The Project

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Many growers and aspiring farmers in San Diego are eager to use alternative growing techniques and to expand their operations in urban areas. But with the high cost of land and inputs, it is not always easy to do so. Additionally, it can be difficult to find and navigate the process of obtaining vacant land. With this project we aim to test how people can feasibly and profitably grow several high-value crops in small-scale urban settings, like backyards or vacant lots. We also want to understand and streamline the land acquisition process so growers can quickly and easily begin farming!

Our objectives are to:

1. determine best production practices for growing high-value crops in small-scale urban settings in Southern California.

2. create a how-to production guide for anyone who wants to grow these crops in urban areas.

3. map vacant land in San Diego County and clarify the process of accessing it.

To address the first two objectives, we set up a field experiment that is open to the public. More information about Objective 3 is coming soon!

Our urban agriculture demonstration site at the Carlsbad Flower Fields.

We are fortunate to have our experiment demonstration site at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California. Our site is open to visitors and we are available for guided tours. Reach out to Lindsey Pedroncelli at Lrpedroncelli@ucanr.edu with "Urban Agriculture Demonstration Site Tour" in the subject line and we'll get back to you about scheduling a tour.