While agriculture seems to be trendier than ever before, the US is still losing 2 acres of farmland to development every minute. Some estimate that by 2050 we’ll have only .6 acres of farmland per person, even though our current diets require 2.6 acres.
SWA is an advocate for the integration and inclusion of food-producing landscapes into all scales and types of our projects. Increasingly, we include agricultural uses as an integral component of city-urban, suburban and small-town urban landscape design, as well as in rural sites. The introduction of food-producing landscapes into campus designs is a simple idea with broad consequences. In an effort to make these landscapes uncomplicated and enticing for clients, SWA has invested time and research to address the challenges that come along with edible landscapes.
This approach to design adds a layer of complexity, needs for specialized knowledge and partnerships between landscape architects and traditionally diverse groups such as farmers, small business enterprises, food-service organizations, neighbors, tenants, parks and public works departments and others still.
