Artisan Agriculture

Artisan agriculture (AA) is a term emerging to describe the approach to agriculture and farming that is not only compatible with its urban context, but is designed to significantly benefit from the presence of a large adjacent population.

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Characteristics of artisan agriculture include:

  • Production of high quality niche market items that eaters will pay a premium for.
  • The distinct lack of toxic chemicals, large machinery, and degraded landscapes.
  • Pasture based grazing for livestock, who play and important function in the nutrient cycling on a farm.
  • Direct marketing to families, chefs, and specialty stores.
  • Prices that reflect the whole life cost of the item being sold and provide farmers with a sustainable livelihood.
  • A frequent priority of human labour over large scale mechanization.
  • On-farm intern/mentorship opportunities.
  • On-farm composting and nutrient cycling.
  • Customized  and creative systems for crop and livestock rotation depending on climate, season, and ingenuity of the farming team.
  • Others.

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There are a growing number of farms across North America that are now adding a wide range of value-added products, services and experiences to their base agricultural production business case.   A few to to explore include: