Gardening is one of the oldest occupations known to man.
Humans have been involved in growing, packaging, marketing, and distributing plants since humans evolved. This often occurs in places far from human settlements; Country.
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What is urban gardening?
Urban gardening is simply growing plants and raising animals in a city, town, or place with a large population and infrastructure. It also includes the packaging, marketing and distribution of these products. Urban gardening includes aquaculture, livestock, agroforestry and many more.
Like gardening/agriculture, urban gardening has long human roots, including during the World War. Urban gardening was encouraged when food shortages arose during times of war and depression.
In Germany, for example, allowances were introduced in the early 19th century as a response to poverty and food insecurity. gardening is a form of urban gardening and is also called community gardening, it is done by giving land to people to grow food plants. however, it is not commercial, unlike urban gardening.
Types of urban gardening
Urban gardening can be owned by different numbers of people, from an individual to a group of people. These are the types of urban gardening that exist today.
1. Backyard gardening
It is cultivation on one’s own land for consumption. Income is usually split between family, friends and neighbours. They can be saved or stored.
2. Tactical gardening
It is the use of space in the environment that is available to grow crops at the lowest cost.
3. Street construction
Image: Envato ElementsIt is about designing a street or a neighborhood for different purposes. Community gardening is an example of one use. The goal is to feed the neighborhood and beautify the environment.
4. Greenhouses
These are greenhouses built in residential or commercial spaces. Greenhouses are buildings built for plants that require certain climatic conditions. They are usually built with transparent equipment; glass. A greenhouse requires a lot of floor space.
5. Forest gardening
These are gardens located in an urban forest. This garden is made by planting vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.
6. Breeding
It is the raising of animals in urban areas for consumption. You can focus on different types of animals, such as poultry, rabbits, goats, or rabbits. However, for some towns, there is a limit to the number of pets you can keep.
7. Aquaculture
It is the breeding of fish (aquatic animals) in an urban environment. This is usually done through the use of artificial fish ponds.
8. Green wall
This is done by growing food on the wall; indoor or outdoor space.
Some advantages of urban agriculture
Over the years, various people from all walks of life have turned to urban gardening because urban agriculture offers many benefits to farmers and the environment in general.
Here are some of the benefits of urban agriculture and why it should be encouraged.
1. Food security
Food security is the availability and access to food by people. Due to the living system in urban areas, healthy plant foods are expensive unlike processed foods and these processed foods are bad for the body as they cause various health problems. Urban gardening makes fresh food and fruit available to everyone at an affordable price.
2. Urban gardening promotes empowerment
Due to the lifestyle of the city and urban areas, many people have forgotten where their food comes from and how to grow it. In the next 10 years, there may only be a few people left who know exactly how to do it! Urban gardening helps you learn how to grow food and fruit, and in turn, you can teach others that particular skill. You can also educate your neighbors, children and other people.
3. Improve healthy life
The world we live in depends on fast and fancy food. Much of what we eat lacks the nutrients we need to lead healthy lives. They also harm the body causing ailments like; obesity, diabetes, blood pressure. Urban gardening provides foods and fruits rich in nutrients, vitamins that we need to stay healthy, they also provide herbs for healing.
4. Urban gardening promotes community unity and engagement
A community has a reason to come together when it knows it has something in common. Activities such as gardening can foster bonds between members of a community. They can also make decisions that will help the community grow. Cultural practices are also shared. They can learn about themselves and what belongs to them, share information, learn how to use it and pass it on to other generations.
5. Reduce CO2 emissions
Urban gardening makes food available where it is consumed. This reduction in carbon emissions achieved through transportation.
6. Economic growth
Urban gardening is a wonderful way to promote economic growth, in addition to providing healthy food for the environment, it also creates a source of income for farmers and jobs for those around them.
Urban gardening should be encouraged among people living in urban settlements. Besides the benefit to health and economic growth and all the other benefits it provides, it is a valid way to save our planet. There is no planet B.
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