How Urban and Suburban Agriculture Can Bridge the Food Gap

The Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences (AHS) publishes a monthly blog written by students, alumni, and faculty sharing important topics and helpful resources related to the fields of agriculture, extension, and human science. In the April blog post, AHS agricultural science student Elizabeth Chiaverini discusses building resilient, local food systems with suburban agriculture.

Getting fresh food onto the plates of people with limited means has long been a persistent challenge. When flaws in the food supply chain become widely recognized, the public is better positioned to seek out and implement solutions. Urban agriculture has been one such solution—and in recent years, it has gained momentum in nearly every major and minor city across the United States. Building on that momentum, we can extend our efforts beyond city centers and into the often-overlooked pockets of suburbia.

Fitting agriculture into urban environments is inherently difficult due to the high population-to-land ratio. As city density increases, the availability of open space for food production sharply decreases. Urban centers prioritize packing people into small spaces, often leaving little to no room for residents to access fresh, healthy food sources. Yet the creativity in addressing this challenge has been inspiring. From farming inside old warehouses and office buildings to rooftop gardens and guerrilla gardening in abandoned lots, urban agriculture has proven itself adaptable and resilient.

One particularly exciting innovation is the dwarf tomato movement—breeding large, nutritious tomatoes to thrive in compact containers, perfect for balconies and patios. This concept has expanded to include a variety of staple foods: okra, cucumbers, squashes, peppers, and more can now be cultivated in minimal space. In cities where square footage is scarce, a diversity of small-space solutions is key to getting fresh produce to the people who need it.

Just outside the city limits, the landscape shifts. Suburban neighborhoods are filled with homes that often include yards—once a status symbol, now frequently criticized for wasting water and disrupting local ecosystems. These underutilized green spaces represent an enormous opportunity. By reimagining lawns as gardens, we can not only grow food but also rebuild a sense of community where it’s needed most.

Suburbs are made up of economic “pockets,” and access to fresh food often reflects these divisions. More affluent areas typically have better access to grocery stores stocked with high-quality, healthy options. In contrast, lower-income neighborhoods may struggle to find or travel to stores that carry fresh produce. These areas are commonly referred to as “food deserts”—but perhaps a more accurate term is nutrition desert. It’s not that food is absent, but that nutritious food is disproportionately hard to find. Imagine trying to make a seven-layer dip and only being able to find ingredients for three layers. Getting fresh vegetables or dairy might require trips to three or more stores. We need to start growing for tomorrow—literally.

Community gardens, especially raised bed models, are ideal for suburban settings where space is more readily available. Suburbs allow room to think beyond the bed—about tools, seed sharing, and collaboration. Tools can be one of the biggest startup costs in gardening, but shared tool sheds within a neighborhood can ease that burden. Saving seeds from successful crops not only saves money but also increases the likelihood of future success by promoting varieties adapted to your microclimate.

Even neighborhoods governed by a Homeowners Association (HOA) aren’t immune to nutrition deserts. While HOAs often focus on aesthetics and neighborly cohesion, they also collect fees to provide amenities—like pools, playgrounds, and gyms. Why not add community gardens to the list? Many edible plants, including vegetables and flowering herbs, can be integrated into decorative landscapes without drawing unwanted attention. From the curb, they look ornamental—yet they feed families.

Personally, I’ve been gardening in my own space for over five years. Despite my best efforts, I can’t seem to grow squash. But through the Nextdoor app, I found a neighbor just down the road who grows it in abundance. Together, we started a small gardening group within our neighborhood, where each of us focuses on growing what we do best and then trades with one another. While social media is often seen as self-centered, platforms like this can foster meaningful, local connections—ones that go far beyond likes and comments.

Urban agriculture is a tight-knit community, rich in passion but limited by space. Suburban agriculture has the space but often lacks the community framework. So, instead of moving people closer to the gardens in cities, why not grow the gardens where the people already are? Ideally, urban and suburban agriculture can support each other—sharing harvests, seeds, tools, and knowledge. With this cooperation, we can strengthen local food systems and build a more resilient, community-based food economy—one that can weather any storm.