Urban agriculture is a hands-on, approachable gateway into sustainability for many people, especially college students. And, as a movement, it is showing promise in effectively addressing many social, economic, and ecological challenges.
According to
Feeding America, 391,671 people in Dallas struggle with food insecurity including 21% of all children. Food insecurity is only expected to worsen as inflation, global conflict, and climate change challenge the resiliency of fragile food systems. While these challenges are very complex and require large, systematic investments at all levels, urban agriculture is an important starting point.
The Dallas College Urban Agriculture Program has five priorities:
- Education
- Environment
- Human Wellness
- Operations
- Assessment
Dallas College uses its campuses for teaching urban agriculture with hands-on learning and online curriculum. The College gardens are located at the following locations:
- Brookhaven Campus
- Cedar Valley Campus
- Eastfield Campus
- El Centro Campus
- Mountain View Campus
- North Lake Campus
- Richland Campus
Free Online Education about Urban Agriculture and Food
Learn more about Urban Agriculture from our FREE Sustainable U online webinars available on the
Sustainable Dallas College YouTube channel.
Planting Seeds to Growing Profits Dallas Half Acre Farms
Check Out Dallas College’s Agricultural Sciences Program
Dallas College offers educational pathways for students to study innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to agricultural sciences. Our courses highlight a variety of topics from an overview of the American agricultural system to technological applications to food and animal sciences, all while giving you hands-on training and field experience. Learn more on the agriculture sciences program in the Dallas College School of Engineering, Technology, Mathematics and Sciences (ETMS).
What is an Urban Farm?
An urban garden or farm cannot, on its own, supply the needs of its host community. Its impact should be assessed beyond the people fed; agricultural education, even at a very cursory level, has far-reaching impacts on the way people shop, eat, and dispose of foods. College students, some of whom are living on their own for the first time and learning how to be members of their communities, are among the demographics most predisposed for this impact.
What is Urban Agriculture?
Urban agriculture generally refers to the cultivation, processing, and distribution of agricultural products in urban and suburban settings. These systems include things like vertical production, warehouse farms, community gardens, rooftop farms, hydroponic, aeroponic, aquaponic facilities, agroforestry, micro-animal husbandry, and urban beekeeping.
The Dallas College Urban Agriculture Program also includes adjacent disciplines such as ornamental horticulture, habitat conservation, and water conservation.