Boston’s Plan to “Be Blue”

Photo courtesy of Inhabitat.com

Last year at a forum hosted by the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, futurist Edie Weiner  predicted that green-to-blue spaces (spaces that give back more than they take) would gain traction in the years ahead.

Here in Boston, home of PSMJ’s headquarters, it’s looks as though she’s right. Urban farming, which is one example of “being blue”—along with genetically engineered architecture—is set to expand in almost every part of Boston under a new zoning law. 

The legislature, known as Article 89 —and scheduled to be finalized this coming December—creates draft urban architecture zoning to make easier the speedy proliferation of farms.  The plan allows for ground-level farms up to 10,000 square-feet and rooftop farms up to 5,000 square-feet in nearly every part of the city and encourages the creation of rooftop greenhouses as well.

According to Boston Magazine, Mayor Thomas Menino stated that:

“Urban agriculture is an innovative way to improve city life. Farmers make good neighbors and better our communities. Growing food in city limits means better access to healthy food, while growing a sense of neighborhood unity and greening our city.”

And Menino’s not the only one who sees a future in urban farming. From New York City to Chicago, Venezuela to Lima, rooftop gardens and urban vegetable patches are growing fresh food where people live.  National Geographic even counts urban farming as the best of few solutions to feed the planet’s seven billion (and counting!) mouths.

So, for now, it looks like the best way to stay green—is to be blue.