Get Better Fruits By Understanding Roots
Feeding Cities with Urban Farms
We are currently witnessing one of the greatest migrations of all time as an imposing mass of people leaves rural areas believing that they can improve their life by living in cities. Currently, 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas and, according to the United Nations, this proportion will reach 68% in 2050. […]
People Living In Small Spaces Can Make A Big Difference With Compost
Think composting is reserved for people who have sprawling gardens and large yards? Think again. The breakdown of organic materials into finished compost is a complex process, but the act of actually making it doesn’t have to be. And you don’t need a lot of room to do it either. It turns out the type […]
The Many Advantages To Freight Container Farming
It wasn’t too long ago when freight container farming captured the world’s attention. It was more of an upcycling concept, and if memory serves correctly, first came to life in Scandinavia in 2012. The following year, Kate Hoffman brought the style to London with aquaponics in the box and a greenhouse on the roof. Her […]
Craigslist for Young Farmers: Canadian Style
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.91″ background_layout=”light” header_font=”Special Elite||||||||” header_2_font=”Special Elite||||||||” header_3_font=”Special Elite||||||||” header_4_font=”Special Elite||||||||” header_5_font=”Special Elite||||||||” header_6_font=”Special Elite||||||||”] The challenges young farmers face today seem quite the same in any country. Land prices are too high, commodity and large-scale farming monopolize marketplaces, and the average age of a nation’s farmers increases steadily. We see it in […]
A Peek at Clif Bar’s Corporate Garden
“All the food grown in our garden is organic—a perfect match for our company café, which features fresh-prepared organic meals made with ingredients sourced from regional farms. The organic garden also aligns with who we are as a company. Three-fourths of all the ingredients we use in Clif Bar foods are organic—and we continue to […]
Urban Farming Legend Will Allen Retired
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.91″ background_layout=”light”] To say that Will Allen was the Godfather of Urban Farming is pretty appropriate. Awarding him that title wasn’t my idea, but it certainly fits his work well. Many an urban farm startup – nonprofit or otherwise – looked up to the man, his organization, and his views. You might […]
The Big Grow: Urban Farming & Agrihood Pros
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.91″ background_layout=”light” header_font=”Special Elite||||||||” header_2_font=”Special Elite||||||||” header_3_font=”Special Elite||||||||” header_4_font=”Special Elite||||||||” header_5_font=”Special Elite||||||||” header_6_font=”Special Elite||||||||”] Urban farming and growing your own gets more popular with each passing year. Along with it comes an increasing attraction to agrihood living for all income levels. But most urban farmers’ business model echoes that of the rural […]
Montreal IGA Grows Its Own Rooftop Garden
You won’t find fresher supermarket fruits and vegetables in Montreal than the seasonal selection at the IGA Extra in the city’s Saint-Laurent borough. The new rooftop garden isn’t just the first grocery store to start growing its own produce in Canada. No, the Duchemin family’s exciting new grocery store addition is also the largest certified […]
Science Discovers Organic Onions Have More Bioactive Benefits
Wonderful, both raw and cooked, onions enrich the flavor of many recipes worldwide and pair well with just about anything except sweet fruits and desserts. Surprisingly packed with health benefits, recent research proves that organic onions offer higher bioactive compound levels than when conventionally grown. Not only that, but earlier organic food health benefit studies […]
Urban Gardens and Green Spaces: Holistic Environmental Health
You don’t have to work in a garden or partake of its harvest to benefit from one. Research is proving that urban gardens and green spaces have a profound effect on a person’s physical and mental health, and the community environment. An ornamental garden is not frivolous or wasted space. They have the power to […]
BBQ Herb Garden: Growing Herbs for The Grill
Putting miles on the grill is all part of summer, as is the endless supply of fresh fruits and vegetables as the heat index climbs. And if you’re into growing your own, chances are there are some herbs in your garden too. But are you growing herbs for grilling and BBQ? It’s not too late […]
EcoQube Frame: Growing Microgreens the Easy Way
Sometimes the simplest things are the most awesome. Take a seed, for instance, packed with everything new life needs to get started. This makes growing microgreens one of the easiest and most nutrient-dense crops. A Sprinkle A Day… Size matters least in terms of health benefits from plants? Yes! The bigger the plant, the more […]
How to Make Humidity Disks for Herb Jars
Simple homemade clay humidity disks (a.k.a. “Grubbycoins”) can be used to extend and improve the life of dried herbs and spices by helping regulate humidity. Clay particles when bisque fired will fuse together enough that they will no longer separate in water, but the overall structure remains porous enough to absorb or release moisture. Bisque […]
Supplemental lighting and Partially Sunny Windows
Supplemental Lighting Supplemental lighting can extend the area that the plants are grown in, and be used to control flowering in plants subject to photoperiodism. While it is nice when there is a full sun window available to light indoor plants with, sometimes that isn’t available, and supplemental lighting can make up the difference. When […]
Will Technology Make Community Gardens Obsolete?
With each passing month, a new indoor gardening gizmo or system leaps into existence, a vacant lot or rooftop farm is born, or an indoor agriculture operation starts its inaugural hydroponic crop. One might wonder what will become of community gardens with all the personal agriculture options out there today, along with food banks, soup […]
University Gardens that Give Back by Growing
In recent years, unused land on campuses scattered across the US has been turned into sustainable university gardens that produce organic fruits and vegetables. Not surprising, given the developing importance of super fresh, locally grown food, urban farming, and community engagement. Harvard University Created in 2009 by an undergrad group, the Student Garden Club manages and […]
Vertical Gardens for growing in Small Spaces
While it is nice to have a large open area that gives full sun to use as a garden, sometimes that isn’t available, but by using vertical gardens, a fence or wall may offer an alternative. The concept is simple: if you can’t go out, go up. Apartment balconies are an example where using methods […]
How to Grow a Vegetable Garden from Kitchen Scraps
Several kitchen scraps can be regrown in the garden to make an encore appearance back in the kitchen. Kitchen scraps or future snacks? Plants are a part of a healthy human diet, and while it is common for them to start in the garden and end in the kitchen, here are a few of my […]
8 Tips for Healthy Crops in Pots
Edible container gardens can provide you with a continual abundance of homegrown vegetables, herbs, and fruit. With these tips for healthy crops in pots, you can save money and improve your health with delicious, freshly picked ingredients. Tuck in! 1. Watering Adequate moisture is essential. It’s easier to kill your plants by overwatering than underwatering. […]