City roots - Barcelona's urban farming movement
Durada: 20 min
12/04/2025
Urban farming is the practice of growing food in cities instead of in rural areas. In this week's podcast we investigate the legislation surrounding urban food production and find out how community gardening projects are benefitting residents in unexpected ways. Reporter Gigi Giulia visits two of the leading urban farms in Barcelona, The Rooftop Garden and L'Hort del Mercat, to understand how these initiatives work. Robert Strauss, an American living in Barcelona, takes us on a tour of his own thriving rooftop garden. And we go to La Rural de Collserola, a cooperative located just outside Barcelona dedicated to sustainable agriculture. Finally, host Beth Cohen examines the environmental impact of urban agriculture and questions the contamination risks involved. This week our Catalan phrase is "Qui té un hort té un tresor," which translates as "He who has a garden has a treasure". It is a positive expression for those who appreciate gardening and all the rewards it can bring.