AgrAbility to present webinar on urban agriculture

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - From backyards to roadsides and even on rooftops, people in urban areas are taking advantage of unused spaces to grow crops.

AgrAbility will provide expertise on the increasingly popular movement of urban agriculture in a one-hour webinar at 3 p.m. Feb. 25 with special emphasis on military veterans and farmers with disabilities. 

Tasks in small-scale urban agriculture can be more easily tailored to an individual's physical or psychological limitations than in traditional farming, said Paul Jones, National AgrAbility Project manager. In addition, the cost of buying land and equipment, often prohibitive for those starting out in traditional farming, can be minimized in urban settings.

"However, this form of agriculture is not without risks, particularly financial ones," Jones said.

Urban agriculture is not limited to fruits and vegetables. Jones noted that it includes enterprises such as livestock, beekeeping and aquaculture.

Presenters are:

* Emily Toner, urban agriculture educator for Purdue Extension in Marion County.  Toner provides direct education opportunities and helps to build the food system community in the Indianapolis area.

* Cindy Chastain, farmer veteran AgrAbility coordinator. Chastain networks with AgrAbility projects and other relevant organizations to improve opportunities and outcomes for farmer veteran AgrAbility clients. She has served as a U.S. Army officer for more than 31 years, including as deputy commander of the 1-19th Agribusiness Development Team, which was in Afghanistan 2009-2010.

The webinar registration deadline is Feb. 22. Access the online registration form at www.tinyurl.com/urban-webinar.

For more information or questions, contact AgrAbility at 800-825-4264 or email agrability@agrability.org. 

Writer: Cheri Frederick, 765-494-2406, cdfreder@purdue.edu 

Source: Paul Jones, 765-494-1221, jonesp@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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