Urban Farming – An Eco-Friendly Alternative

Urban farming is one of the fastest growing trends for city dwellers, combining the hustle and bustle of the city life with the down to earth nature of growing and tending your own food. Urban farming is not a new trend per say, but with growing concerns over foods safety and a demand for organic and pesticide free food, many are finding it easier to grow it themselves, than risk the cross contamination of harmful substances.

If you’re looking to start your own urban farming, congratulations on taking the first step to an eco-friendly alternative to fresh produce and herbs. You don’t need a large area of space to get started, and even apartment dwellers can find themselves a gardener as many apartment roofs can be converted from your standard tar to an eco-friendly alternative, such as soil or mulch. Many apartments hold committees throughout; some include a building on-site committee or a social committee – offering the perfect opportunity to voice your opinion on creating an urban farm.

Generally speaking, if you were looking for an urban farm opportunity throughout the city (for those people living in private accommodations (such as a house) you can turn a small space into a renewable urban farm. Many eco-savvy homes have gone away with the traditional backyard and in turn, created a completely designed garden, featuring many fruits and vegetables (some homes have completely done away with having to purchase produce during climate months entirely) this allows a self-sustaining urban farm, some not even 10-feet by 10-feet large.

Consider planting vegetables to harvest at varying times of the year with your urban farm. Mixing early summer strawberries with later autumn vegetables like squash is the perfect opportunity to have a variety at any time of the year. Also consider planting vegetables (or fruits) for canning, an easy way to save on your winter grocery shopping, while preserving some of your home grown goods at the same time.

Canning options vary greatly, but salsas, chutneys and even sauces (think tomato or pesto) are quick to make, and keep for many months if canned properly. Include a variety of pickling vegetables in your garden, from cucumbers to beets, carrots to onions, many vegetables taste fabulous when pickled, and some pickled vegetables can keep for years before spoiling.

Whether you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative to traditional produce, or you’re simply looking to start eating locally-or in your own backyard-urban farming is an easy way to feed a family, without having to stare at increasing prices, or wonder what’s on the produce, that wouldn’t be in your urban farm.