The key to the future is in the past! Exploring methods of food production for Cincinnati in 2050 by combining horticulture practices of the past with modern technology to create a better future. For centuries humans have been taking nutrients from the earth and giving very little back in return (Oregon State Agricultural Extension Service). To avoid going too far down this detrimental path, we need to implement restorative agriculture methods that replenish the ground. By doing so, we give the Cincinnati of 2050 a better future; a future composed of healthy, happy residents who have access to responsibly cultivated food, land that is less susceptible to flooding and landslides, and a population that takes responsibility and stewardship of the natural environment. Humans are a keystone species and as such we play an integral part in how the ecosystem functions, for better or for worse. There is much wisdom to be learned from Native Americans and their millennia of horticulture practices. By implementing strategies like a city-wide composting network, hillside terraced gardens, urban food forests, and underground hydroponics, Cincinnati can reduce food waste, mitigate climate change, increase equitable access to healthy food, and educate its residents on how to be environmental stewards.
