Skyfarming - a primer on sustainable urban use

Urban density and sprawl at times are two separate and distinctly opposing problems. On one hand as urban centers increase in density and size the area of land needed to manufacture, grow and process the goods that supply the city increase exponentially. As tougher environmental laws tighten restrictions on processing and manufacturing techniques these facilities find they must relocate further away from the expanding ring of inhabited space.

Conversely suburban sprawl (typically a buffer to denser urban regions) requires much of the same in terms of spatial requirements but passes the restrictions of land use and to neighboring municipalities who must in turn balance community safety and well being with fiscal responsibility. In turn great amounts of land are used to support a commuting society in terms of infrastructure requirements as well as support facilities for said infrastructure. Sprawling communities can find themselves mixing in manufacturing and processing facilities within the inhabitable fabric in order to mitigate some of the resulting infrastructure requirements from displacing said units. As density decreases habitable space is taken over for privatized greenspace which is also un-buildable and becomes another buffer for the production of goods to support said area. In essence the growth or suburban spaces pushes the agricultural production and processing facilities further away from the denser areas that most need the those products. This results environmentally for an increase in yield per acre (fertilizers, pesticides, displacement of natural area), greater shipping distances (oil consumption, emissions increase), larger centralized production facilities (run-off, toxin concentration, emission increase, displacement of natural area) and finally with a displaced or commuting population to support production facilities (oil consumption, emissions increase, longer work days). Typical manufactured goods work the same way as plants must centralize facilities in order to maximize economy of scale and take advantage of technological, legal and financial methods in order to maximize fiscal return.

While not a new problem, or even really what some would consider a problem, urban areas are looking at ways in which to circumvent the need to constantly move processes that the city requires further and further away. Many municipalities are examining local conditions that can be utilized to lessen dependence upon neighboring regions in terms of products and space. The classic example was to build denser structures and utilizing height in order to concentrate population. Then came the centralization and distribution of transit lanes in the form of shipping, rail and auto to ease mobility to and through areas. Currently many municipalities are looking at utilizing "wasted" roof exposure to capture sunlight for heat or electricity. Some of urban areas are attempting to capture power from the same amenities that made them great cities to begin with (see Lake Erie Wind Farm) which lessens the need for remote power stations that typically concentrate hazardous materials. The final solution to the self sustainability of urban areas seems to be the attempt to move food and goods production back to the urban core in a manner that is socially and environmentally responsible.

Enter the idea of Skyfarming. Not entirely a new idea but one that is growing in acceptance. While many communities are supporting the idea of urban farms (setting aside vacant land in urban areas for community farming projects) and the proliferation of growing a small "victory" garden in your own apartment marks an extreme to the organic "know your food" movement the idea of a centralized community farm (or urban center specific farm) has yet to truly be realized. The Skyfarm solution may be the perfect answer for those aging cities with vacant lots in urban centers looking to lure inhabitants that are concerned with their food and health (most of which are younger professionals who can afford the surcharge for the "organic" label). Of special interest to me is the possibility of a city using centralized urban farming as a marketing technique to not only support its citizens and attract new inhabitants but also as a means to subsidize school lunch programs, horticulture and science educational programs, foster community growth and relations and drive down the cost of the typical "organic" produce making it more attainable for the entire community.

While the whole enclosed garden idea may make one feel as if they were in Silent Running (and depending on the company you keep, Bio-Dome) I think that the amenities of capitalizing on underused urban space could possibly be the catalyst many urban centers are looking for to recreate themselves.

I look forward to watching this idea grow and develop to incorporate even more sustainable practices, lessening the burden of the urban core on the environment.