In Alameda County’s unincorporated neighborhoods of Cherryland and Ashland the crime and unemployment rates are higher than anywhere else in the county. Along with those alarming statistics run the side effects of poor health and various public safety concerns. So it may be surprising to some that the conversation has turned to urban farming.

Dig Deep Farms is a community-driven project and a great example of public policy in action. The collaboration between multiple county agencies and local area businesses contributed to Dig Deep Farms’ success in bettering the overall community.

“Health disparities are significant here. Rates of diabetes, childhood obesity, heart disease are well above county averages,” explained Lieutenant Marty Neideffer from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. “So it’s got all of these overlapping issues that affect public safety, public health, public education… you have to really address that overlap.”