Introduction
In recent years, urban gardening has become increasingly important. More and more people are choosing to garden in the city, whether on balconies, in community gardens or on urban brownfield sites. But what exactly is Urban Gardening and why is it so important?
Definition of Urban Gardening
Urban gardening refers to the practice of growing fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers in urban areas. Unlike traditional gardening, you don't have to have a large garden or a lot of space to do this type of gardening. Instead, you can grow your own plants in small spaces like balconies or even windowsills.
Why is Urban Gardening so important?
There are many reasons why Urban Gardening is important. Here are a few:
- Health benefits: By growing your own plants, you have access to fresh fruits and vegetables that are full of nutrients and vitamins. This can help improve your health and reduce the risk of diseases like diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
- Environmental benefits: Urban gardening helps reduce CO2 emissions and improve air and water quality. If gardening takes place outside, it can also increase biodiversity in urban areas and improve habitat for birds and insects.
- Community: Urban Gardening promotes community building and exchange between people. Community gardens provide a space for city residents to come together, share their skills and knowledge, and work together on a project.
- Education: Urban gardening offers an excellent opportunity for children and adults to learn about nature and the environment, even in urban areas. Through this way, awareness of the importance of sustainability and environmental protection can be increased.
Types of Urban Gardening
There are many different types of urban gardening:
- Community gardens: Community gardens are gardens that are maintained by a group of people. They can usually be used by anyone and are often found on urban brownfields or in parks. Community gardens are a great way to interact with others and work together on a project.
- Balcony Gardens: Balcony gardens are a great opportunity to garden in a small space. With a few pots and some soil, you can grow a variety of herbs, vegetables and flowers. Balcony gardens can also be decorative and help create a relaxing atmosphere on your balcony.
- Roof gardens: Roof gardens are gardens that are planted on the roofs of buildings. They are usually used by the building's occupants and can help improve the insulation of buildings and reduce energy consumption.
- Backyard gardens: Backyard gardens are gardens that are planted in the backyards of homes. Here you can grow a variety of plants, from fruits and vegetables to flowers and shrubs. Backyard gardens are a great way to utilize outdoor space and create an oasis of peace and relaxation.
- Windowsill Gardens: Windowsill gardens are gardens that are planted on indoor windowsills. You can grow a variety of herbs, vegetables, and flowers and have a great opportunity to supplement your own food supply through this. Plus, with plants in your home, you have the chance to significantly improve air quality.
What you need for Urban Gardening
If you want to garden in the city, there are a few things you need to get started:
- Containers: you can use raised beds, pots, boxes, hanging baskets or other containers to save space and protect your plants.
- Soil: Soil is the foundation of any garden, and urban soil, if available at all for gardening can often be poor in nutrients and organic materials. So it's definitely important to buy or mix your own high-quality soil to ensure your plants get enough nutrients to grow and thrive.
- Seeds and plants: To plant your garden, you will need seeds and plants. Think about what varieties you want to grow and buy the appropriate seeds and seedlings. For a windowsill or balcony, herbs and microgreens can be a good option.
- Tools: You will also need some tools to successfully complete your urban gardening project. These include a watering can, a shovel, a rake and possibly scissors or a knife for cutting plants.
Why microgreens and sprouts?
If you want to garden in your home, microgreens and sprouts are a great option. Microgreens are small, tender seedlings that can be harvested after just a few days when they have just formed their first leaves. Sprouts , on the other hand, are purely water-based and even a little younger when harvested.
Super healthy
Microgreens and sprouts are packed with nutrients, including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They are also rich in enzymes that help digest food and detoxify the body. In addition, they are a great source of plant protein.
How to grow seedlings
Growing microgreens and sprouts is easy and requires little space. For microgreens, you need a seed tray, soil and seeds. For sprouts, all you need is a sprouting jar, water and seeds.
- To grow microgreens, fill the seed tray with soil and sprinkle the seeds over it. Cover them again lightly with soil and water them regularly. Place the tray in a sunny place and wait for them to germinate. Then you can harvest them and use them in your salad or sandwich. ▸ To the detailed growing instructions
- For sprouts, put the seeds in a jar and fill it with water. Let them soak for a few hours and then pour off the water. Rinse the seeds with water twice a day until they germinate. This usually takes three to five days. Then you can harvest them and use them in your salads or sandwiches. ▸ To the detailed growing instructions
Difference between Urban Gardening and Urban Farming
Although the terms urban gardening and urban farming are often used interchangeably, there is an important difference between the two.
What is Urban Farming?
Urban farming refers to growing crops in the city to produce a harvest. Unlike urban gardening, which focuses on growing plants for personal use, urban farming is about producing a significant amount of food for sale or donation to local communities. Microgreens are increasingly playing an important role in this, with more and more commercial indoor farms emerging in this context, for example.
How is it different from Urban Gardening?
The main difference between Urban Gardening and Urban Farming is the purpose. Urban Gardening focuses on growing plants for personal use and recreation, while Urban Farming aims to grow (and usually sell) a crop to contribute to food security in the city.
Urban farming also typically requires more land and resources than urban gardening. Urban farmers can use large, productive areas in the city, such as brownfields, to grow their crops. Urban Gardening is often limited to smaller, personal growing spaces, such as balconies or windowsills.
Conclusion and outlook
In summary, urban gardening is a great way to create more green space in the city and meet your own needs for fresh produce. There are many different types of Urban Gardening, such as community gardens, balcony gardens, or school gardens. Each type has its own benefits and allows people to connect with nature.
The cultivation of microgreens and sprouts offers here a particularly interesting way to grow fresh produce at home. The small plants are not only easy to grow, but also very healthy and nutritious. They can be easily grown on the windowsill or even in a small corner of the room.
So whether you have a windowsill or a community garden, anyone can start gardening and contribute to creating a greener, more sustainable city.
