The goal of this study is to show how urban small-plot intensive (SPIN) farming produces value in the San Diego community of North Park from...
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The goal of this study is to show how urban small-plot intensive (SPIN) farming produces value in the San Diego community of North Park from the perspective of the community members involved, and the perspective of those who operate The Nectary, a local SPIN farm collective. Value is defined in terms of social and communal benefits, development of a land ethic, and in terms of economic viability. This is a participatory ethnographic study of three homeowners who are members of the Nectary’s collective, aimed at providing insight into how the project helps to facilitate the growth of ecomindedness in its participants. We found that the farms generated heightened awareness with respect to sustainability issues such as water use, transportation reliance, and the effects of pesticides on the land and the food itself. Due to time constraints, this is not a longitudinal study but simply a snapshot detailing the cultivation of mindfulness in those who participate in the Nectary’s community based urban agriculture project. The hope is to promote localized food production and to spur community participation in sustainable agriculture in other areas of San Diego by demonstrating the sociocultural benefits of doing so.
