Farming in Detroit?

After reading John Phipp's blog Incoming, I was surfing from one page to another and found this page  http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/29/news/economy/farming_detroit.fortune/index.htm?cnn=yes  .

At our annual family Christmas party my son the Architect made the statement that the two biggest growth industries in Detroit were Agriculture and Hunting.  He maintained that the abandoned property there lent itself to these industries.  The above article seems to bear that statement out.

I can see some potential and problems both with that scenario.  First it is going to be expensive to put enough land together in order to get parcel large enough to farm.  It could be done however...only money is needed for that.  Another problem would be keeping the crop from being harvested by the neighbors.  Neighbors who might see that crop as an opportunity to put food on their tables.  These same neighbors are needed as customers as well.  So dealing with them in a fashion that keeps them being neighbors and not enemies is a problem that will have to be addressed.  I do believe it is possible to find solutions however.  Finding them will take some major thinking.  All that is needed is intelligence, a somewhat difficult commodity to find..

Potential profits are going to be large.  Especially if the City of Detroit makes some tax breaks available.  I think that the idea of making the farms open to the tourist industry also has merit, and would increase profits as well.  In order for the potential to be unlocked the goals of the new 'farms' will have to be long term, rather than quarterly.  Agriculture does not fare well when measured by the quarter.  Some quarters are all outgo, and no income.  The planners must be aware of that situation, or the whole idea will go down in flames.

I believe that Agriculture could be a profitable industry in Detroit and other cities with similar problems.  It remains to be seen whether or not the thinking of the people investing in Agriculture there is long term enough to bring it to fruition.

I really don't think they will have the right mind-set...but I will wait and see!