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[Dummy project for article writing 01.]
In the midst of the hustle and bustle of our modern cities, where the green environment is not as good as before, the need of having a sustainable living has reached new heights. As urbanization continues to grow, so does the need to find solutions that align with the need to fix our environment and have a healthier way of life. Amidst this, urban gardening came as one of the solutions to have a sustainable living in this era.
- What is Urban Gardening?
Urban Gardening or often called urban horticulture, is the practice of growing crops like fruits, vegetables and even raising animals such as chicken or fish in the urban or city areas. Urban gardening is a part of a broader movement towards creating more green spaces in cities. Lot of city people engage in urban gardening in various spaces that they have at home such as backyard, balconies, indoor areas, or even rooftop, with a focus on sustainable living in urban and peri-urban centers.
- Types of Urban Gardening
With such small spaces at their home, people need to utilize space or tools that can be used to grow crops. There’s some types of urban gardening that people can do to at their home, such as:
- Backyard Gardens
Those who have enough space in their backyard can try this one. Its produce is mostly shared among friends, family and neighbors.
2. Container Gardening
This type of gardening makes use of a variety of containers such as boxes, old tires, watering cans, shoes, etc.
3. Indoor Gardening
When no outdoor spaces can be used for gardening, people can use their indoor rooms and make indoor greenhouses or sunrooms. The plants can be put in various types of containers like in Container Gardening.
4. Community Gardening
As a community, you can also use outdoor public spaces to cultivate gardens for food.
5. Rooftops
Roofs that are designed for the purpose of growing plants are also a form of urban gardening and can be used to grow food, and many other types of plants.
6. Green Walls
Making efficient use of limited space, which in this case is using walls by employing a system that provides adequate water and utilizes the existing wall soil. This method can help to do vertical farms.
7. Farming/Animal Husbandry
Breeding and caring for farm animals such as goats, cows, rabbits or sheep.
8. Hydroponics
Instead of traditional soil, this type of urban gardening relies on a nutrient-rich water solution to deliver essential nutrients directly to the plant’s roots. Although this type primarily focus on delivering nutrients to the plants, some advanced setups may also integrate aquaculture, allowing for the cultivation of aquatic animals alongside plant growth.
- Benefits of Urban Gardening
- Increased Food Production:
The ability to produce up to 15 times more than rural areas highlights how efficient urban gardening is. With shorter growth cycles, urban gardens can continue to provide fresh and locally grown foods to urban residents, reducing the need for long-distance transportation from the rural areas.
2. Community and Social Benefits:
Urban gardens could play an important role in creating public spaces within cities. They encourage neighbors to come work together, sharing knowledge, and strengthening social bongs. Furthermore, urban gardening provides education to the public about the origins of food, plus fostering a deeper appreciation for nature and agriculture.
3. Economic and Job Opportunities
Not only does urban gardening reduce the cost of food, but it also creates new employment, both in the production and distribution for the products. Additionally, as urban gardening practices grow, more opportunities will arise for individuals with expertise in horticulture.
4. Environmental and Health Benefits:
Urban gardening contributes to a sustainable environment by reducing carbon footprints that are associated with food transportation. Moreover, the absence of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals in urban gardening promotes healthy and organic produce. Urban gardening could also produce therapeutic aspects that have a positive impact on the overall well-being of an individual’s wellbeing, reducing stress, encouraging physical activity, and of course contributing to a healthier lifestyle.
- Challenges of Urban Gardening
- Involuntary Pollution
Urban gardening can lead to noise, odors, and even pollution, endangering the environment if the gardener used pesticides or organic fertilizers that seep into the water sources, emphasizing the importance of responsible and sustainable gardening practices.
2. Limited Space
Since urban areas tend to have limited available spaces for agriculture, It is indeed challenging to find a suitable space for urban gardening in the city.
3. Contaminated Soil
Other than limited space, the space that we found suitable still has to be checked first, since the soils might be contaminated with various pollutants, posing health risks for both the gardeners and consumers. Soil testing and remediation are crucial to address this issue and ensure food safety.
4. Limited Access to Resources
Access to essential resources, such as water, high-quality seeds, and other agricultural inputs can be limited in urban areas. These limited access can impact negatively to the crop yields and quality.
5. Lack of Regulations
The lack of regulations for urban gardening in many countries, allows a lot of local people to operate without licenses or supervision. This can create potential issues in terms of safety and environmental responsibility.
- How to start urban gardening at home?
Here’s step by step on how to start urban gardening at your own home
- Research the Rules & Regulations
Before starting, you need to research and understand any local rules and regulations related to gardening in your area. Complying with the rules and regulations ensures you to avoid any potential legal issues.
2. Determine Your Hardiness Zone:
Determining your hardiness zone helps you to understand the climate and weather conditions in your region. Knowing it can help you to do plant selection, ensuring you to choose varieties that can thrive in your area.
3. Research Small Space Gardening Technique
Do research on gardening techniques that can be done in a small space that you have for urban gardening. Pick the technique that you can do best.
4. Choose Your Gardening Space:
Determine where you’ll place your garden. Consider factors that can help your plant grow such as sunlight and water sources.
5. Decide What You Want to Grow
Choose the plants to grow based on your preferences, space, and the conditions in your zone.
6. Create a Plan
Create a planting plan or layout for your garden. A reasonable plan can maximize your garden’s produce.
7. Start Planting
Follow the recommended planting depths and spacing for each plant, and don’t forget to be mindful of the growing season in your region.
8. Maintain the Garden
Maintaining the garden with regular watering, fertilizing, pest control, monitoring the plants stay on top of the tasks to ensure your garden thrives throughout the growing season.
- Example of Successful Urban Gardening
One example of successful urban gardening is The Urban Farm in Brussels. This farm is a project that transforms vacant space into productive gardens. This project’s purpose is to provide healthy and affordable food for the locals, while also creating a green space for the city. Their garden also has become a popular destination for the locals. They eventually able to produce over 2 tons of fresh food each year.
- Conclusion
Urban gardening offers a compelling solution to the need for sustainable living in these modern cities. With urban gardening we can grow food even with the limited space that we have in the city. Its numerous positive impacts can benefit both urban environments and the ecosystem. By researching the rules and regulations, also understanding the principles of plant care, each individual can contribute to the creation of lively green spaces within the city for better days and better environment.
References:
- https://www.iberdrola.com/social-commitment/what-is-urban-gardening
- https://help.synnefa.io/articles/urban-farming-the-benefits-and-challenges-that-come-with-it
- https://miniurbanfarm.com/how-to-start-an-urban-vegetable-garden/
- https://www.earthed.co/blog/urban-gardening-is-the-practice-of-growing-plants-fruits-and-vegetables-in-urban-areas/
