The landscape of urban agriculture in California’s capital

Abstract

The popularity of urban agriculture in numerous California cities has begun to escalate; however, Sacramento has been slower to address this growing interest. Sacramento serves as a significant case study in examining the relationship between community and municipal efforts to promote urban agriculture, given its role as an agricultural and political centre for the state. Three veins of inquiry investigate the landscape of urban agricultural practice in Sacramento: first, past and present urban agricultural projects and advocacy within the city are detailed, offering a narrative of urban agriculture’s role within Sacramento’s development. Second, city and state policies that have both promoted and prevented the practice within the city are examined. Finally, the authors investigate the potential for strategies and plans for the future of urban agriculture in Sacramento. The authors conclude that community interest is out-pacing local policies, and city-wide initiatives might improve efforts at increasing opportunities for new projects.