“This Place is Sacred” Ecological and Community Regeneration in Pomona, CA Via Urban Farming

Abstract

Named after Roman goddess of fruit, Pomona, California was once a thriving urban garden and part of the larger Southern California “citrus belt.” However, now the city is an industrial region with high levels of environmental burdens that are particularly rooted in its industrial corridor. Currently, there are several environmental efforts to pursue a greener, healthier Pomona and one particular project is an eco-farm located blocks away from the industrial corridor. This thesis emphasizes Pomona’s various transitional periods, from agricultural to industrial, and its current regenerative process towards healing from environmental injustices. Through ethnographic and mixed methods fieldwork, I will look at urban farming’s impact in transforming/regenerating waste, cultivating food sovereignty, and cultivating community joy.