Urban Gardens

Some think they have to put off gardening until they have a plot of land in the country. Not so! In today’s increasingly urbanized world, innovative city-dwellers have created methods of growing flowers, fruits, and vegetables in small urban spaces, including  indoors. Here are some examples:

• Container gardening: Don’t have a patch of earth? Grow plants in- or outdoors in containers of all sizes. Container gardens go beyond traditional pots, planted in everything from tires to bathtubs to old shoes.
  

• “Lasagna” or raised-bed gardening: This method is named for the layering technique that creates a fertile raised bed for planting. In a large wooden crate, layers of newspaper are topped with alternating layers of peat moss and nutrient-rich soil. The bottom layers turn into compost, and the “lasagna” becomes a fertile planting bed.
  

• Square-foot gardening: This method is low maintenance and great for growing a variety of plants in a small space. A 4’-by-4’ or larger case is divided into square-foot soil patches and planted. Uses less water and needs no weeding.
  

• Rooftop Gardens: These are growing in popularity worldwide, as buildings have replaced much of the arable land. Plants are grown in containers or raised beds, or turf can form the foundation for a thick soil layer. Plants on rooftops also cool a building and reduce runoff by absorbing solar heat and rainwater. Click here to learn more about green roofs.
  

• Community Gardens: These are gardens tended by a community of gardeners. They are either divided into individual plots or organized and maintained communally. They create beautiful urban green spaces, build community, and provide food. They are often used for education and community gatherings.
  

Urban gardening is made sustainable through composting, which creates fertilizer and reduces waste, and rainwater barrels, which collect water for gardens.

For many, especially in low-income communities in the U.S. and abroad, urban gardens are an important source of produce that alleviates the burden of rising food prices. In Mexico City, for example, where food prices have gone up 17 percent recently, a new urban gardening project has helped supply fresh produce to the city’s 20 poorest neighborhoods, with another 20 gardens in the planning stages. The gardens are mostly created in abandoned lots throughout the city, where layers of soil and compost are placed on top of concrete slabs. The city government provides seeds, tools, and training from agronomists. This and other models that make desolate urban areas into productive green spaces are important to building the sustainable cities of the future.

A great resource for urban gardeners is Urban Garden Casual, a successful online blog by top-notch urban gardeners. Check out its Tomato Casual, a blog specifically devoted to tomato growing!

Share your gardening stories and tips!