Urban Farming Business 101
Urban farming is about utilizing the urban space that you have available to you. First of all, you can begin with a small plot of land that will be perfect for urban farming. From there, you can later expand and begin growing on additional plots in your urban area. Having an urban farming business could especially be fulfilling as you help to create better-living conditions for those who live in urban areas. There are also many economic benefits to urban farming.
Business Models
Some urban farming business models are similar to agricultural farms in that they use artificial means of propping up the soil to promote healthy growth. These systems typically use fertilizers and feed to encourage root growth. This encourages healthy plant growth that results in more nutrients for food production. In urban farming, farmers will also use machinery to harvest and process the crops. This machinery is typically not built for conventional farming but is instead designed for the urban environment specifically. These machines can range from small urban farming machines that are used to move soil or seedlings from one area to another to larger industrial-strength farming machinery that is capable of harvesting entire fields of food.
Techniques
Urban farmers need to use techniques that are specific to the urban environment to get the best results possible. The goal of urban farming is to create soil that is more oxygenated than it is on the surface of the ground. The lack of oxygen in urban farming can lead to reduced crop yields because the roots of the crops will not be able to take in enough air.
Business Plan
When planning your urban farming business, you will also need to put together a business plan. Your business plan should include the types of crops you plan to grow as well as how you intend to transport the produce to the customers. You will need to have a substantial financial backing for your business plan and marketing strategy. This is important if you are planning on selling your product at retail outlets.
The amount of land you would need for an urban farming business would depend on what type of crops you plan on growing. For example, if you wanted to grow vegetables, you would need at least one acres of land, although two or three acres would be better. You will also need to invest in equipment such as blowers to help you cultivate the greens. If you want to sell your product to grocery stores, you will need to purchase shelving for storing the greens and packaging to display them.
Challenges
There are many advantages to starting an urban farming business, but there are also several challenges to overcome. One of the key challenges is finding the right location. Since urban farming relies on sunlight, you will have to find a place that gets regular sunlight all day long. Another challenge is getting the soil to become conducive for farming. You will need to cultivate the soil, fertilize it, and test for nutrient levels, as well as make sure that it is free of pests and other animals.
Another challenge of urban farming business is shipping the products to the grocery stores. However, this is easier said than done. You will need to find a refrigeration facility, which will allow you to store the vegetables at a low moisture state, allowing you to ship them without a problem. Once the vegetables reach the grocery stores, they will need to be dried and wrapped quickly to prevent spoilage. You may even want to have a dry cleaning service to do this for you.
Growing vegetables in the urban farming business are very simple, but it does take a lot of effort and time to ensure that you get high-quality products at a reasonable price. However, if you do your research, you should have no trouble getting started. If you find that you are successful, you might even consider opening a couple of additional farms in different neighbourhoods and serving people with fresh seasonal vegetables at each location. This is a great way to provide healthy fresh food to a wide variety of people each day.
