The diversity of urban farmers

Guerilla gardening in Bologna

Finally I’ve made it. A short break and a full agenda didn’t allow me to give you the so wanted examples of new initiatives to grow food. Here we go!

In the beginning of this month I did a little research which you can find here. I tried to find as much innovative ways to grow food in the cities. Although the well-informed have not yet finished their discussion on it yet, I think urban farming is a good thing to do anyway. Maybe it is a bit naïve to think it can solve the worlds’ most urgent problems but at least it can be a start. Urban farming gives us food, saves us fossil fuels and brings us back all kinds of (positive) energies. Besides that urban farming is a good way to show ‘the normal and the abnormal’ what it takes to foresee in our food requirements.

The possibilities for growing food in the city range from low-tech fruit picking from someone-elses fruittree to high-tech production with unaffordable LEDlights in empty offices. Don’t be scared to get dirty hands. I will offer you some options to choose from starting with the most feasible ones.

First of all do I want to advise you to give it a start. It might sound scary to start growing food, but it turns out to be fun when you can eat your own-created-harvest. Buy some seeds, find a good spot to place them in and see what happens. Don’t forget to give it some water every now and then off-course. The food growing spot doesn’t need to be big. Some creative minds have already found solutions for those who have a lack of space but a will to create harvest.

The lucky ones – those who have enough space to cultivate on – can really consider to feed themselves fully with their own produce. You can use a rooftop or an empty urban plot which are abundant thanks to the current crisis. Maybe you can even find some friends or neighbors to help you to maintain the garden. Here some useful suggestions to make it successful.

For the technicians amongst you I suggest to try and invent something new. Many went before you and successfully developed systems which allow people to grow food wherever they like. It might not look very natural but if there is no other option to choose it might be the only solution.

I hope these posts gives you a good boost of inspiration. Now it is time to celebrate Christmas and start a list of next year’s good intention. Guess what is on top of mine?

A short history

After I discussed some examples of growing food in the cities, I think it is now time to look back. Not because I am such a traditionalist but because I think it is good to learn from the past. You join me?

This short history on (urban) allotment gardens is not only about feeding the city. The popularity or need for gardens is strongly related to political situations. You will see that in some cities the development of allotment gardens was facilitated by the government while in others having a place to grow food was the only way to survive.

The UK is famous for their garden city concept designed by Ebenezer Howard. This man developed the first suburbs around London thereby leaving space for the people to grow their own food. Besides that there was the national law forcing municipalities to have land available for their citizens to grow food. The popularity for these allotments had a short backdrop in between the wars and in the booming second half of the 21^st century but is rising again now food prices are going-up and food miles need to be decreased to stop climate change.

On the other side of the canal, in Germany and Austria, the industrialization and both World Wars were large catalysts for the development of (urban) allotment gardens. During the 19^th century farmers came to the cities hoping they would have a more prosperous life there. But it wasn’t easy to find a job so they had to find ways to feed themselves and their family. Picking up their old profession was the only way to survive. In gaining land they were helped by the municipality or the church. During and after the World Wars these gardens helped the Germans to maintain a healthy energy level. 

In neighboring Austria - or more specific in its capital Vienna - it was the socialist Otto Neurath who founded the Cooporative Housingand Allotment association (1921) to support groups who decided to become self-sufficient concerning housing and food supply. IKEA like building kits enabled persons to create their own houses depending on their family size and needs. On the plots there was room for allotment gardens. Now Vienna has one of the largest allotmentgarden parks in Europe.

The Russian middle and upper class used the dachas (‘something is given’) for relaxation in the weekend – as a second home. After the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 they became communal so that at least everyone was able to go there a few times a year. After WWII some the Russian governments changed the legalizations a few times which lead to a high-popularity of the dachas in the ’80. The gardens turned out to be the ultimate solution for cheap holidays. After communism collapsed most dachas have been privatized. This is still the fact although the government is supporting those who want to start an inner city garden again.

Further south - in the Italian city Milan there - have been some ups and downs regarding the popularity of gardening. In the 17^th century the gardens where mainly owned by the rich. Like in other cities this changed at the beginning of the industrialization. Then gardens were kept and maintained by the new citizens who were used to grow food and now needed it to provide in their daily energy intake: their salaries were not sufficient to buy it all on the market. While in the WW II the gardening in the city had its peak – with grain growing in the Piazza del Duomo – after this period the allotment gardens where pushed out to cheaper land out of the city.

As you can see food growing can be fun but also might be a need. Not only in the early days but also in the beginning of the 21^st century certain external causes make us want to be more self-sufficient. It is not something to be ashamed of. No, you rather be proud of yourself. Next week some new initiatives in the spot lights.  

How to grow food in the city

Don’t expect a solution after reading this title. This post is to inspire you. I did some research, talked to some people and collected information on how to grow food in cities. Some examples will be posted on the facebook page next week, others will be discussed here.

As Carolyn Steel and many others have written before food and cities are indispensable connected. Without food no cities, without cities no food. Although both statements seem to be the topic of discussion now. The ‘food’ eaten in cities is for a major part technical food while at the same time we have to start to worry about the amount of food we citizens consume in relation to the production capacity of true farmers.

After having tried for decennia to get food production asfar away from the cities as possible a new movement has started some years ago trying hard to get production closer to consummation. People decided to grew herbs, strawberries and other small greens on their balconies, on rooftops or in backyards. Slowly cities are filled with edible green.

It is not only private persons encouraging this movement. People gather in collectives to support each other in the process of learning how to grow food, schools start gardens (again) to combine education with outdoor activities and offices grow their rooftops to give their staff this special opportunity to share some fun activities with their colleagues.

Besides these planned projects there are also initiatives encouraging wild-picking. Websites tell you where to find fruit trees in your neighborhood, workshops are organized around ‘getting food from the wood’.

It is not only about the food itself anymore, more also about the fun to grow or pick it. And that makes people aware what it takes to get the products you need to make your favorite recipe. It turns out that is takes a lot more to get your ingredients than just going to the supermarket. It brings people together sharing knowledge on the growth process and on recipes. It makes cities greener, not only in a visible way but also seen from an environmental eye.

I could continue with the benefits for a while, but guess it is time for action now. After the Dutch examples last week you will find some examples from Milano and the rest of Italy next week.