What is Urban Agriculture

What is Urban Agriculture

Urban agriculture, simply defined, is the process of growing produce and livestock in cities and other urban areas. It is a way of bringing food from the countryside to the cities. The most distinct feature of this method is its utilization of resources like home-made compost and waste water. The objective  is to promote the growth of agricultural products in the unique environment of urban areas.

In the past 10 years, efforts have been taken to promote this method to city dwellers to encourage their participation in the producing healthy food for their own communities. Will Allen, a former basketball player, has been awarded for his implementation of low-cost technologies in the cultivation, production and delivery of healthy food to the urban poor. Farm to fork, germination tray to the plate, this is a new and sustainable food landscape. Some factors that differentiate this type of food production from the conventional methods include:

• Location: This poses a challenge because the available planting areas in most cities are strictly limited. To solve this concern, the agricultural activity is done in any available plot of land like a homestead, a private land, parks, along roads and railways, and school or hospital yards.

• Types of produce: The types of food that are grown include different types of grain, vegetables, root crops, herbs and fruits. Raising livestock can also be done as long as it coincides with the prevailing regulations on urban living. Because of the limitations, the farming of food products in urban areas are more dedicated to specific crops compared to rural agriculture. Sprouts and microgreens good choices because they are fairly easy to grow, highly nutritious, and do not require much space.

• Process: The entire course of food production in cities from the planting, marketing and delivery of supplies are often handled by special business organizations. They involve a faster turn-around time because of the smaller geographical area and prompt transfer of resources compared to rural farming.

• Consumer: The major beneficiary of urban farming is the farmer himself. Often, the crops that are harvested are for self consumption. Any excess is exchanged with other farmers or are sold within the neighborhood in small groceries, delis or local shops. The bulk of the products though are harvested and processed for the grower’s personal use.

• Size of Production: While traditional agricultural groups work in small farms or clusters, urban growers covers individuals, small groups, cooperatives and business enterprises. Some form communities to share trade secrets and offer support to each other by discussing technical methods that are useful when taking care of crops in the city.

Posted by John Lloyd Crucillo - May 15, 2013 at 6:44 pm

Categories: Agriculture, Community, Economy, Research   Tags: , ,

Adopting Green Methods of Farming

dopting Green Methods of Farming

Modern agriculture has become more dependent on chemical fertilizers to increase crop yields and ensure better quality of products. This has been a cause of alarm for consumers because of the possibility of chemical transfer to fruits and vegetables. To counter this scenario, different communities started working together to exchange ideas and techniques to ensure the stability of their livestock and agricultural products.

There is a strong argument in favor of a system that is based on environment friendly practices because this can be sustained for a long period of time. If you are involved in the agricultural sector, it pays to care for the environment because it will take care of you.

A practice that is believed to help maximize the farmers’ resources is to grow different crops in the same field. There’s also a need to check on the different factors that affect the growth of varied products so that current practices can be adjusted. For instance, centuries ago, in places that have received very little rainfall, irrigation was used to irrigate crops. The objective of sustainable agriculture is to keep the environment healthy while farming so that it will produce high quality products.

The growth of agricultural products depends on the food, feed and industrial organic matter. It is also affected by environmental, technological and demographic factors. The challenge is to meet the demands of the world’s growing population by providing enough produce to meet the demand. There are times when the methods that are used are harmful to the environment which is why efforts have been directed towards adjusting agricultural practices to make it more environment-friendly.

Organic farming systems do not use toxic agrochemicals but are based on nurturing biodiversity which means that farming plots are maximized by planting crops that can be beneficial to each other. Studying the kind of crops that can enhance the productivity of the soil is only one of the guiding principles in sustainable agriculture. What distinguishes this kind of crop production from the traditional methods is that the new ideas that are geared towards green living.

A lot of tropical forests have lost their fertility because of over-exploitation of the land when chemical fertilizers are used. Nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which are essential for growing plants are lost during the traditional methods of farming. Allowing animals to overgraze is also a factor that contributes to soil erosion. The other harmful effects to the soil includes salinization and water logging.

Posted by John Lloyd Crucillo - May 15, 2013 at 2:55 pm

Categories: Agriculture, Community   Tags: , ,

Getting to Know your Food

Getting to Know your Food

One distinct advantage of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is that it builds better relationships within the community. These small farm clusters often support each other by providing help in the form of manpower resource and additional supplies. A major benefit of this set up is the strengthening of the natural network between the farms and their workforce. In the end, it is more than just producing fresh goods because it affirms the bond of the community members.

While the main products of CSA farms are fruits and vegetables, there are some farmers that have ventured in producing meat, honey and eggs, among others. Others even go as far as making cured meats, pickles, cheese and other homemade products for selling.

Foods that are sourced from CSA farms are better because consumers know the story behind the food that they buy. The different stages of production are displayed right before their eyes which gives them small comfort. Most farms allow clients to visit the planting areas and even do the harvesting themselves when the fruits and vegetables are right for picking. People pay a fee to gain entrance, collect the produce that they want and settle the cost of the goods at the cashier’s table.

While organic products are available at grocery stores, the amounts are often in controlled numbers because their business set up requires them to maintain a procedure in distributing the goods from their different suppliers. These days, you can’t walk through a grocery aisle without seeing foods that come from all over the world. Since they come from quite a distance, some produce items are priced higher than usual which makes it something of a feat to feed a family with natural and organic products.

The competitive edge of locally farmed products is that it makes healthy foods accessible to common people. Since they are grown in nearby farms, the cost of distribution is kept low which makes the price more reasonable than conventionally grown products. This is aside from the added benefit of having more nutritive value because of the unique methods that are applied in organic farming.

Posted by John Lloyd Crucillo - May 15, 2013 at 9:56 am

Categories: Agriculture, Community   Tags: , ,