Paris urban farm feeds the city, and its community spirit | DW News

Key Concepts

• City Marisher: A municipal urban farm in Romanville, France, focused on social inclusion and education alongside food production.
• Vertical Farming: Growing crops in vertically stacked layers, often indoors, utilizing controlled environment agriculture.
• Social Farming: Utilizing agricultural practices to achieve social, educational, and health-related goals.
• Local Food Systems: Networks connecting food production, processing, distribution, and consumption within a defined geographic area.
• Inoculation (in mushroom farming): The process of introducing mushroom spores into a substrate (straw blocks with sawdust) to initiate growth.

Mushroom Production & Facility Overview

The City Marisher, managed by Sayi since 2022, operates a fungi room dedicated to mushroom cultivation. Workers require protective gear due to the potential for respiratory harm from mushroom spores. The facility utilizes organic straw blocks inoculated with sawdust as a growing medium. Upon arrival, these blocks are opened to allow mushroom growth. The team harvests approximately 2.5 tons of mushrooms annually, supplying 40 individuals, a dozen restaurants, and several organic farming cooperatives. Sayi estimates that two or three similar rooms could potentially meet the mushroom needs of a town with 30-40,000 inhabitants, like Romanville. In addition to mushroom production, the facility cultivates two tons of vegetables and herbs annually on upper floors. The building’s LED lighting consumes roughly twice the electricity of a typical household.

Social & Educational Focus

While food production is a component, the City Marisher’s primary objective is social impact. It’s a public institution operating on an annual budget of €500,000, and hosts 450 workshops annually for local pupils and residents. The core philosophy, as stated by staff, is to “grow vegetables, but first of all to create a space where people from the neighborhood can learn new things and meet.” Of the 27 jobs created by the Marisher, 20 are specifically reserved for individuals facing employment challenges, serving as a stepping stone towards more stable employment.

Workshop Example: Insect Habitats

Wiba, a 61-year-old participant, leads workshops on building insect shelters. The workshop emphasizes the six-legged anatomy of insects and their crucial role as pollinators and pest controllers. Participants learn to construct habitats using readily available materials like twigs and branches, addressing the loss of natural insect refuges. A participant, along with their son, highlights the learning opportunity provided by the workshop, stating it’s “a chance to learn a lot about insects here, how they live.”

Community Gardening & Access to Produce

Emiline Bjour rents a small vegetable patch (approximately €20/year) on the 1.7-hectare site. This allows residents to grow their own produce. The City Marisher’s educational and social activities distinguish it from other urban farms.

Facility Limitations & Cost

Despite its successes, the City Marisher isn’t without drawbacks. Experts note the high construction cost of €9 million, deeming it “very expensive” and not easily replicable. Technical flaws, specifically insufficient light on the lower two floors, limit usable production space. Only the upper floors are truly suitable for vegetable cultivation.

Restaurant & Local Food Network

A restaurant located on the City Marisher’s grounds prioritizes sourcing ingredients locally. The chef emphasizes the importance of supporting local food networks to reduce pollution, stating, “We’re trying to do our part just like a hummingbird does.” A three-course meal costs €14.50. Regular customers, like local pharmacists, appreciate the workshops and fair food prices, noting the positive impact on the neighborhood.

Farmers Market & Income-Based Pricing

Every Wednesday, the City Marisher hosts a farmers market with a unique pricing system based on income, determined by tax bracket. Recognizing that a quarter of Romanville’s residents live below the poverty line, the market offers significant discounts. A local council representative assists residents in calculating their discount, with one resident, Si, receiving a 75% discount on purchases. The market is described as a “lifeline” for individuals with modest pensions.

Overall Impact & Potential

The City Marisher is presented as a municipal agricultural project fostering social cohesion in a disadvantaged neighborhood and potentially serving as a model for cities worldwide. It demonstrates a commitment to local food systems, social inclusion, and community education.