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As the finishing touches go on this themed issue, evidence of widespread enthusiasm for urban farming is apparent in many developed countries. Farming in the city, commonly referred to as urban agriculture, has been put forth as a solution to multiple social problems, including the provision of new green spaces, control of runoff and provision of shade that offsets the heat of the concrete city. In cities with abundant vacant land and abandoned plots, urban agriculture promises a reduction of urban blight.

Purpose – Urban farming is becoming more common in the USA, as food-based entrepreneurs seek to make money farming in the city. Yet many urban farms are concerned with other factors in addition to food production, and thus have incorporated social goals into their missions. The purpose of this paper is to identify the social missions of urban farms in the USA, their extent, and explores differences and similarities among farms with varying missions. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use primary data collected from a 2012 national survey of urban farmers in the USA. In total, 35 questions, covering the 2012 farm year, targeted production and marketing practices, risks and challenges, information and technical assistance needs, farm size and location, age of primary farmer, and farm characteristics. A multinomial logistic model was used to analyze the social missions of urban farms in the sample. Findings – The authors find that food production is an essential part of the mission for all urban farms. Some farms have social missions, as well, which the survey results indicate are related to food security, education, and community building. The authors find that all urban farms, regardless of their mission, are relatively small and face similar challenges in terms of providing the primary farmer with a living. Farms with explicit social missions, relative to those with a strict market orientation, donate a higher share of food from their farm and are less likely to own farmland. Urban farms located in with lower median income are more likely to have social goals related to building community or improving security food security. Originality/value – Urban agriculture is becoming more prevalent in many developed nations. At the same time, social entrepreneurship is gaining traction. Given the limited ability of urban farms in terms of food production, the social mission of urban farms arises as a possible explanation for the recent growth. This paper provides insight into a new phenomenon, and uses new data to provide insight into size, types of farms, and farmer well-being and address the social missions of urban farms in the USA.

In the US, technical assistance for farmers has historically been an important aspect of farm support, yet there are questions about whether such technical assistance is available for organic producers. Research examining technical assistance for organic farmers is scant, but the small body of literature suggests that organic farmers prefer getting support for their operations from other farmers. We examine organic farmer and technical assistance provider views to better understand the current state of agricultural outreach and extension for organic farmers and ranchers. The mixed methods study used surveys and farmer focus groups to gather data. Four key findings are (1) many, but not all, organic farmers believe that technical assistance providers may lack necessary organic expertise, (2) organic farmers prefer learning from other farmers, (3) non-land grant providers have a key role in supporting organic farmers, and (4) little support is available for nonproduction aspects such as marketing and access to farm programs. The findings of this study deepen the understanding of organic farmers needs for technical assistance, as well as understand the capacity of providers to meet their needs. We suggest that technical assistance would be improved if TA providers adopted a collaborative approach by working more closely with organic farmers. Furthermore, TA providers may be better able to serve organic farmers by organizing region or crop-specific organic centers that work with farmers around the nation.

Designing Architecture is an indispensable tool to assist both students and young architects in formulating an idea, transforming it into a building, and making effective design decisions. This book promotes integrative and critical thinking in the preliminary design of buildings to inspire creativity, innovation, and design excellence. This compendium of individual wisdom and collective experience offers explicit guidance to students and young professionals on how to approach, analyze, and execute specific tasks; develop and refine a process to facilitate the best possible design projects; and create meaningful architectural form. Here the design process – from orchestrating client participation to finalizing schematic design – is explored and illuminated. The following material is presented to make the book a useful didactic tool for professional development: explicit strategies for doing design rather than simply reviewing principles and precedents creative ideas in approaching and framing problems in design terms specific methods to translate ideas to culturally significant, socially responsive, and environmentally sensitive buildings techniques to integrate all levels of cognition from analysis to epiphany counsel on developing a personalized process for engaging design projects case studies augment the text and chronicle fascinating applications of the design process. The essence of this book lies in an integrated and holistic approach to each unique project as well as fostering curiosity and exploration – a departure from algorithms, easy generalities, or a formula for design. Designing Architecture will inspire readers to elevate the quality of preliminary designs and unravel some of the mystery of creating the most beautiful, responsive, and responsible architectural design possible. Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Introduction to the Design Process Sidebar 1–1 : What Is Good Design? Process Elements and Iterative Loops. Creativity and Epiphany. Design Attitude. Architectural Concepts. Design Process as Research. Chapter 2: Influences and Inspiration Clients, Stakeholders, and the Program. Site and Context. Sidebar 2–1 : Site Inventory Checklist. Environmentally Sensitive Design. Sidebar 2–2 : Building Performance Strategies. Precedents and Historical Perspectives. Construction Technology and Materials. Budgets. Codes, Ordinances, and Regulations. Chapter 3: Doing Design Sidebar 3–1 : Tips for Doing Design. Sidebar 3–2 : Common Mistakes in the Design Process. Seeking Dialogue and Criticism. Tools: Drawings, Physical Models, and Digital Media. Sidebar 3–3 : Conceptual Design and Sustainability on the Computer. Synthesizing Program and Site Issues. Organizing Elements. Aesthetic and Formal Qualities. Building Systems Integration and Collaboration. Preliminary Design Presentations. Sidebar 3–4 : Tips for Presentations. Charrettes and Competitions. Chapter 4: Case Studies New England Residence. Global Heritage Hall. Autodesk A/E/C Division Headquarters. Andrew Pressman , FAIA, an architect and Professor Emeritus at the University of New Mexico, leads his own architectural firm in Washington, DC. His work has been featured in over thirty professional, scholarly, and popular publications. He has written six critically acclaimed books and holds a Master’s degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. “All-in-all, I highly recommend Designing Architecture : The Elements of Process by Andrew Pressman FAIA, no matter where one finds oneself in their career.” – Randy Deutsch, Architect \"[The book] present[s] sound counsel and readable, clear summaries of what it’s like to work as an architect […]; how ideas are developed, presented, and discussed with clients and consultants; and what influences designs at each stage.\" – Thomas Leslie, Pickard Chilton Professor in Architecture, Iowa State University. Journal of Architectural Education \"[…] thoroughly guided and blissfully written, anybody going through it will feel the urge to start a design anew, such is the charisma of the writing.\" – Kunal Rakshit, Dept. of Architecture, Jadavpur University

Intermediated markets account for two-thirds of local sales and are slowly gaining more attention. These marketing channels generally include all opportunities in the local supply chain that are not direct-to-consumer transactions, including sales to grocery stores, restaurants, regional aggregators such as food hubs, as well as schools, universities, hospitals and other institutions. The marketing chains are often regionally based and are shorter than the typical conventional food supply chain. These markets, like all other marketing opportunities, have their advantages and challenges for farmers. A set of nine papers in this themed issue explores a range of aspects of intermediated market channels, with some papers taking a broad view and others examining how farmers navigate specific markets. Together, the papers point to the potential that intermediated markets offer farmers interested in marketing their products locally and regionally, as well as reveal the entrepreneurial spirit that some of these market channels embody. While growth has been substantial and some successes evident, the papers also point to the challenges facing farmers who are trying to improve the economic situation of their farms.

Architectural competitions can provide architects with opportunities, enlighten the public and advance the design dialogue, but they can also exploit architects from financial and intellectual property standpoints.

\"In contrast to the grand service ideals of the Modern Movement, and compared with the tradition of the client- or patient-centered practice of law and medicine, architecture is absolutely impoverished.\" Andy Pressman makes this bold pronouncement in what he refers to as his \"jarring footnote\" in this otherwise upbeat and inspirational book about the relationship between architects and their clients.

On his own [Andy Pressman] is an entertaining storyteller, but the book really sparkles when he interviews other architects. There are plenty of big names: Charles Moore, Gene Kohn (Kohn Pedersen Fox), Duo Dickinson, Roger Lewis, Geore Hartman (Hartman-Cox), Stanley Tigerman, and Charles Gwathmey contribute wonderful stories of intrigue and inspiration, (tempered with various degrees of self-promotion). As a reader, it is difficult to remain non-chalent when someone whose work you respect talks about how the client figured into the project.