“Throughout her young adult life, Amanda Morse has worked entirely in the nonprofit food sector. When she moved to Portland, Oregon, she was ready to apply her skills in a new direction. Knowing she wanted to live in the city, Morse decided to become an urban farmer, and began researching vacant plots of land in the city using Google Maps and other online resources to contact prospective property owners about leasing their land. When the owner of the Tropicana Barbecue restaurant in North Portland responded favorably, in the winter of 2011, Morse was able to begin transforming the ¼ acre parcel adjacent to the restaurant into her Blue House Greenhouse Farm.”
“They are Urban Farmers in Los Angeles that specialize in Microgreens harvested after the first true leaves develop, such as Arugula, Cilantro or Daikon Radish.” They’ll also deliver fresh Wheatgrass pre-cut to your door within 10 miles of Hermosa Beach, California.
“Wright had been to prison and was struggling with a serious drug problem. He says he prayed for a change and a few days later met a man who’d recently started a small community garden. He invited Wright over to check it out.”
“It was a vacant lot right next to his house, and he said he commandeered it. You know, this is the hood, I was like ‘commandeered?’ We never heard of that word. He said it means to take over. Oh, you jacked that vacant lot, ok,” Wright laughs.
Later on, this small garden quickly became a full working farm. They began with 2 lots and now have added several dozen acres just 10 minutes down the road.
“Nothing gives me more pleasure than when I’m giving a tour and I have these little kids run up to me ‘excuse me Mr. Patrick, can I have a collard green, can I have a tomato? They’re going to go pull that collard green right off the plant and eat it raw,” he says.”
On a two-acre plot behind a middle school in the District of Columbia you’ll find tomatoes and okra growing, along with an infrastructure for food entrepreneurs.
“In a ward of the city with just two grocery stores serving more than 70,000 residents, fresh produce is hard to come by. But the Kelly Miller Farm, which will be situated behind a middle school with the same name, aims to offer much more: youth programs, a community garden accessible to seniors, and a commercial kitchen from which area residents can launch food-based businesses.”
“It’s like a food system in a box—in one space, in one community,” says Christopher Bradshaw, executive director of Dreaming Out Loud. The D.C. food justice nonprofit is partnering with the city and a half-dozen other organizations to run the farm in a way that generates revenue while also meeting the community’s unique needs. “I don’t know too many places combining those things,” Bradshaw says.
Raised bed gardens are an easy, manageable, and great way to grow vegetables, herbs, and even ornamentals. Here are 10 great raised bed vegetable garden ideas inspired by Instagram users around the world…”
“The Regina Food Bank is best known as a place that collects and distributes food, but now it’s growing its own — and in a big way. This week the agency officially launched its Four Seasons Urban Agriculture Project in its new greenhouse.”
The greenhouse currently uses 48 vertical towers and they are growing a variety of crops such as broccoli, cabbage and many others. They aim to grow year-round and want reach out to the entire community and teach them about food production and other services that their food bank has to offer.
“Chanowk Yisrael, one of urban agriculture’s most vocal proponents in Sacramento County, talks about what he wants to do if Sacramento County’s proposed urban agriculture ordinance passes early next year.”
Fatima Malik wants to farm this vacant plot in Del Paso Heights. The City of Sacramento is proposing new tax incentives to encourage the conversion of such vacant lots into miniature farms.
“John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ goes on a field trip to a viewers home to share with you how she is growing food at her Condominium. You will discover how you can grow a lot of food in a small amount of space by using raised beds, containers, pallet garden, wine barrels, greenhouses and much more.
You will also learn you can make compost or worm castings at your condo or apartment by using a compost bin and worm bin.
Next, you will learn about the Community Garden at this Senior Condominium Complex and how the residents are growing food to feed themselves. You will learn how to keep unwanted animals, such as birds, rabbits, and other rodents out of your vegetable garden by using some inexpensive PVC pipe and bird netting.
Next, you will discover the best two ways to use some of your garden fresh vegetables that you grow in your garden to benefit you and increase your level of health.
Finally, John will interview Cecilia, the gardener and ask her why she started to garden, how gardening has helped her to become healthier as well as her tips on gardening.
After watching this episode, you will empowered to grow a vegetable garden at your condominium, apartment, townhouse or other small space.”
“Over the last 16 years, Peterson has helped Arizonans plant more than 15,000 citrus, apple, fig and other varieties of trees in mostly urban areas throughout the state and educated thousands about urban farming through in-person classes and webinars via his Urban Farm U. Topics include growing food, raising animals for milk and eggs, jump-starting a garden and sustainable methods.”
“Living with the Land (originally Listen to the Land) is a log flume tour ride located within The Land pavilion which is part of Epcot theme park in Walt Disney World Resort at Lake Buena Vista, Florida. It is a slow-moving boat ride, which is part dark ride and part greenhouse tour. The focus of the ride is on agriculture, especially new technology to make agriculture more efficient and environmentally friendly.” –Behind The Seeds
String Greenhouse (formerly the Production Greenhouse) – This greenhouse focuses on innovative high-density techniques, such as Nutrient film technique. It also shows off “vertical growing techniques”, in which plants are grown on specialized trellises which cause the herbaceous plants to approximate the shape and structure of trees.
One of the most famous examples of these trees is The Land’s “tomato tree”, which produced over 32,000 tomatoes in a 16-month period. It was recognized by Guinness World Records as both the largest and most productive tomato plant in the world. Other crops include eggplant, peppers, winged bean, lettuce and snake gourd. Furthermore, cucumbers and pumpkins are grown in the shape of Mickey Mouse through the use of special molds. Much of the produce grown in the String Greenhouse is used in The Garden Grill and Sunshine Seasons, both restaurants in The Land pavilion. In total, over 30 tons of produce are harvested from The Land each year.
Creative Greenhouse – The final greenhouse in the attraction shows some unusual ideas about the future of agriculture. Most of the plants in Creative House are grown via Aeroponics, in which a fine mist of water and nutrients is sprayed directly onto the roots of the plants. The roots dangle freely in the air, and are not hindered by any growing medium. Some of the plants’ roots in Creative House are enclosed within rotating columns and A-frame structures, while others are completely exposed to the open air, at least temporarily, so the entire plant may be viewed by the Guests on the boat ride. Creative House also features a small exhibit of NASA hydroponic growing units, which were developed for use on extended-length space journeys. Crops on display include tomato, squash, lettuce, basil, rosemary, cabbage, super-dwarf wheat, swiss chard, marigold and snapdragon.
Biotechnology Lab – Attached to the Creative Greenhouse, the Biotechnology Lab is a sterile research environment. Several USDA scientists are on-site at The Land, performing research on crop improvement. The Land also produces a product called “Mickey’s Mini Gardens” in the Biotechnology Lab, which are available for purchase in several locations in Epcot.” –Excerpt from Wiki
“Children are not only allowed to interact with animals, but are also encouraged to take care of them by preparing their food or directly feeding them. Staff teach children how to further care for the livestock and the economics and management of farming such as balancing a farm budget and making financial decisions. An on-site veterinarian makes sure all animals are well taken care of. Workshops housed in the beautiful arched buildings offer classes on pottery, woodworking, and other artistic pursuits. The greenhouses, clad in a pineapple-like facade, include hydroponic farming for herbs and vegetables, soil-based farming for flowers, and a nursery for more exotic plants.”
To read the full article, please visit: “Inhabitat.com“
A Super Guide for Beginning Gardeners: Infographic helps take the mystery out of planting your first home garden. It even contains information that can be useful to more experienced gardeners. It is part of a growing body of information from Gardener Corner, and contains ideas and practical tips for that first garden.
The term “Victory Garden” originated in World War II when British and American citizens were encouraged to plant gardens, and areas normally devoted to lawns or flower beds were used for growing vegetables. Today, a backyard garden can help take some of the pressure off your home budget by providing fresh vegetables and even some types of fruit. In a world where gas prices, interest rates and wages can fluctuate, having your own fresh produce can be one stable factor in your economic plan.
Gardens also promote getting outside in the sunshine, which is said to provide a wide variety of health benefits. Gardening and yard work provide exercise that includes stretching, bending and lifting. Some accounts indicate that there is even a health benefit from being directly in contact with the earth, and possibly even a spiritual benefit. Best of all, your home garden has the potential to provide the freshest produce possible – straight from the garden patch to your table.
In a 40-foot-long container they’re growing about 1,000 heads of lettuce in a single week! “Eating fresh produce is a different experience most people on Long Island don’t get to experience.”
Vegetables are grown using LED lighting in a controlled climate with no GMO or pesticides used. About 80 percent less water is used in these spaces since the water is recycled.
“Square Roots vegetables have a higher cost than typical produce, but Bernard says the advantage is you can harvest it and it lasts two to three weeks as opposed to produce in grocery stores that take a week to arrive and wilt three days after they’re purchased.”
Bernard is one of 10 farmers chosen to kickstart the Square Roots movement, which is based in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.
“This documentary showcases the people behind the urban farms that have been mushrooming amidst the glass and steel towers of Singapore’s central district. The film follows the trials and tribulations of Comcrop’s Allan Lim and his vertical faming venture, as well as the challenges and triumphs of social entrepreneur Bjorn Low and his bespoke farm-to-table approach. Can cutting-edge agricultural technology and an enduring Singapore spirit of community & collaboration start to influence Singaporeans’ approach to food sustainability? This film captures this changing minds cape.”
“Urban homesteaders Chanowk and Judith Yisrael, along with their nine children, have converted their yard and a neighboring lot into a half-acre farm consisting of a chicken coop, a small orchard producing everything from plums to goji berries, and gardens bursting with crops like Ethiopian kale, Swiss chard and collard greens. They’ve also taught themselves how to compost, cultivate seeds and make jams and soaps.”
Their mission began in 2008 when the family decided they wanted to improve their eating habits. They now source up to 90% of their diet from their own yard and their focus is to support the nearby 300,000 residents who are living in a food desert. “Urban farming is not just for food production,” Chanowk says. “It’s a community-building tool.”
“In this episode, you will get a tour of the front yard and back yard of this residential tract home lot. You will discover what is growing and John will share his tips and tricks along the way. You will learn how you can improve how you are growing in raised beds to grow more food in less space.
You will also discover the secret to composting in a 3 bin pallet pile system and learn about the one perrenial vegetable you must grow that can grow more food than a whole 4’x4′ bed of kale!
Finally, John will interview gardener Daniel McCollister creator of the CropSwap app, which is a new product on kickstarter that helps gardeners “trade homegrown, perfectly ripe heirloom fruits and vegetables in our own neighborhood. Let’s take control of our food system!”
“Our biggest challenge is a behavioral challenge: people are used to shopping in grocery stores. We need to teach people HOW to grow food and show them why creating a localized food system is better on every level.”
Main timeline of the app. Users can scroll and look at available produce in their neighborhood, click on each item and see a detailed profile about it.
To make a deal, users make offer from their garden and say what they want back. Other user can either approve or make a counter offer until both sides agree.
CropSwap confirmed neighbors coming. Scroll through pictures of vegetables your neighbors will be bringing.
10. Lush backyard getaway. This leafy retreat in the Pimlico neighborhood of London feels hidden, thanks to a slatted screen at the back of the garden and mature trees, vines and shrubbery on either side. Bamboo, grown in brick planters toward the back, offers a quick-growing screen for urban gardens.
9. Living wall. Vertical gardens have been popular on Houzz for the past few years, but this walled London courtyard is a particular standout. With just enough room for a cafe table and chairs, the narrow courtyard left little space for large-scale potted plants. Covering the wall with vertical planting pockets makes room for growing a diverse array of ferns, vines and perennial flowers and creates a verdant backdrop.
8. Sleek lines. This favorite garden proves that with a creative design, even an oddly shaped, sloping lot has enormous potential. Working with the London backyard’s natural gradient changes, garden designer John Davies created a series of terraces and planting beds so that the resulting view from the ground floor is one of lush foliage layers. Lights washed over specimen plants and soft lighting from the fountain create an inviting atmosphere after dark.
A video survey of urban agriculture and community gardening in Atlanta. This story was featured on “This is Atlanta with Alicia Steele,” a Telly Award-winning and Emmy-nominated magazine show on PBA, Atlanta’s PBS Station. View more from “This is Atlanta” at http://www.pba.org/atlanta.
“The garden was beautiful,” Finley said teary eyed, “and then someone complained.” The city threatened him to remove the garden and put out a warrant for his arrest. The LA Times picked up the story, which prompted a petition, which prompted the city to change its zoning laws. The garden grew and thrived.
In 2011, the owner of the property on which the Gangsta Garden and the Ron Finley Project headquarters now sit defaulted on his loan. But over the past few years – since the garden became a success – the owner has been battling the bank for a loan modification that would allow the project to continue and expand. But the bank refused, foreclosed on the property in November, and sold it to a real estate corporation called Strategic Acquistions, Inc., in what Finley calls “a shady business deal.”
