Carrot City
By Mark Gorgolewski, June Komisar, and Joe Nasr, Published by Random House
Keep an eye open for Carrot City: Creating Places for Urban Agriculture by Mark Gorgolewski, June Komisar, and Joe Nasr, recently published by Random House. Though urban agriculture is by no means a new idea, only in recent decades have North American rooftops and city blocks begun a significant transformation into food-producing landscapes. Community gardens aren’t the only way; the book showcases 40 projects that demonstrate how city planning and design can incorporate food production into the urban fabric, including living walls, school rooftops, and even greenhouses tucked under raised highways.
PWL’s contributions to Vancouver’s Southeast False Creek neighbourhood is one such profile, and the book tracks the integration of food production into the LEED Platinum neighbourhood from its origins to the ultimate designs that saw courtyards, rooftops, and public parks growing a range of fresh fruits and vegetables. The profile also outlines issues of marketability, technical considerations, and municipal support necessary for the success of food producing spaces in this urban neighbourhood. It’s a fascinating read for anyone interested in urban agriculture and sustainable urban design.