Growing Communities: Urban Agriculture In Post-Katrina New Orleans
The city of New Orleans is known for many things, from Mardi Gras and jazz music, to the rich union of French, Spanish, southern and Creole cultures. Recently, urban agriculture has come to the city as part of the rebuilding process following Hurricane Katrina. Many groups have sprung up across the city to create communal and private spaces aimed at growing food. Urban agriculture in New Orleans has been looked to as a panacea for a myriad of issues. Activists around the city tout the importance of farms and gardens in city beautification, economic development, education, and making food more accessible. Examining the groups and individuals operating in the city, it is evident that all of the positive externalities are generated from gardens, the most impactful result comes from the social capital generated throughout the city. Moreover, as the alternative food movement in the city gains ground, it has become increasingly inclusive, rather than exclusive. Unlike other US cities with urban agriculture, New Orleans urban agriculture affects a multitude of people in the city rather than catering solely to a white, middle class consumer base.
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