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ADVERTORIAL

URBAN FARMING

“Food is not just fuel. Food is about family. Food is about
community. Food is about identity, and we nourish all
those things when we eat well”. Michael Pollan

What is an urban farm? through local markets of safe, healthy
food – from ‘farm to fork’. This goes hand
Urban farming is the sustainable growing, in hand with an educated consumer base
processing and distributing of food that wants to cook (thanks to the rise of
throughout urban areas, by people and TV chefs and the global lockdown over
communities who are generally not the last few months!) and wants better
traditional farmers. Urban farms can be as ingredients, thereby promoting and
simple as traditional home food gardens or supporting these micro-economies.
community food gardens. School gardens
and larger plots of open land, given over On the other hand, particularly in lower-
for local food production, are often used income groups (within cities and in
for this purpose. the developing world generally), food
security, nutrition, poverty alleviation to elevated rates of diet-related illnesses
One form of urban farming that is gaining (income generation) and basic survival are such as diabetes and hypertension. With
traction worldwide is the use of rooftops the driving forces for urban farming and increased consumption of fresh fruits
and vacant land within the city boundaries creation of community urban gardens. and vegetables, there is a decrease in
to erect urban and vertical farms. The risk for disease and a marked increase in
latter, for home and community growers, What are the benefits of urban health and wellness.
allows the use of walls and other vertical farming? • Being outdoors in the fresh air and
structures where ground space is at a sunshine and partaking in physical
premium. Balconies or courtyard walls, The transformation of cities from only exercise has well known health benefits.
alley ways and small gardens are available consumers of food to generators and
to be used to grow food. This trend of suppliers of agricultural products can 2. Social benefits
using three-dimensional space can be lead to increased sustainability of food
with simple pocketed panels or can be as production, poverty alleviation, increased • The provision of work for communities
complex as large, vertical hydroponic or food security and health, and overall with concomitant financial rewards is a
aquaponic farms. reduction in carbon footprints. major result of urban farming.
• By re-connecting with food production
What drives the need for urban 1. Health benefits and nature, increasing co-operation,
farms? providing for others and positive
• Within cities there are areas (often social interactions, urban community
There are different primary drivers behind known as food deserts) that lack gardening teaches individuals the skills
urban farming, for example communities supermarkets and shops that sell fresh necessary to participate in a democratic
where there is a demand for organic, produce. These have limited food society.
locally produced food with the focus on choices - often only highly processed, • Feelings of independence, improved
holistic lifestyles, fresh unprocessed foods fast food or convenience foods that are levels of self-esteem and empowerment
and ‘transition town’ concepts. The trend high in calories and low in nutrients. (and often arise with the ability to produce
is towards local production and availability lower in price). This sort of diet can lead and grow food for oneself and others,

16 Landscape SA • Issue 95 2020