McClintock quoted on potential for urban farming in Oakland
Liability is an issue that may give landowners pause. At a minimum, landlords are going to want their farmer/gardener tenants to have liability insurance, according to Nathan McClintock, an assistant professor at the Toulan School of Urban Studies & Planning at Portland State University.
As a UC Berkeley graduate student in 2009, McClintock surveyed Oakland to determine how many acres of undeveloped land could be used for vegetable production. He found that approximately 1,200 acres of Oakland’s, public land and 337 acres of private property could be used for growing produce. That land could yield up to 25 tons of vegetables annually and contribute up to 7.3 percent of Oakland’s vegetable consumption, he found.
McClintock said his research showed that owners are often passive about their property. Some don’t reside locally, or are not aware of alternative uses. Many don’t want to tie up their land for several years. For the tax incentive to work, its benefits must be clearly communicated to landowners, he said.
“This idea will work best with landowners who care about land stewardship and who are sympathetic to urban agriculture cause,” McClintock said.
