2. What is Urban Farming?
AnUrban Areais characterized by higherpopulation densityand vast human features in comparison to the areas surrounding it.
When farming is conducted in such an area at smaller scale, in any available space to produce vegetables, fruits or herbs for personal or shared consumption, can be called as Urban Farming.
3. Why Urban Farming?
Allows a relaxing activity to the stressful urban dwellers
Will help them to reconnect with Nature
Can also get value back for this recreational activity
It uses typical urban resources (like organic waste as compost and urban wastewater for irrigation).
4. Advantages of Urban Farming
Urban farms enable enterprises to monetizepeople’s currently vacant real estate assets.
Cuts short the supply chain to consumer’s terrace to his/her plate, keeping food Fresh, Organic, Personalised, Untouched and of High Quality.
Also reduces the refrigeration time of vegetables, reducing there environmental impact.
5. Helps Urbanersto grow their own organic food, with personal care and cultivation.
Also provides food assurity, with choice of what and when to grow.
Eg. Herbs can be cultivated for particular medicinal property like lemongrass, basil, aloe-veraetc.
Or a vegetable simply because its market value/quality is bad, like onions.
Advantages of Urban Farming
6. Makes the empty space more aesthetic, natural and eco- friendly
At the same time develops the space with monetary returns
Spreads positive vibes in a space by adding natural colourand emotion
Advantages of Urban Farming
7. Where can it be done?
Small –
Window shelves (2.5’x5’)
Medium –
Residential Balcony and Offices (8’x10’ to 12’x20’)
Large –
Terraces, Rooftops, Gardens, Empty plots and Backyards (20’x40’ to 20’x60’)
Any space which is vacant and which gets ample sunlight
8. Who can do it?
Any individual or group of people who can
Spare minimum one hour every week,
Have vacant space with sunlight,
Who need a recreational activity.
Irrespective of age, gender, class or skills.
9. What is required for Farming?
Temperature, Humidity,
Rain, Wind and Light.
Nutrition, Water,
Minerals and Salts
10. Requirements of Soil?
Nutrients -Nitrogen,Phosphorus, Potassium,Calcium,Magnesium and Sulfur.
pH –6.0 to 6.5
Air
Water –pHof 5.5 to 6.5 and salinity of 300mS/m
Microbes
11. Ambience required for Farming
Temperature -20-27C (cold crop)
30-35 C (warm crop)
Relative Humidity -At 30 C humidity of 70-89%
Air –CO2 content of 200 to 1000ppm
Water Salinity –Max. 630 mS/m
Sunlight-6 Hours of partial light
12. But farming is..
Soil is messy and dirty
Requires daily attention for -
Watering
Deweeding
Upturning
Manure/Compost
Time and care
Climate is unpredictable and harsh in urban regions
13. Climate of Ahmedabad
Temperature -20 C (Jan) to 47 C (May)
Relative Humidity -16% (may) to 95% (august)
Air –CO2 content of 400ppm
Water Salinity –Municipal 520 mS/m
Tube Well 690mS/m
Sunlight-12 Hours of sun light
Rainfall–780 mm annually
14. Also urban life is..
Preoccupying
Tiring
Fast
Full of Commitments and Deadlines
So is there a Modern Equivalent ?
15. Yes there is!
Modern technology produces variety of agricultural products, which are efficient in time and function. These can fulfil the Needs and constrains of Urban Life.
Such as Coco Peat as soil, Drip Irrigation for water wells, Green Houses, Humidifiersand Ventilation as climate.
16. Coco Peat
What is Coco Peat?
Coco Peat is a modern substitute for soil, made from coconut husk and peat(organic decay) which is potent enough to grow plant, trees in a neaterand more modular format.
Being fibrous porous it is much lighterin weight as compared to soil and holds more water for longer time duration.
A 30x30x10 cm block weighs 5kg and costs Rs 40-50/-
17. This industrial product is available in variety of shapes, sizes and grades to merge and customize indiverse modern context.
Eg. Coco Peat bags can be used for collective and modularised farming.
Coco Peat
18. Coco Peat as a soil substitute
pH -5.8-6.8
Nutrients -Potassium, Sodium, Chlorine and Manganese
Airfilled porosity % 90 (more nutrition for roots)
Water holding capacity 100 (8x more than soil)
Microbes(as made from organic matter)
High nutrition value for 2year
19. Advantages for urban farmers
Can be watered once in 3-4 weeks
Retains high nutrition for 2 years
Can be reused after 4 years
Disintegrates to organic waste after 10 years
No deweeding
Least maintenance, organization and expense
20. Drip Irrigation
Also known as Localized irrigation, it is anirrigationmethod that saves water and fertilizer by allowingwaterto drip slowly to therootsof plants, either onto thesoilsurface or directly onto the root zone, through a network ofvalves,pipes,tubing, andemitters.
21. Types of Drip Irrigation
There are numerous systems and models available in market, depending on the area to be irrigated, availability of water, types of crops etc.
For small scale farms buckets are used to store water which will then pass through values and drip to the roots.
While for larger scale, reservoirs and computer controlled systems are used to monitor the flow of water.
In all models the aim is to conserve water and making the crop growth efficient.
22. Advantages for Urban Farmers
Requires adequate water to irrigate urban farms, because of the least availability of water.
Needs no maintenance after installation.
Water needs to be checked once in 3-4 weeks
It is flexible and modular to the context of space, size and requirements.
23. Green Houses
Agreenhouseis a building/structure in whichplantsare grown. These structure moderate the temperature, humidity and light to optimize the growth of crop in unfavourable atmosphere such as extreme cold/hot weather.
There are different systems available in the market to make a green house. From PVC pipe to aluminum or even wooden green houses.
24. Aluminum frame work with polyethylenefilm and multiwall sheets of glass/acrylic.
These systems are available in DIY-Do it yourself formats as well.
They are affordable and fairly lightweight
Green Houses
25. PVC pipes frames with polyethylenefilm and acrylic.
These structures are extremely lightweight and are easy to assemble on sight.
The joinery are cost effective and do not require special tools to construct.
Green Houses
26. Bamboo/Wooden Greenhouses
Made from eco-friendly material which gives it an aesthetic as well as function value
Also helps absorb humidity in extreme humid regions
These require skills to construct but are relatively cost efficient than other materials.
Green Houses
27. Technologies for Ambience
Many gadgets are available to monitor and alter ambience of a space.
Like the combine CO2, Humidity and Temperature meter which allows to understand when ventilation is required.
Humidifiers and De-Humidifiers which can manipulate humidity.
Ventilator which can automatically circulate the air when required.
28. How can WE do it?
Develop a modular system which can fit in variety of urban spaces. With a solution to cultivate food efficiently, cost effectively and with least maintenance.
Which can –ventilate, control humidity, light, temperature and filters water for salinity. Withstand extreme climate.
Provides storage, cleaning space and drainage.
29. An informational booklet and support system can be developed to help Urban Farmers set their kit, consult for various problems and consult them for general quires.
This system can also develop into a network wherein a Urbanfarmer can distribute his excess produce, to be sold as Urban Organic Food.
Help people live Self Sustained and reduce environmental impact on cities.
How can WE do it?
30. Scope
A 1200sq.ft terrace can yields 5 Kg of fruits and vegetables daily for 300 days a year.
If executed correctly a batch of tomatoes can be harvested in 6-8weeks.
With hardly one hour of attention per week.
Complete maintenance once in 4 years.
31. Grow fresh
Cook fresh
Eat fresh
For better, healthier and cleaner diet!
Be a URBAN FARMER!
Thank You!
