Friends Dan Susman and Andrew Monbouquette grew up in Nebraska, one of the fattest states in the US. The filmmakers are curious about the role of urban farming and whether it really can contribute to feeding the world’s growing, increasingly metropolitan population.

 

They start off in progressive cities such as San Francisco and Seattle, where a commitment to the environment is the norm. Next stop is the troubled Detroit, a food desert where urban farming now provides jobs and hope. But the friends also visit less obvious places such as Milwaukee and New Orleans. In Chicago, they discover new urban farming methods, such as an aquaponics system in a disused factory.

In each place they meet the dedicated initiators and learn that urban farming is more than simply growing vegetables in an allotment. The gardens bring cultures together, promote social cohesion and educate children about healthy eating.

Growing Cities is a great road movie and a must-see for every (aspiring) urban farmer.

Note: Only the screening of this film on Saturday will be followed by a Q&A with Anke de Vrieze of Farming the City.

Growing Cities will have its Dutch premiere at the Food Film Festival and has been selected for the FFF Feature-Length Food Film Competition 2014.

Want to delve further into urban farming? Then join the Foraging workshop with Edwin Flores.