Urban agriculture can take on many forms, from the farm business to the small private backyard garden. Within the suburbs much effort has gone into producing the perfect lawn but very little into having the perfect larder. It is only relatively recently that we as a nation have ceased to feed or part feed ourselves, remember the second world war years when "dig for victory" was the slogan that united people towards feeding ourselves. The Land Army girls up and down the length of the Country did their bit and  the country survived.

Agriculture has always been part of the urban environment. Logically the first breath of a city relies on good land and water where agriculture can strive. It is only recently in the urban history of humanity that agriculture became divorced from cities, and the reasons are numerous and sometimes unclear . Most certainly, industrialization and strategies that relied on distant rural food production contributed to this separation. Philosophical aspects also contributed:

Eighteenth century views in Western Europe opposed natural to artificial, natural man to urban man.

Nevertheless, agriculture never disappeared completely from cities. Tradition and culture have  kept the household garden alive in the backyard, and ever-existing poverty in cities has pushed some families to grow food in order to cope with food insecurity. Urban agriculture emerges from a structural urban problem linked to the increase in urban population. Population growth in cities increases the labor force, but job markets lag urban growth, thus creating unemployment and food insecurity. Climate change and economic reccession that greets us as we enter the second decade of the 2000's result in a far greater need to re-awake our ability as communities to grow some of the foods that we eat.

 At first it may seem like a rather daunting task to set about feeding ourselves, when we already lead busy lives. Our organoponico philosophy says  "start small" and dont undertake more than you can cope with. Enlist family and friends, work together  and share the fruits of your labour. Save seeds from what you do grow and pass them around.

Grow with only heirloom seeds to ensure that good quality seed stock survives for future generations. See our download section for a handy guide on seed saving.

Please go to the URBAN HUBS page for detailed information about the role of the Hub.