As a counter-model to industrialized and concentrated food production, more and more people in cities, but also in rural areas, are trying to increase their independence and self-sufficiency by growing their own food.
Why urban and home farming?
While in Russia the so-called Dacha Gardens While a high proportion of self-sufficiency is guaranteed in the USA and Europe, the existing private and public green spaces are only gradually being dedicated to food production. The Wishes of the urban populationThe desire of people with their own garden to grow their own food has several reasons. On the one hand, a garden the connection with nature and on the other hand, people are more convinced of the healthiness of home-grown food. Ecological In any case, home cultivation is optimalseveral studies have shown that organic farming and seasonal nutrition without heated greenhouses consume the least energy (source: 1,2). This is even more important than the regionality of food. Your own garden doesn't need to be particularly large either. There are now Many sophisticated systemswhich enable people without a garden to grow vegetables, herbs and small fruit varieties. A balcony or terrace or even just a large bright window is enough to grow various vegetables or herbs. If the plants are also grown from seed, the energy required for cultivation is minimal. In addition, the experience of growing and harvesting your own produce is very important, especially for children growing up in the city. Home-grown vegetables are also always fresh and unpackaged. They are cooked immediately and therefore do not spoil, resulting in an incomparably good energy balance.
The potential for greening the food supply
In Austria there are almost 2 million detached or semi-detached houses with enough space to provide a good part of the self-sufficiency for the families living in them. But there are also a large number of allotment gardens in many European cities. Vienna alone has almost 40,000 plots. Most of them are of course also suitable for food production. Although complete self-sufficiency is hardly possible, it is possible to grow food on an allotment garden. area of 100 to 200 m² the requirements of one person of vegetables, herbs and small fruit, at least in the growing season from April to October/November. The increasingly mild winters in the Alpine region are now also significantly extending the gardening season. Therefore the ecological gardening around your own four walls is becoming increasingly interesting. More and more municipalities are also making public green spaces and brownfield sites available for growing food. As has been shown, such urban or community gardens can become interesting projects in terms of social and ecological sustainability if they are well planned.
Examples of home and urban farming
The Dacha Gardens in Russia.
These are certainly among the most illustrative examples of self-sufficiency. The average area of a Dacha garden is only around 600 m2. In total, around 40% of all Russian food is produced in these gardens on just 6% of the available agricultural land. For certain types of fruit and vegetables, self-sufficiency is over 80%.
Organoponicos in Cuba.
Following an economic crisis in the early 1990s, Havana had to quickly switch to self-sufficiency in food so that the population would not go hungry. Today, 34,000 hectares are cultivated through urban farming and only around 16% of all food is imported.
The city farm of Jules Dervaes.
In the middle of Passadena, California, a man has converted his 800 m2 plot of land into an urban farm. An impressive 2-3 tons of fruit and vegetables are now produced per year on an area of just 400 m2.
Detroit (USA).
After the decline of the once thriving industry, Detroit urgently needed solutions to prevent the massive exodus. As a result, many of the people who did not migrate began to set up self-sufficient gardens. The organization earthworks, for example, runs some of these community gardens.7
Toronto (Canada).
In the Canadian city of Toronto, too, numerous people have come together to found community gardens. There are now well over 100 community and school & children's gardens there.
Übelbach (Styria, Austria).
Übelbach near Graz has made a name for itself as Austria's first edible community. Food is now grown there on various public areas. People of all ages are involved in this project.
Just try it out for yourself!
If you have little or no gardening experience, reach out to gardeners, landscapers or one of the many organizations that run or manage community gardens, but take the plunge into (partial) self-sufficiency. You will meet many interesting and responsible people who are on the same path.
About the author Dr. Jürgen Herler
Dr. Jürgen Herler studied biology (zoology and ecology) in Graz and Vienna. After many years in marine biology research, he realized that excessive cycles, especially in food production, put far too much pressure on our ecosystems. Loss of nitrogen and phosphate in the soil and over-fertilization of water bodies with these nutrients leads to enormous problems on both sides. As an entrepreneur, he has therefore set himself the goal of creating more edible gardens. With his garden towers, he also helps people who do not have a garden and promotes food production in the smallest of spaces. One of his main concerns is the constant further development of his products and cooperation with regional partners: www.herbios.at.
