Urban agriculture, informality and land-rights: A study of urban agriculture projects in Winnipeg and Brandon
Loading...
Date
2017
Authors
Mikulec, Philip
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Typically, the cultivation of land for the production of food is a rural activity. There is an emerging interest in urban agriculture and a growing body of research that examines its relationship to community renewal, health and well-being, sustainability and environmental justice. Some research has applied a critical theory lens to guerrilla gardening, the most radical form of urban agriculture, and has drawn on the literature of right to the city and urban informality. This research examines how critical concepts relate to both less and more radical forms of urban agriculture. This thesis attempts to offer academic knowledge on urban agriculture and its relationship to the planning system, and to better understand this relationship through the framework of informality, property rights, and Lefebvre's writings on right to the city. The comparative analysis found that there are many commonalities between urban agriculture participants, while there are some contextual differences. Participants in Winnipeg tended to emphasize more radical ideals than others. Findings further indicate that while urban agriculture participants may not be aware of right to the city they are implicitly using concepts developed by Lefebvre. Preliminary findings also show that informality both benefits and harms urban agriculture practices. There are several implications of this research. Stronger connections to right to the city literature and the broader urban agriculture community have been established. The City of Winnipeg could also take steps to improve its relationship with informal activities such as urban agriculture on a structural level. These implications are mainly applicable to the Winnipeg context. More research is necessary in other communities to ascertain if similar findings arise elsewhere.
Description
Keywords
urban agriculture, informality, community gardening, right to the city, green space