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Farming has been changing over the past 100 years, and it’s not just for people with barns. Scroll down to learn more about the past, present and future of urban farming.
Farms can be found everywhere today. While we typically think of farms as rural pastures with red barns, the city is increasingly taking on a new role in our food system. Urban farmers adapt to their surroundings and support local food systems just like rural farmers have done for ages.
Granary built in Mehrgarh for storage of excess food
First aqueduct constructed to bring water to Ninevah
Arab Agricultural Revolution
First practical greenhouse is created
John Deere invents steel plough
Farming in cities goes back to our earliest civilization. In Mesopotamia, buildings were constructed next to farms as urbanization flourished. Years have gone by since this process started and there have been many historical markers in urban farming. Click a blue dot below to read about a few of these milestones.
During World War I and World War II the United States required people to participate in the war effort whether they were fighting on the front line or at home. Through rationing, and investment the United States pushed people to support the nation through any means possible.
One popular way people in the United States showed support during World War I & II was through the utilization of urban land to grow food. People turned parks, public spaces and personal property into gardens across the nation. Farming in urban areas became commonplace and the movement gained ground.
Construction of the modern highway system has evolved over many decades. The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 marks the beginning of the highway system we know today. Being able to travel long distances so easily changed the way we viewed the difference between urban and rural.
People found that living outside a city along a major highway allowed for more personal space and a new way of existing. As people spread out over wider areas of land, new infrastructure was needed to support this suburban lanscape. The rural population and the agricultural jobs have been shrinking for decades.
The population in the USA has been changing dramatically over the last 110 years. People continue to move into cities at an incredible pace. Use the interactive timeline below and watch as the population shifts from rural to urban.
As urban population increased, people found themselves further from local food production. Many corporations stepped in to address this need. However, hidden consequences emerged. Pollution and lack of diversity in crops are just two impacts on the environment and health.
Pollution comes in many forms and the United States idustrial agricultural system produces direct and indirect harm to people in ways you may not even expect. One biproduct of large scale industrial livestock production is waste. This waste pollutes our water system and air supply, causing sickness and disease.
As the agricultural industry has taken over small production farming, and family farmers are forced out, the industry been moving towards being owned and operated by only a few very large companies. This reduces competition and allows large conglomerates to bypass and ignore the existing regulations in place. Below is a list of industries in 2009 and the percentage that the top four firms owned in each sector. Consolidation is happening at alarming rates.
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Access to endless quick food options is typically a hallmark of urban living. The problem is that quick doesn't mean it's healthy or fresh. Processed foods tend to be cheaper but they also tend to include ingredients in excess, like sodium and fat, to try and mask the poor quality. Growing food in the neighborhood lowers the the transportation costs and storage needs that long distance agriculture requires. Providing healthy options empowers urban dwellers.
Modern urban environments have shifted from town centers to strip malls, and communal dances to dance clubs. Ironically, denser populations have led to a feeling of alienation and isolation from neighbors and community members. Urban farming has been shown to bring communities together and help reduce crime in surrounding areas. Being invested in your neighborhood encourages community and provides a public space to learn from neighbors.
Jobs are more than a way to make money. Jobs are ways to empower whole communities with security, stability, and choice. While being an urban farmer isn't without it's hardships, selling locally grown food encourages money to stay in the neighborhood. Not only does urban farming provide jobs to local neighborhoods, it supports local economies and revitilizes communities.
Transporting food over long distances is not only costly, but it also creates pollution through vehicle exhaust and concentrated production in rural areas. While a single urban farm can't support a whole city, many urban farms can help reduce dependence on long distance transporation of agriculture. Urban farming has been shown to help repair soil and introduces more green space for neighbohoods.
Space is one of the biggest issues in an urban farm. Growing food in a small space is a challenge, and can be a bit confusing at first. A backyard is a great place to grow, as well as a front yard. You can build raised beds or plant directly in the dirt, but the space a yard provides is one of the most common space urban farmers typically have access to. If you have a yard, you're on your way to enjoying the benefits of urban farming.
Small, but more versatile than you might think, the window box is a great spot to grow when space is at a premium—don't be afraid to utilize this space. Herbs and leafy greens can grow perfectly well in small spaces. Just be sure your box is attached securely to the windowsill. You can rest easy knowing your plants don't get scared of heights, even if you do.
If you have an apartment of condo, you might not have access to a yard. That's OK though, plants love containers and they don't mind sitting on your deck or balcony all day in the sun. The great thing about containers is that they are nearly as varied as plants you can grow in them. Deep buckets or shallow trays all qualify, and can be sized and shaped for infinite spaces. Balcony urban farms can be any number of configurations, just so long as you provide the soil, sun, and water.
If you have access to an entire city block, or an entire roof to grow on, congratualations. After you verify your roof can handle the extra weight, or that you can legally grow on the lot, you are ready to start growing on a large scale. Don't forget that utilizing your space efficiently can increase your yield, but you definitely have more breathing room than the other spaces. Large spaces in urban areas are at a premium.
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Families can save
in produce costs.
Find out how much space you need to grow your own vegetables and how much money that can save you. Start by adding a person below, then add a vegetable you want to grow. The amounts on the right will automatically update with the estimated amounts.
Now let's make a plan for you to get started! Below you'll find lots of tutorials that will help you begin your very own urban farm. Click on any idea for a downloadable version of the tutorial. If you used the calculator on the last screen, we highlighted the best options for your needs.
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