Eats & Beats: City Food, City Land

interview with Adam Brock

Adam Brock, co-founder of the celebrated Growhaus in North Denver visited “First Take With Lando and Chavis” to discuss a new initiative called “City Food, City Land,” an attempt to increase food production on underutilized public land. 

The policy is being drafted by the Denver’s Sustainable Food Policy Council to align with Mayor Michael Hancock’s 2020 Sustainability Goals.  “The most ambitious thing is that we want to get 20% of the food that Denver eats to be grown or processed in Colorado by 2020,” said Brock.

As a part of the initiative, the Food Policy Council wants to expand four types of urban agriculture in Denver: demonstration farms would be aimed at educating the general public about gardening, access farms that sell or donate fresh produce, commercial farms that operate as for-profit enterprises, and edible landscaping where installations of fruit, berries, and other crops are designed to minimize maintenance.

The “City Food, City Land” initiative wants attempting to do everything from engaging local residents in urban gardening to creating a positive change in Denver’s economy by providing a source for job creation. The process to pass the proposal is well underway with members of the Food Policy Council reaching out to stakeholders as well as submitting a policy briefing expected to gain support from Mayor Hancock in the second half of 2015.

To share your ideas and concerns or recommend a pilot site contact Brock at 303-601-1621 or adam@thegrowhaus.org.