Urban farms could be incredibly efficient—but aren’t yet

The green revolution that transformed modern agriculture has generally increased its scale. There’s tremendous potential for efficiencies in the large-scale application of mechanization, fertilization, and pesticide use. But operating at that level requires large tracts of land, which means sources of food have grown increasingly distant from the people in urban centers who will ultimately eat most of it.

In some ways, hyper-local food is a counterculture movement, focused on growing herbs and vegetables in the same dense urban environments where they will be eaten. It trades the huge efficiencies of modern agriculture for large savings in transportation and storage costs. But is urban farming environmentally friendly?

According to researchers at Australia’s University of New England, the answer is pretty complex. Within their somewhat limited group of gardeners, urban agriculture is far more productive for the amount of land used but isn’t especially efficient with labor and materials use. But the materials issue could be solved, and the labor inefficiency may be a product of the fact that most urban farmers are hobbyists and are doing it for fun.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY: https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/12/urban-farms-could-be-incredibly-efficient-but-arent-yet/

Most POPULAR Gardening Instagram Posts from 2018

It’s been a BEAUTIFUL year! Now that it’s coming to an end let’s have some FUN and celebrate by looking back at our most POPULAR posts from 2018.

1. @urbanorganicgardener

2. @mimscuisine

3. @myactiveroots

4. @825farm

5. @bigdeliciousplanet

6. @suburban.existence

7. @almabackyardfarms

8. @lifecanbeadreamsweetheart

9. @suburban.existence

Happy 2019!

To see MORE great garden inspiration, make sure you’re following us on our Instagram Account, @urbanorganicgardener

Vacant lot in West Baltimore being transformed into urban garden

“An urban garden that will yield colorful plants to make dye for artists and educators is being planned for a vacant lot in West Baltimore.

The half-acre garden will be located in the Rosemont community as part of a nearly 6-acre parcel in the 800 block of Ashburton Street. The property is owned by Coppin State University and will be a part of a pilot urban farming project by the nonprofit Parks and People Foundation and a group of partners.

The program aims to produce a rainbow of vegetables and flora for natural dyes from Black-eyed Susans, marigolds, onions, indigo and beets with assistance and support from the Coppin Heights community.

“It will be transformative for the surrounding community in such a creative way,” said Lisa Millspaugh Schroeder, CEO of Parks and People.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE: BIZJOURNALS.COM

TomatoFest Announces Release of “Anthony Bourdain Tomato” Seeds

TomatoFest announces the release of “Anthony Bourdain Tomato” seeds.

“Anthony Bourdain was an American celebrity chef, author, and television personality who explored the cuisines, culture, joys and essentials of human existence around the world. He was an icon to me, and many others, who love food and cooking as a most enjoyable way of gathering people together to celebrate our humanity.

“We wanted to pay tribute to Anthony Bourdain’s life by honoring his legacy with naming a tomato after him, a tomato heretofore unknown, that we have identified as particularly outstanding for its excellent flavors and beautiful, heart-shaped appearance, the ‘Anthony Bourdain Tomato’.

“We found it suitable that ‘the world’s most popular fruit’, a tomato, would carry Tony’s name and story through future generations in a way that would enrich the lives of many.”

READ THE FULL STORY AT BENZINGA.COM

Agriculture Ruined Our Relationship with the Earth, Forest Gardening Can Fix It

Visualize a forest. Close your eyes and look around. What do you see?

Of course there are trees in your forest.  Moss, fungi, lichens and ferns blanket stones and fallen timber on your forest floor.  The earth is covered with an array of low growing herbs.

Song birds flutter from branch to branch, nabbing insects and berries while adorning the landscape with music.

Water springs from high places and collects in low places, forming rivulets, creeks, and eventually streams.

Leaf litter softly yields to your feet, like a sponge as you stroll.

And above all, there’s the sun, whose presence is subtly felt as gentle dapples, like a shower of light.

But the most apparent thing here in the forest may have slipped past your senses, something most of  take for granted — relationships. There is nothing more important than relationships.

READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE AT: “ReturnToNow.net”

WINTER SOLSTICE 2018: THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER

WHAT IS THE WINTER SOLSTICE?

The word solstice comes from Latin sol “sun” and sistere “to stand still.” In the Northern Hemisphere, as summer advances to winter, the points on the horizon where the Sun rises and sets advance southward each day; the high point in the Sun’s daily path across the sky, which occurs at local noon, also moves southward each day.

At the winter solstice, the Sun’s path has reached its southernmost position. The next day, the path will advance northward. However, a few days before and after the winter solstice, the change is so slight that the Sun’s path seems to stay the same, or stand still. The Sun is directly overhead at “high-noon” on Winter Solstice at the latitude called the Tropic of Capricorn.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WINTER SOLSTICE DATE, FACTS, FOLKLORE, AND MORE: “Almanac.com”

Milwaukee Program Uses Urban Agriculture To Help Veterans Heal From War

As far back as World War I, nature and farming have been used to help returning veterans heal invisible wounds from war.

Brian Sales, a disabled combat veteran who served nearly a decade in the U.S. Army Infantry, knows firsthand the power of connecting with nature after seeing war.

When he returned to civilian life after two tours in Iraq and one in Kosovo, he struggled to find purpose in his life.

“I went from the most important mission in the United States to facing jobs that I felt had no meaning,” he said. “The military turned me from a civilian into a soldier, but on returning I wasn’t turned from a soldier back to civilian, and that was pretty overwhelming.”

Sales floated between jobs and moved across the country looking for motivation, he said.

“I found myself going from organized, planned, team dynamics to unstructured chaos with very little transitional support,” Sales said. “I found myself, like so many other veterans, lacking direction and struggling with reintegration.”

READ THE FULL STORY AT: “WPR.org“

Q & A: Indoor gardening delivers greens all winter

Q: Now that winter has come, I miss my garden and eating what I grow. Can you give me some tips for things I could try growing inside during the winter? – Beth from Newburgh

A: It is tough when that frost-bite chill of winter nips at your green thumb and forces you inside, I know. And while I have some houseplants growing and they are nice to look at, and occasionally water, they don’t quite scratch the itch of gardening like growing food for the kitchen.

I do what I can to extend my outdoor growing season as long as possible, building small plastic tunnels over my beds of greens and lettuces and using row-cover fabric to protect my plants from killing frosts for as long as possible. And I’m able to continue my harvest well into November most years. But when the snow starts falling, I find it difficult to continue growing outdoors. So, a few years ago, I did some research to learn more about growing some food inside through the winter.

My dream is to one day build a small greenhouse or conservatory off the back of my home. I imagine opening the door to this light-filled space and feeling the warm, moist air float out into my arid, winter-parched home. Wandering in to pick fresh food for the kitchen every day of the week, while watching the cold winter winds blow snowdrifts outside.

Someday I’ll make this dream come true, but for now, I have to make do without. Fortunately, I do have some fluorescent grow lamps that I use to start my seedlings for spring planting, which does deliver faster results than a sunny windowsill alone. But you can be quite successful growing salad greens without a greenhouse or grow lamps and add to your winter diet.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT: “RecordOnline.com“

Our 5 Favorite Holiday Platters To Help Keep You On Track This Christmas

1. A Veggie Tray for the Holidays

Headed to potluck after potluck this season? Looking for something that’s easy to assemble, festive AND healthy? Try this healthy tray via “ModernParentsMessyKids.com“

2. Christmas Tree Veggie Platter

The holidays are such a fun time to create fun and festive recipes and dishes. There are usually so many activities, get togethers and parties, providing countless opportunities to get creative and have some fun with these plates. via “LilLuna.com“

3. Easy Veggie Tray Wreath

Cutest veggie tray wreath, perfect for any Christmas party or get together! via “PrettyProvidence.com“

4. Santa Goes Healthy

This cute Santa veggie tray is a magical way to bring some healthy options to your Christmas table. via “EatingRichly.com“

5. Christmas Tree Vegetable Platter Appetizer Tray

Celebrate Christmas in style with this cute Christmas tree shaped vegetable platter!  Broccoli makes the green branches, red cherry tomatoes make the ornaments, cauliflower makes the white snow and the yellow bell pepper makes the bright star! via “MelanieCooks.com“

How gardening can heal the land — and you

Maybe you think of your garden as a place to escape from work or other stresses. Or perhaps you see it as a special place where you can feel close to nature. But have you ever thought of it as a sanctuary? As a sacred space?

If you haven’t taken this leap of faith but are intrigued by the idea, then take the time to read “Creating Sanctuary: Sacred Garden Spaces, Plant-based Medicine, Daily Practices to Achieve Happiness and Well-Being”by Jessi Bloom (Timber Press, November 2018). The book serves as a guide to rejuvenating bodies, minds and spirits not in some faraway tropical resort but through plants and practices in your own backyard.

Bloom would know how to do this. An award-winning ecological landscape designer, professional horticulturalist, ISA-certified arborist and owner of NW Ecological Services in Woodinville, Washington, she wrote the book not just from a professional background but from personal experiences as well.

READ THE FULL STORY AT: “MNN.com“

How to Bring Lush Greenhouse Vibes to Your Home During the Colder Months

1. Pick hardy plants. Of course, if you don’t have a green thumb to start with, winter can pose a whole other challenge. Use this season to focus on naturally hardy and already well-established plants, rather than deciding now’s the time to try your hand at a new specialty. “Sansevieria is a standby as a truly solid, highly tolerant plant,” Lowrie tells Brit + Co. “[At Terrain], we are liking the narrow shape and natural form of Fernwood Sansevieria, or Sansevieria Moonshine, for its brighter, frosty green foliage.”

2. Stick to your routine. If tending to plants is part of your self-care, be sure to keep this habit going strong, especially since moods can plummet during the winter. “Beyond the air-purifying benefits and the way that plants brighten up and bring life to interior spaces, for us it’s about maintaining the connection to nature throughout the year and the ritual of tending them, especially in the colder months,” Lowrie says. Engaging in pruning and tending rituals can be a fulfilling part of your day and can boost your mood when you’re not getting as much interaction with the outdoors.

3. Make a mister your best friend. If your favorite plants are struggling as temperatures drop, remember that it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity. “Many ferns and other lush plants will thrive in low-light situations, but humidity is often the biggest challenge for otherwise tolerant houseplants,” says Lowrie. “To remedy, we scatter misters throughout the house, and I make habit of misting while on the phone or chatting with my partner.” A simple spritz here and there might be the difference between lush greenhouse vibes and saying goodbye to your favorite plant pal.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT: ” Brit.co“

High-tech urban greenhouse takes local farming to a new level in Denver

DENVER — People walking or driving by Altius Farms have picked up their phone to call and ask about the greenhouse at 25th and Lawrence. The glass-enclosed structure houses an urban farm that is using advanced technology to change the way we think about growing food.

“This is our mission, is to bring urban farming back into our communities,” said Altius Farms Founder and CEO Sally Herbert.

The farm is already supplying about 20 local restaurants and Marczyk’s Fine Foods with fresh produce. Herbert hopes to introduce a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program where people will be able to buy directly from the farm.

“People can know their farmer. These restaurateurs and their customers will understand where their food is coming from every day,” said Herbert.

READ THE FULL STORY AT: “TheDenverChannel.com“

Community Garden on 40-Acres Gives Health To The People Who Run It

UIHS, an organization founded by a group of women in 1970, expanded from a small building in Weitchpec, CA to the 40-acre Village it manages today. When the board of directors purchased the land, which had been converted to cattle pasturage, they agreed with the city of Arcata to use 20 acres for the health village and restore 20 acres of land to its natural state. “The land itself called out and told us what needed to be done,” says Alme Allen, Karuk/Yurok, who works on land management at UIHS.

This aligned with the mission of the health agency, which serves the health and wellness needs of some 12,000 Native people in Northwestern California. “We could create what Native people wanted,” says Larsen. “With the agreement, we are able to eradicate the non-native plants and plant native plants in this area.”

The land now known as Ku’wah-dah-wilth Restoration Area includes plants used in basketry, one of the most important cultural activities of tribes in the region, as well as other culturally important plants. Ku’wah-dah-wilth is the Wiyot term for “comes back to life.” Endemic grasses, trees and bushes soon replaced the invasive species, and paths were created so people could wander the restored lands and refresh themselves — and, during gathering season, replenish weavers’ basket making an inventory.

In addition to plant species, Potawot also has a way of restoring people’s connection to the land. Ed Mata, Chumash, recalls his first involvement with Ku’wah-dah-wilth. “We collected and planted these trees in 1999,” says Mata, who at the time worked for California State Parks. The experience drew him back to Potawot a few years later, where he is now the head gardener. “I took classes and workshops in garden management” to master the job, he says.

WATCH THE VIDEO AT: “KCET.org“

In Milwaukee’s poorest ZIP code, fruits and vegetables become powerful weapons

It’s 6:35 a.m. on a humid Saturday in a community garden on Milwaukee’s north side, and a black man is kneeling to inspect the green tomatoes starting to form on a vine.

He’s singing an old Negro spiritual: I am on the battlefield for my Lord. And I promised him that I would serve him till I die.

Andre Lee Ellis spends every day on the battlefield.

It surrounds his home, his garden, his neighborhood. His fight is to save boys growing up in the 53206 ZIP code, which has one of the highest incarceration rates for black men in the nation — and one of the shortest life expectancy rates.

I am on the battlefield for my Lord.

Ellis’ weapons are fruits and vegetables, mentorship and love. And, when called for, a stern demeanor.

READ THE FULL STORY AT: “ProjectsJSOnline.com“

Gardening Could Be The Hobby That Helps You Live to 100

Dan Buettner has studied five places around the world where residents are famed for their longevity: Okinawa in Japan, Nicoya in Costa Rica, Icaria in Greece, and Loma Linda in California and Sardinia in Italy.

People living in these so-called “blue zones” have certain factors in common – social support networks, daily exercise habits and a plant-based diet, for starters. But they share another unexpected commonality. In each community, people are gardening well into old age – their 80s, 90s and beyond.

Could nurturing your green thumb help you live to 100?

“When you eat vegetables that you’ve grown yourself, it changes everything – they taste more delicious, and it really makes a difference in the health qualities (vitamins, minerals, phytoactive compounds etc.) of the food itself,” says Willcox. Buettner, the “blue zones” expert, recommends a diet of “90% plants, especially greens and beans”, and points out a simple truth: gardeners are more likely to plant what they want to eat.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE: “BBC.com“

Indoor gardening: Add plants to every room of your home

Grow herbs or other leafy greens indoors under a Growbar LED light fixture or near a sunny window. (photo contributed)

Gardeners know the benefits of digging in the soil. It elevates a person’s mood, improves mental and physical well-being and the outcome is always good – added beauty or tasty nutritional food. But many of us are stuck indoors for the winter, have a lack of space to garden outdoors or just can’t get enough of this healthful activity. Adding greenery indoors expands our gardening opportunities and provides the many benefits of living with and tending plants.

Let’s start with the kitchen. Boost the flavor and nutrition of winter meals by growing leafy greens and herbs in a sunny window or under a cabinet with the help of a Growbar LED light fixture. Start plants from seeds or purchase transplants to grow indoors. Place your indoor kitchen garden in a brightly lit location, free of cold drafts and with easy access to harvest and use. Then enlist the whole family and even your guests into harvesting greens for their salad and herbs to season their meals. This is sure to turn family and friend gatherings into unique and memorable experiences.

Include plants in your home or work office. Greenery helps reduce stress even when working at your desk or tackling homework at the end of a long day. Set a few plants on or near your desk or other workspace. And don’t let a lack of light stop you from growing a bit of green stress relief. Stylish energy efficient full spectrum plant lights, like the Felt Pendant Grow Light (modsprout.com), fit any décor, direct light where it is needed and promote healthy plant growth.

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE AT: “ukiahdailyjournal.com“

Paris-based Agricool raises $28 million to expand its urban farming tech

Agricool today announced it has raised $28 million for its system that uses specially designed trailers to grow strawberries in big cities.

The Paris-based company has now raised a total of $41 million as it works to meet the growing demand for locally grown produce through technological innovation.

“We are very excited about the idea of supporting urban farming toward massive development, and it will soon no longer be a luxury to eat exceptional fruits and vegetables in the city,” said Agricool cofounder and CEO Guillaume Fourdinier in a statement.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT: “VentureBeat.com”

How Atlanta Is Turning Ex-Cons Into Urban Farmers

“ATLANTA—On a 4-acre farm a few miles south of the Fulton County Jail, Abiodun Henderson swung a pickax into the soil at her feet. She kept at it until she was winded and sweating on this brisk October morning. Around her, 10 young men and women tentatively swung their own tools at the ground, loosening the soil for a set of raised beds where turmeric and ginger plants would grow inside a hoop house through the mild Georgia winter.

“This is how deep we’re going!” Henderson shouted over to Derriontae Trent, one of her trainees, as she pointed to a rusted spike hammered nearly a foot down in the soil. “Teamwork makes the dream work!”

Trent, a smart and wiry father in his early 20s, had recently completed a 2-year prison sentence for multiple weapons and drug charges. He figured that with a rap sheet longer than his résumé his only choice might be a return to the streets. Over the summer, a friend suggested he call Henderson, who had just started a program that would train previously incarcerated youth how to harvest crops. Best of all, it promised to pay $15 an hour. Even though Trent had never worked on a farm before, by early August he was enrolled as the newest member of Gangstas to Growers. Two months after that, he was gripping a hoe, shoulder to shoulder with Henderson while trying to keep the mud off his fresh white sneakers.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE: “Politico.com“

Why You Might Want To Consider Starting Your Own Urban Garden

The growing information about possible negative health effects caused by over-processed foods and artificial additives like artificial sweeteners has fueled interest in eating clean. Now more people are opting to eliminate artificial additives, such as flavors and preservatives, and replace them with simpler whole ingredients like fresh produce and whole grains.

If you’re looking to add more clean ingredients to your diet, one answer might be to start incorporating more whole, fresh or frozen fruits and veggies into your daily menu. You can grow your own produce, too, even if it’s something small like an herb plant in your kitchen windowsill. People across the country are doing this more and more, even in cities like Los Angeles and New York. To find out more about clean eating and the urban gardening movement, actor Rainn Wilson met with Daniel McCollister, the founder of the app Cropswap, which allows you to purchase or trade produce being grown in your community.

Watch the video above, created in partnership with Panera, alongside Wilson, to see how urban gardeners like McCollister are lifting up their communities by changing the food system and creating access to clean, organic ingredients.

READ THE FULL STORY: “HuffPost.com“

Urban farm sprouting at old Native Hospital site

The plot of land where the old Alaska Native Medical Center used to be near Ship Creek is getting a makeover.

The 10-acre tract of land at Third Avenue and Ingra Street has been vacant since the hospital came down in 1992. While the overall plan for the entire space is still being discussed, the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Alaska Food Policy Council hope to bring new life to a piece of the property with an urban farm.

Following a crowdfunding campaign that has already raised more than $2,300, volunteers installed nine raised beds for plant crops next spring. Beds will be filled with soil at a work party Saturday at noon. Even though the ground is a little hard and there’s a layer of snow on top, UAA professor Micah Hahn says they’re ready to plant at least one crop.

READ THE FULL STORY AT: “KTVA.com“

How to create an urban farm in your Austin backyard

Growing health, fitness and fresh food movements are fueling the rise of urban backyard gardens across the country. As studies identify food as a primary component of disease prevention, people are turning away from commercial, processed and packaged foods, instead working fresh food into their diets. Gardening itself has physical and mental health benefits.

The biggest gardening trend of 2018 was the emphasis on food. Large sections of lawn are being cleared to make room for tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and squash. Gardeners embrace creativity by growing fruits and vegetables in increasingly smaller spaces like balconies, walls and patios. Back in fashion: companion planting and canning, key to the gardens of our grandmothers. (My husband’s canning jar collection keeps growing every year.)

Kids are also learning where their food comes from. School gardens expand science lessons by engaging students outdoors. Learning about photosynthesis back in my day would have been infinitely more fun in the sunshine getting dirt under my fingernails.

READ THE FULL STORY AT: “Austin360.com“

An arts-focused urban farm initiative is coming to Baltimore

A new state initiative will bring an urban farm to a vacant lot in West Baltimore, but instead of growing fruits and vegetables to eat, the focus will be on plants that can be turned into natural dyes for artists, Gov. Larry Hogan’s office announced Wednesday.

The inspiration comes from the governor’s trade mission to Asia in 2015, and a 2017 visit by first lady Yumi Hogan to her native South Korea, where she toured the Natural Dyeing Cultural Center in Naju. A delegation from the center came to the area earlier this year to demonstrate natural dyeing for potential partners in the farm.

Indigo, marigolds and the state flower, the Black-eyed Susan, are among the crops that will be grown on the plot of land at 731 Ashburton St., which is currently owned by Coppin State University.

“Our trade mission to Asia yielded many positive results, and we are proud to work with our partners in Korea to bring this innovative initiative to Maryland,” Gov. Hogan said in a statement. “This urban garden will have a tremendous impact towards the community revitalization of West Baltimore and our economy – from the natural dyes produced by the crops to the unique apparel which will be manufactured for the marketplace.”

READ THE FULL STORY AT:”BaltimoreFishBowl.com“

Ikea wants to help you farm in your house

Ikea doesn’t just want to sell you furniture–it also wants to sell you on sustainable living. And how best to live sustainably than to grow your own food?

That’s the idea behind a new line of products the Swedish company is developing with British industrial designer Tom Dixon. Due to be announced in May 2019 and released in Ikea stores in 2021, the products will be focused on making it easier for people to farm in an urban environment.

“For Ikea, this collaboration is about challenging the way society looks at growing in general and addressing that it’s both possible and rewarding to have a place to grow your own plants in the city,” James Futcher, creative leader at Ikea Range and Supply, said in a statement. “Food is key to humanity and design can support with better solutions.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE: “FastCompany.com“