Cincinnati considers urban mini-farms

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER VIA AP CINCINNATI -- Officials in Cincinnati are looking at pieces of urban land that could be used to grow food.The city has identified 87 sites from the vacant property it owns that could become urban "mini-farms." The idea is to help people save money on groceries by growing their own fresh food while helping the environment, making neighborhoods look better, and building community.The City Council last week passed a plan for mini-farms promoted by Vice Mayor David Crowley. Details will be worked out in the next month. City officials must decide how to lease the plots, and whether to charge anything.They expect 10 to 15 plots to be ready for growing this spring as a pilot project. Other cities, including New York, Detroit and Milwaukee, already offer land to residents for small farms.