urban farming Archives - Oakland North

West Oakland flower farm to provide job training for youth

By Wyatt Kroopf | December 14, 2018

On a rainy Saturday morning, a group of interns and volunteers gathered at GROW Oakland Farm in front of Oakland’s historic 16th Street Train Station. They spent much of the morning clearing out dead flowers in preparation for planting.

At a flower farm in West Oakland, former foster youth are set to begin an internship program to learn about urban farming and running a small flower business.

Oakland Food Policy Council fights for access, an equitable food system

By Karmah Elmusa | April 12, 2012 |

The Oakland Food Policy Council is an organization dedicated to developing a local food system that can feed all citizens of the city in a healthy, sustainable way. The 21-seat council, which was established in 2005 with seed money from the city, meets monthly to work on initiatives that address some of Oakland’s most pressing food concerns, like poor nutrition, access to fresh produce and antiquated laws.

In Oakland, mixed feelings about urban livestock

By Ye Tian | December 1, 2011 |

Some urban farmers in Oakland raise animals like chickens in their backyards.

As a growing number of Oakland residents embrace urban farming—including the raising of chickens, goats and pigs in their back yards—the city planning commission is investigating the trend’s potentially negative impacts on the surrounding community.

Acta Non Verba Youth Urban Farm uses a garden classroom to teach about food

By Megan Molteni | November 25, 2011 |

Kelly Carlisle is the founder of the Acta Non Verba Youth Urban Farm, a program that teaches young people about growing food by using a garden as a classroom. The kids, most of whom are between the ages of 7 and 13, get to take the vegetables they grow home to their families, or donate them to the neighboring community.

Oakland Urban Livestock Report explores impacts of raising animals on city farms

By Brittany Schell | October 4, 2011 |

Urban farmer Esperanza Pallana keeps a flock of hens in her backyard near Lake Merritt.

Many Oakland urban farmers raise animals for a healthier, sustainable and cheaper source of food, and their backyard farms can foster positive relationships between neighbors, according to a recent report on urban livestock practices in the city.

At planning meeting, Oaklanders debate over urban animal husbandry

By Ye Tian | July 22, 2011 |

More than 300 people packed the North Oakland Senior Center on Thursday evening to discuss the future of urban agriculture in Oakland. The forum, organized by Oakland’s planning and zoning division, is the city’s latest effort to gain public input on updating its urban farming regulations.

Planning commission votes to ease restrictions on selling backyard produce

By Ye Tian | June 16, 2011 |

Oakland home gardeners may be able to legally sell their produce in a few months. On Wednesday the city’s Planning Commission unanimously approved a proposal from city planners that includes modifying the zoning regulations to allow “crop growing” as a home occupation.