Urban Gardening

 Krystal and I each participated in some urban gardening activities this weekend: I worked on the NDMVA community garden in SE, built for the residents of Hope Apartments, and Krystal worked on Bread for the City's rooftop garden.

Urban gardening is really cool for several economical, environmental, and health-related reasons.

1) It's sustainable--small-scale farming and growing is better for the environment. It's done with limited space, and it works for whatever space it is put in. The gardener knows exactly what goes into each and every fruit or vegetable grown. No pesticides are necessary, and no forests need to be cleared. Things are produced organically, and then return to the earth. The cycle of life can actually be fulfilled. 

2) It's cheaper. Growing your own food costs a lot less than buying it at the store.

NDMVA community garden

NDMVA community garden work day

3) It's healthier and safer. Quite frankly, we don't know what kind of fertilizers and pesticides are used on the produce at the grocery store. Mass produce is grown so that it  can be grown quick and appear perfect--often times companies use fertilizers and hormones for this.


Rooftop gardening has additional environmental benefits.
1)Green roofs can bring down the temperature of a city in the summertime. The reason summers in big cities are so hot is that all that concrete is soaking up the sun. With green roofs, carbon emissions from the cities are countered making the temperatures go down. It also solves some cooling and heating problems in the building, as the green roof absorbs the sun and heat or acts as a thermal layer in winter months.
2) It is a brilliant way to make the green space that cities are lacking and so obviously need in order for the air to be cleaner and to start the fight against carbon emissions. Green roofs and rooftop gardening help filter rain water and air pollutants out.


BFC rooftop garden


 3)In additon, rooftop gardens can help with water run-off. When it rains, the gardens on roofs absorb much of the water, and less run-off is created. This means our sewer systems and water-treatment plants aren't working as hard, and pollutants from the streets are less likely to run into our rivers and sewage systems.




And it's fun! Community gardening is a great way to get out in the community, meet neighbors and share with them, and take responsibility for your own health, your community, and our environment. Check your neighborhood for a community garden if you don't have a yard. Or you could try a container garden on your deck, stairs, or window sills! Use found objects and search for bathtubs, sinks, toilets, wooden planters, pallets, coffee tins, and yogurt cups to garden in. Buy local in-season produce when you're at the store. You will be guaranteed a fresher, tastier product and you will rest assured that it hasn't cost the environment nearly as much to create.

BFC rooftop garden construction

--Megan