My Eco Tip Thirteen

Grow Your Own Food in a Small Urban Place

Urban gardening has increased exponentially in recent years. Be it in a small backyard, on the terraces of skyscrapers t or below the freeway underpasses; these green initiatives are springing up everywhere.

The social benefit of urban gardens is tremendous; they often feed people who would otherwise go without food. Urban farming not only dispels waste and improves nutrition but also has an impact on reducing our carbon footprint.

The biggest challenge is having the space to grow as much food as you would like. According to Luay G, an urban gardener in Canada, you can use pots, galvanized rain gutters, kiddie pools; almost anything that can be made water tight to grow food in. Raised beds are also a great way to grow food in urban areas.

Dwarf trees are great for urban gardening as their propagation techniques are feasible to a small scale gardener.

Other plants that Luay grows include cucumbers, melons, chili peppers, sweet peppers, tomatoes, parsley, oregano and ginger.

In his frontyard, he grows flowers, potatoes, peppers, even  a plum tree.

Bottom Line

It’s possible to carry out sustainable urban farming, however it does require a lot of planning which is why it has not had as much success as small farms in rural areas.

Many people who are interested in reviving their backyards can learn about soil conservation, particularly Eco tropical aspects like deep top dressing, and various tree and shrub planting techniques. Urban gardening is becoming a common venture among small gardeners due to its many benefits, which include:

• Helping to promote community ownership of urban land through co-operative groups.
• Encouraging food security as it creates better access to affordable fresh produce, and thereby improves nutrition.
• Creating an environment in which people are motivated towards environmental protection since they live in close proximity with nature.
• Encouraging education on climate change and sustainability.