Grow Food in Your Backyard – urban farming techniques
Urban farming is a place where organic or sustainable urban farming occurs in a city or urban area primarily for urban development or demographic increase. Urban farming can also be defined as any kind of food and other non-food cultivation and processing that occur on the urban fringe or within an urbanized area. It also refers to the development of systems to cultivate food in an urban environment. There are many innovative urban farming techniques available to urban dwellers, which have the potential of creating sustainable solutions for feeding themselves, while also providing opportunities for local entrepreneurship.
Vertical Farming
One of the best knowns of these innovative urban farming techniques is called vertical farming. With vertical farming, crops are grown in containers on raised beds in urban landscapes. The practice is especially suited to areas where access to a traditional field is limited. In this method, produce is harvested directly from the plant’s root systems without being sprayed with pesticides. These days, vertical farming techniques are extensively used in urban areas for crop production, such as lettuce, chives, basil and strawberries
Window Farming
Another technique that is widely used in urban farming techniques is window farming. This is a popular solution used for organic, urban farming in low-density spaces, such as apartments and condos. In window farming, plants are grown in large window boxes on commercial greenhouses. Though these urban farming techniques are highly efficient, they have their limitations, such as poor pest control and energy consumption due to heat.
Arboretum Gardening
A third technique that has become popular among urban farming techniques is arboretum gardening. This technique involves creating small gardens in urban landscapes, similar to an arboretum, with an arrangement of plants growing from a central point. This arrangement is used to provide low-maintenance and high-return gardens. This is a great way to improve the urban environment through natural gardening.
Innovative Urban Farming
Some of the most innovative urban farming techniques involve urban agriculture techniques that combine traditional farming with the conservation of resources. For example, in urban farming, farmers can cleverly utilize existing space. Litterboxes can be strategically placed to collect organic waste from rooftop gardeners. Urban dwellers can also create small “garden parks” by lining walkways with plants. In these parks, residents can enjoy fresh food while paying attention to the natural environment.
Other urban farming techniques incorporate food production through the employment of full-time income-producing jobs. Microgreens are a popular option used to increase full-time income. The microgreens produce high-quality vegetables and fruits at a low price. In urban agriculture, microgreens are being used as on-ramps to create organic vegetable gardens in urban spaces. In addition to creating a full-time income, urban farmers have found these types of urban backyard gardens useful in combating urban pollution.
Some urban farming techniques focus on increasing crop yield through pest control. Pests like termites can destroy the crops of farmers who have been unable to attract beneficial insects. To combat this issue, farmers will place netting over their rooftop gardens to prevent pests from access to the crops. The crop produced by these urban farming techniques is usually of a higher quality than that produced by traditional farmers. Some urban farm owners have even managed to establish their farms, providing fresh food to residents in low-income neighbourhoods.
Urban growing methods have provided new methods of growing crops in an urban space. These urban farming techniques have provided an alternative means for low-income families to have access to nutritious foods. Through careful planning, these urban farmers have been able to cultivate fruits and vegetables that would otherwise not be available to them due to the distance from the urban centre and the lack of space for large scale growing. Through the use of innovative gardening methods, urban farming provides a way for people to be more self-sufficient, and it helps lower-income families to grow their healthy foods.
