Display celebrating the Cache Valley Gardener's Market at the Cache County Fair (2014)

“It takes a lot of skill to be able to grow food sustainably. It’s an art form. We need to raise agriculture up … because the food that we eat is the most important thing in our lives.” - Will Allen, Urban Farmer Growing Power, Milwaukee, WI 

Seeds change the world. The legacy of these tiny, power-packed pods has been realized by every human civilization, and Cache Valley is no exception. Settlers in the late 1800s quickly took advantage of fertile farmland, successfully planted some seeds, and watched as the valley rapidly produced a wealth of produce and dairy products. Modern Cache Valley retains its agricultural ties despite the changes brought about by increased urbanization of the population center. A drive through any local neighborhood will more than likely lead to sightings of chickens, horses, goats, and large gardens- living testaments to the influence of farms.

This presentation explores the power of seeds in the framework of urban agriculture and the role it plays in defining sustainability. Pinning down a definition for what constitutes as urban farming is as equally subjective as defining the term sustainability. For all intents and purposes of this exhibit, we will define an urban farm as an agricultural endeavor located in a non-rural environment where outreach and education are given just as much attention as the farm products themselves. Sustainability is broken into three aspects: environmental, social, and economic. The modern urban farm embodies these elements. We will highlight various niches in the community to see the three tenets of sustainability as seeds at work on small family farms and community gardens. We'll also delve into the science of permaculture and the blurred lines that urban livestock create.