Urban Ag for Southern Californians (March 2015) | Page 4

Introduction
The inspiration for this urban ag manual began during The Permaculture Academy’s
2014/15 permaculture design course (PDC) in Los Angeles. As part of the course, our
group was required to create a design for a theoretical project. Our design began as a
proposal for a local CSA garden, but evolved into what would soon become this
manual. The purpose of these guidelines is to serve as an informational index for
anyone who is interested in urban agriculture.  Rather than just creating one foodgrowing garden in one local location, we hope that creating this manual will motivate
people throughout Southern California to turn their yards, balconies, or any open
space into a food-growing oasis.
Southern California, for the purposes of these guidelines, includes the urban region
stretching along the coast from Ventura to the Southern reaches of Greater San
Diego. Southern California contains roughly 60% of California's population, with a
population of over 22 million people. It is the third most populated megalopolis in the
United States. It consists of a heavily developed urban environment, along with vast
areas which remain undeveloped.
~Spin Cyclers