Urban Agriculture
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Urban agriculture can provide healthy, local food that contributes to food security and helps to maintain additional green space. Agriculture was typically considered a rural activity. Today up to 15% of our food originates from within metropolitan areas. The contribution of urban agriculture to food security and healthy nutrition is important as more and more people live in cities than ever before. Urban Agriculture can be home vegetable gardens, community gardens, backyard poultry, hydroponics, community supported agriculture, fish farming, farm to school, farmer’s markets and other small scale production.
Aquaculture and Aquaponics
Aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic plants and/or animals for food or other commercial purposes. Aquaponics is a system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purify the water. Information about aquaculture can be found at the link above, and info about aquaponics can be found in the resources box below.
Beekeeping
Beekeeping is quickly becoming a hobby many urban farmers are interested in. Beekeeping provides not only honey and wax, but also produces bees that are able to pollinate other crops. Raising bees correctly is important to make sure the hive stays healthy. To learn more about bees and beekeeping visit the link above and the link in the resources box for additional information.