For a long time, agriculture was an integral part of urban life, and it complemented the urban specialisation in commerce, trade and industry. And yet, only a little has been known about the extent and importance of these agricultural activities. In this study, human geographer Annika Björklund presents a wide-ranging analysis of the significance of urban agriculture in Swedish towns. Historical Urban Agriculture is based on extensive archival research and provides both an overview of urban agriculture, and an in-depth study of one town, Uppsala. The analysis demonstrates how town lands were developed and it shows how urban agriculture was practiced over a long period of time. The study shows that urban grain production was substantial in many towns, and sometimes led to high levels of self-sufficiency. The study gives new perspectives on urban food provision, and identifies factors that might create or counteract urban agriculture. In addition, the analysis in this book provides an historical context to the present-day discussions about local urban food production. Annika Björklund, born in Värmland in 1969, has a Licentiate of Philosophy in Human Geography and a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from Stockholm University. This book is her Doctoral Thesis in Human Geography.
