Social anchoring in the community and the design of viable organic market gardening microfarms

Summary

Strong social ovements are increasingly being built on concrete experiences such as organic market gardening microfarms to promote alternative food systems. The study of 12 French microfarms, based on semi -structured interviews and cross disciplinary analysis, revealed that alternative microfarms rely upon access to available material and intangible resources in their social environment. Involvement in the community is a necessity and, at the same time, the way to solidify ecological and social aspirations that are essential in the farmers' projects. Classical technoeconomic frameworks do not account for these non -market inputs. A larger conceptual framework based on concepts such as multifunctionality of agriculture, ecosystem services, and "double" sustainability is thus needed to analyze and assess the strategic choices of alternative organic microfarms.