Urban agriculture farming method in the united states – What is Urban Agriculture ?

Urban agriculture farming method in the united states

Urban farms play an important role in our cities. There are many different types of urban farms in different parts of the world. They can be including commercial city farms, community gardens, community gardens, indoor vertical farms, hydroponic greenhouses, rooftop gardens, urban aquaponics farms (or fish farms), urban bee farms, and small-scale home farms. They produce a range of goods such as grains, vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry, fish, herbs and dairy products for local consumption or retail.

What is Urban Agriculture ?

Urban agriculture, or urban farming, can be defined as the growth of plants and the raising of animals in cities, towns, and urban environments. Until recently, farming was largely a rural activity. But with the development of technology, the need to find more sustainable methods of production and consumption has led to the adoption of agricultural techniques in more built environments. Urban agriculture is all about producing food within the city limits. It has challenges, but it also offers many benefits such as increased food security, less waste, community involvement, and more.

Urban agriculture farming in the USA – Guide

Farms have spread in recent years to both developed and developing countries, each of which generally serves slightly different purposes. Farms in prosperous industrialized countries are largely responding to the challenge of moving to local economies, as well as finding more sustainable methods of agricultural production. In poorer countries, they have come about through multi-partner efforts to tackle food insecurity and hunger.

Many resources for urban agriculture, including;

• Office of Urban Agriculture and Modern Production to promote urban, domestic and emerging agricultural practices;
• Urban Agriculture and Modern Production Advisory Committee;
• USDA grants authority to support the development of urban agriculture and modern production;
• and pilot projects for higher concentrations of urban or suburban farms.

How urban agriculture can improve food security in US cities

In the United States, urban agriculture is on the rise as a result of the increasing availability of unused land and modern development. The development of farms improves the ability of community members to cope with social and climate change impacts.

Urban agriculture plays only a minor role in improving the food security of an area. Lack of space and lack of economic incentives lead to increased crop yields. Urban agricultural production forms a major part of the total food supply in developing cities.

Urban farms increase the availability of nutritious food to the urban poor. The production and protection of urban crops in developing countries is limited by the illegal and polluting effects of urban farming, which reduce crop production.

Because of urban sprawl on agricultural land, the future levels of production and the security of urban agriculture are uncertain. Urban farms can be the front lines of the food system.

How many things include in Urban Agriculture?

The urban agriculture includes,-

• Crop production, animal husbandry as well as fish farming in and around the cities.
• Food production as well as non-food production (flowers, trees, pot plants, for example) food
• Processing and marketing of food and non-food products grown in and around urban areas.
• Uses manure and (untreated or untreated) urban wastewater as resources.
• Can occur in open lands in the city as well as in backyards or on terraces.

Urban agriculture refers to the cultivation, processing and distribution of agricultural products in urban environments that include vertical production, warehouse farms, community gardens, rooftop farms, hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponics facilities, and other innovations.

Urban farmers and gardeners work to increase access to nutritious food among diverse populations, promote community participation, provide jobs, educate communities about farming, and expand green spaces.

It is part of a local food system where food is prepared in urban areas and marketed to consumers in the area.

Now it will also be included in urban farming

Urban farming includes beekeeping, animal husbandry in livestock, aquaculture (eg, fish farming), and aquaponics (eg, integrating fish farming and agriculture).

Citizens can also contribute to the rehabilitation of abandoned or used urban land, social and economic benefits to urban communities, and beneficial effects on urban landscaping.

Urban agriculture farming method in the united states

Backyard Gardens

It is cultivating food in the homeland. Its produce is mostly distributed among friends, family and neighbors as it usually leads to harvest. Food can also be safe and secure. Backyard gardens use a variety of methods to obtain better crop yields.

Sheet mulch is an easy way to turn a lawn into a garden. Cut the grass and then cover it with a layer of cardboard. Make sure the pieces overlap to prevent sunlight from reaching the lawn.

After that, cover with at least 4 inches of mulch. Backyard gardens can range from a traditional vegetable garden to a small backyard berry or fruit orchard.

Street Landscaping

It is the landscaping of roads for various purposes, such as community gardens, that locals like to use. They not only beautify the roads but they also clean the air and create a clean environment.

Since they are mainly located along roadsides, they have the added advantage that they can reduce urban runoff from storm water.

Community Gardens

A community garden is a piece of land that has been gardened collectively by a group of people. In some neighborhoods, on residential complexes, or even on city roofs, community gardens can be set up by people who live and work nearby.

These gardens help to clean the air, absorb carbon emissions and then provide healthy and fresh food for the participants. Such efforts are usually undertaken by volunteers who participate in the production of the garden.

Community gardening is defined by its general nature. Gardeners work collectively to manage the garden for the common good.

Forest Gardening

Forest garden is a designed farming system based on trees, shrubs and perennials. They combine to mimic the structure of a natural forest – the most stable and sustainable ecosystem in this climate. Choose an open, sunny site for your forest garden. It is related to the tradition of growing orchards in urban forests.

Plantation in urban environment is accomplished by the production of various crops, vegetables and fruits. Forests generally provide a favorable environment for crop production and for this purpose they help to preserve forests and can make deforestation an integral part of the urban environment.

Deforestation can also be part of deforestation activities, which helps in the planting of trees in urban areas. Urban agriculture farming method in the united states.

Greenhouses

This farming system is practiced in residential, industrial and public urban areas. They need enough land to depend on their crops.

Greenhouses provide farmers with the opportunity to grow crops year-round because they provide a regulated environment in which crops can be exposed to the various conditions required for production.

Hydroponics

Hydroponics is defined as the system of growing plants without soil. Instead, nutrients are added to the water in which the plants are immersed, or that is routinely washed into the plant’s roots. Gravel, perlite or other materials may be used to provide more physical support to the plants.

Rooftop Garden

Just because urban areas have limited space doesn’t mean they can’t practice agriculture. This is where the roof space comes in as it can easily be used to grow vegetables, fruits and herbs. The downside of rooftop gardens is that they help reduce the island’s urban heat and increase air quality. In addition, rooftop gardens can be used to beautify recreational facilities.

Green Walls

Green walls include plants or food crops that grow outside or inside the wall. It does not take up much space as the system used helps in providing enough water for the food and it utilizes the dirt on the walls. This is a good way to reduce storm water runoff.

Vertical Farming

This theoretically involves planting upstream to reduce the impact of agricultural assets. Green walls can be used as a tool for vertical areas because they often use limited space and are done around a vertical wall. Vertical farming involves growing crops in layers that are stacked vertically.

This can be achieved by mounting against specially modified pallets on shelves or against fences or walls. It is usually combined with other modern techniques such as aquaponics or hydroponics in a climate controlled environment.

Animal husbandry

For urban environments, this is a way of raising animals for food. An urban dweller may choose a suitable location to hold a variety of animals or focus on specific animals such as chickens, goats, rabbits or sheep. Many cities limit the number of animals you can keep and even the types of animals you can keep.

Urban beekeeping

This is a possibility, but comes with a number of local government restrictions and regulations, depending on the location and city. That said, beekeeping needs can vary from city to city.

However, if done, it has many benefits for the local community. Bees are important to the ecosystem as they not only produce honey but also act as pollinators and promote biodiversity.

Aquaponics

This refers to the tradition of raising marine animals such as fish in urban areas. This requires the use of a device that collects storm water from inside the city and then creates a self-contained circulating network in tanks or artificial fish ponds. It is an effective crop enhancement and alternative protein.

Why Urban Farming Become Popular in USA

Urban farming has become popular in the last 10-15 years. In developing countries, this is mainly due to the rapid urbanization of developing regions.

The main drivers of urban growth in these countries are high birth rates and the influx of rural people trying to escape poverty. Unlike countries where industrialization has led to urbanization, in low-income areas it is often accompanied by poverty, unemployment and food insecurity.

Urban agriculture has been seen to address these three issues. In wealthy countries, the development of urban agriculture coincides with the return of locality, the development of local businesses, the beginning of social entrepreneurship, and an ethical mindset.

Conclusion

If you are planning to start agriculture in urban areas of any states of USA, then this material can be helpful for good farming practices.