In this blog post you’ll learn what urban agriculture is, as well as some of the many benefits to this type of farming!
What is Urban Agriculture?
Traditional agriculture is done in soil, and this growing method can be done in cities – you’ve probably seen community gardens around your city; there are certainly plenty in Victoria! As well as growing directly in the ground, you can plant using soil in planter boxes, a great example is FED Urban Agriculture’s urban learning garden which grows herbs, pollinators, and native plants downtown!
Farming in soil is the method we’ve used for centuries, but there are other ways to grow produce too — such as vertical farming, aeroponic and hydroponic methods. Whilst this might sound futuristic, many ancient societies used this method to grow crops in their settlements, you can learn more about that here.
This week, we’re looking at why growing food in cities, either with or without soil, is really beneficial to people, the environment, and food systems.
Social Benefits
of Urban Agriculture
1. Improved health and wellbeing
Several studies (such as this one) have concluded that urban agriculture has a positive impact on health the health of those participating in growing, and those consuming produce grown. When people work in urban farms, they spend more time outdoors, connecting with the natural world. Gardening is a great way to destress! Furthermore, growing your own food often results in feelings of accomplishment, and it goes without saying that communities engaging in urban growing are likely to have better access to healthy, fresh, organic produce, which improves physical health.
There are many reasons why this might be – for example, more time spent outside connecting with our natural surroundings, a sense of accomplishment growing our own food, or an increased sense of connection to our food system.
2. Improved sense of community
Urban agriculture projects such as community gardens also build social networks and community in urban areas which might otherwise be isolating for some. Those involved in growing have opportunities to make connections and build relationships with likeminded green thumbs; and urban gardens and farms can also help revitalize neighbourhoods!
Environmental Benefits
of Urban Agriculture
3. Reduced carbon footprint of urban diets
When food is grown within a city, supply of fresh produce increases for residents, meaning they have many more options for shopping local. Much of the produce we consume has travelled to get to us, whether it’s come from across the province, country, or even world. But when we grow in cities, dependency on imported food decreases, and so do food miles!
4. Reduced carbon and heat in cities
Have you ever noticed that cities are usually hotter than the surrounding countryside? That’s called the urban heat island effect, and it happen because buildings, roads and infrastructure absorb solar heat more than natural environments. So… you guessed it; when we start adding green spaces like urban farms to cities, less heat is absorbed, with an overall cooling effect for urban areas.
Urban farms also act as carbon sinks in cities – these are landscapes that actively remove Carbon Dioxide from the air. So not only do urban farms cool cities, but they clean the air in them too!
Food System Benefits
of Urban Agriculture
5. Increased resilience in the face of supply-chain issues
As we already mentioned, often a lot of the food we consume is imported from elsewhere. Whilst this can have benefits, it also means we’re pretty dependent on supply chains being stable, consistent, and uninterrupted. But, as we’ve seen in the past couple of years, this isn’t always the case. Increasingly, climate change poses a threat to food supply chains, for example, the 2021 floods in interior BC left many parts of Vancouver Island with limited or no supply of some produce. So how do cities become more resilient in the face of supply challenges? Create their own supply using urban agriculture!
6. Better education and awareness around food growing
Lastly, urban growing in cities means more people are exposed to seeing how their food is grown and where it comes from. This means awareness, education, and involvement surrounding our food systems grow
Did you enjoy learning about the many benefits of growing food in cities? Why not try and find a local project to become involved in? Check your region for community gardens and urban farms, or even start your own small-scale farm at home!