Urban Farm Cheat Sheet
This is some practical information on how to farm organic in urban areas safely and effectively.
Urban farming may be difficult to implement for a number of reasons:
Access is the most common prohibitor for people who want to get started urban farming but don't have the space. We must reimagine farming as something attainable, even in small supplemental ways. The aim of this post is to help get you started in your own way, even if you have no access to outdoor space.
The second largest prohibitor is cost. Many people have an interest (sometimes a history) in agriculture, but cannot spend money on gardening supplies, so we built this list with the intention of reducing the amount of consumption necessary to get the outcome you want. Similarly, we started farming without outside funding so many of these techniques were born out of our own ingenuity and desire to be cost effective.
The third prohibitor is time. With all of the other things (and people) we may be responsible for, how do you find time to take up gardening? This information is meant to help you garden efficiently, and that means using techniques that utilize natural systems of growth. The less labor you have to do to maintain it, the better.
So how do we make it happen?
MAKE YOUR OWN COMPOST
Compost is an essential aspect of living soil. Even before you start planting your first seed, begin your compost bin and start caring for it like a pet. You can use a 5 gallon bucket, a rubbermaid bin, or any container that will hold the material. Every time you add your food scraps, add some dry material such as newspaper, cardboard, brown paper, hay, and dry leaves. If you follow this simple 50/50 procedure, your bin should not emit a smell.
Red wiggler worms can be added to aid in the breakdown, either bought online or you can forage your first worms and watch them multiply! You can choose the compost method of 'set it & forget it', or you can intermittently turn the bin to speed up the process. Once the compost has aged, use another bucket and a sieve such as a piece of hardware cloth to sift the fine soil from the unprocessed chunks of scrap.
Need help? Listen to our podcast on composting.
UPCYCLED MATERIALS
Work with what you have access to and build your microfarm around that access. We have been successful finding wood shipping pallets in industrial areas where it can be taken freely, such as around the back of your local grocer. Ask the grocer deli for their pickle buckets (5 gal), and keep a look out for chicken wire, window panes, and any other useful materials like hardware, hinges etc. Search online for wood chip piles or tree trimming services that will drop off to you directly. Appropriate your neighbors brown leaf bags for dry compost material or mulch for your seedling. Check craigslist's free section often.
SAVE YOUR OWN SEEDS / JOIN A SEED SHARE
Once you get your soil in order, start small and grow what you like. Rather than sourcing seeds from a garden store or online, you can save seeds in organic produce from your local farmers market. Grocery store food can potentially have good seed but the produce likely has traveled farther, and is older, so it will contain less viable seeds. The other strategy to obtain seeds without having to buy them is to join a local seed share/library. Sometimes community gardens can provide seed resources. You're always welcome to join the Ocean State Organics seed share.
USE YOUR HANDS INSTEAD OF TOOLS
A lot of farm tools were invented for an industrial need, and thus, most of these tools are irrelevant or unnecessary for microfarms. Using your hands allows you to connect with earth and learn through experience. Some of the only tools you need may be gloves, and some hardware cloth for sifting compost.
And from what tools you may find necessary - these are some alternatives:
Watering can > any water pitcher you already have
Trowels > use your finger, a stick, or pvc pipe to make small holes on surface of your soil for planting. Most seeds can be planted a 1/2 in depth or higher.
Gloves > An old pair of kitchen gloves or food safe gloves can work just as well. Gloves are most useful to keep dirt from getting stuck under the nails and turning unfinished compost in your bin, but using your hands when you can is always preferred.
If you choose to work with wood, more tools may be helpful such as a reciprocating saw, circular saw, hammers, crowbars, and electric drills. Before buying your own - ask your community! It's likely someone has a perfectly good tool set in their basement or garage.
SUPPLEMENTAL LIGHT
If you have southern facing windows allowing light into your home, this is the best space to grow your light hungry plants. If you want to grow year round, in cold climates, or just want to start your seedlings indoors, supplemental light may be of use to you.
You can use a clamp light system and mount these taotronic LED bulbs. We have used the 12W & 36W bulbs successfully. The pink light is disturbing to the eyes and we wouldn't recommend using these in a room you occupy often. This set up can cost between $20-$30, but runs on very low electric energy.
Another system with white light, is the 24W fluorescent tube lighting systems you can find at a local hardware store. The set up costs $26 and similarly to the LED runs on low energy.
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