical farming.