Urban gardens are the new rage for the eco-conscious urbanite. One of the basic tenets of the green movement is local, organic eating, and what better way to do that than to start your own garden.

All over the world, people are growing their own gardens in whatever green space they can find: rooftops, vacant lots, and even in their shopping carts. A garden filled to the brim with fruit and vegetables can become a natural haven to escape the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.

Rooftop Gardens

City living doesn’t always correlate spacious living. In urban areas, land available for growing food is sparse. The rooftop garden is wonderful way to have the best of both worlds. Rooftop gardening supports the local sustainable food supply and is a great way to prevent rainwater contamination, reduce a building’s cooling and heating costs, and add to the dwelling’s overall aesthetic value. Start small until you have a handle on the special techniques and processes you will have to use to maintain the garden. Most rooftop gardens are grown in plant beds.

The key to success is a proper plan. Roof location is important: a gardener must take into consideration intense sunlight, water drainage, and wind speeds. Additionally, it’s important to note the garden’s weight. Most urban gardeners advise to use a lightweight soil like peat to reduce this hazard. The only thing left to do is pick your seeds and plant.

Community Gardens

Community gardens are a great way to interact, bond, and promote diversity within a given area. Members get the benefits of exercise, social interaction, nutritional awareness, and most importantly, fresh fruit and vegetables. These gardens have been effectively used to teach young, underprivileged Americans the benefits of eating well. Starting a thriving community garden requires the commitment of a core group of individuals dedicated to the project. Finding the proper space is next. It may be reasonable to assume that many vacant lot owners will donate the area or lease it at a reasonable rate, but don’t count on generosity.

After this, all you have to do is get community members involved, build beds, plant seeds, and wait for your labor to pay off. The internet is a great place to access resources that can assist you in growing a thriving and vibrant garden with excellent food yields. Community gardens have proven so beneficial to neighborhoods that now securing grants to start them is a relatively common occurrence.

Mobile Gardens

Growing on the run. The mobile garden is a creative and innovative way to garden. Just take a container and plant your fruits, vegetables, herbs, and voila. They are cropping up everywhere and in almost anything: the back of pickup trucks, strollers, shopping carts, car trunks, and even railway cars.

Individuals seeking to carve out their own green space in the concrete jungle are not alone. Around 15% of the world’s food is currently being grown in urban areas. Sadly, as more lands fall prey to capitalistic pariahs, urban gardening might just be the next farming frontier.

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One Comment

  1. THANK YOU FOR WRITING ABOUT THIS. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS MOVEMENT AND HOPE IT MAINTAINS ITS “TIPPING POINT”

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