In the heart of our cities and neighbourhoods, a green revolution is quietly blooming.  It’s called urban farming – the cultivation, processing, and distribution of food in or around urban areas –found in community gardens, rooftop farms and even vertical productions.

Many people think urban farming is about fresh fruits and vegetables, and that’s true, but it’s so much more! Discover why urban farming is so important, different types of urban farms, and how you can join this green revolution by creating an urban farm or a community garden.

Why is Urban Farming Thriving? 

Urban farming is becoming increasingly popular for its holistic approach towards enhancing food security, promoting environmental sustainability, and fostering community wellbeing. This thriving movement is driven by urban residents transforming rooftops, balconies, and vacant lots into green spaces.

If you want to join this green revolution, our Certificate of Urban Farming is your opportunity to become a part of something truly transformative. So, what are the main benefits of urban farming?

• Food Security 

One of the most significant benefits of urban farming is boosting food security. The demand for fresh, local produce is at an all-time high due in part to the population explosion in urban areas. Urban farming brings food production closer to consumers and ensures a steady supply of fresh produce. When you study urban farming, you learn about sustainable agricultural practices and how to adapt them to urban environments. This knowledge empowers you to contribute significantly to your community by ensuring that fresh, nutritious food is accessible to all.

• Environmental Sustainability

However, urban farming goes beyond just food production and is crucial to environmental sustainability. Through practices such as vertical farming, composting, and rainwater harvesting, urban agriculture reduces the carbon footprint associated with traditional farming and food transportation. Our professional development course delves deep into these eco-friendly practices, offering insights into how urban farms can serve as models of sustainability. By mastering these techniques, you will feel confident in reducing urban heat islands, enhancing biodiversity, and promoting sustainable land use.

• Community Wellbeing 

Urban farming also extends to enhance community well-being. Community gardens and farms become communal spaces that promote social interaction, physical activity, and the aesthetic of urban environments. Our urban farming course explores the importance of community engagement. It also shows you how to create inclusive spaces that welcome all community members. You will become so much more than an urban farmer; you will be a community builder who uses agriculture for social unity and well-being.

8 Types of Community Gardens

There are many different types of community gardens. Each has its own unique value, from bringing people together to educating future generations, feeding the community, and even helping ease mental and physical health complaints. What type of community garden would you like to create?

1. Residential Gardens

These gardens are found in residential areas and are often managed and maintained by the residents. Residential gardens provide a space for people to grow their own fruits, vegetables, and flowers, promoting a sense of community in neighbourhoods.

2. School Gardens

Planted on school grounds, these gardens are living classrooms for students. They offer hands-on learning experiences covering a variety of subjects, like biology, nutrition, and environmental science. They are also beneficial in promoting healthy eating habits and providing a connection to nature.

3. Therapeutic Gardens

Designed to focus on mental and physical health, therapeutic gardens are used in treatment programs in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, and senior care facilities. They provide a peaceful environment that helps reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall well-being. You can learn more about gardens as therapy in our Certificate of Horticultural Therapy.

4. Communal Food Gardens

These gardens, which focus on food production, are collectively maintained by community members. They can be found in parklands, libraries, community organisations, workplaces, and neighbourhoods. A communal food garden aims to improve food security, provide fresh produce to residents, and supply food to local food banks or community kitchens.

5. Allotment Gardens

Allotment gardens offer individual plots of land within a larger area that people can rent to grow their own plants. They are prevalent in urban areas where private garden space is limited, allowing residents to cultivate their own food and flowers.

6. Pollinator Gardens

These gardens attract and support pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds as they are filled with native, flowering plants that produce nectar and pollen. They are crucial in conserving biodiversity and supporting local ecosystems.

7. Rooftop Gardens

Popular in high-density urban settings, rooftop gardens create green spaces. These urban oases reduce building temperature and provide outdoor space for residents or employees to garden and relax.

8. Community Orchards

Community orchards involve managing and harvesting fruit trees. They provide a source of fresh fruit to the community and can act as educational spaces for learning about fruit cultivation and preservation.

Community gardens offer their own unique benefits and serve different purposes. They can enhenace food security, promote environmental sustainability, provide educational opportunities or improving health and wellbeing. Whether through growing fresh produce, educating the public, or creating green spaces, community gardens play a vital role in connecting communities.

Join the Green Revolution!

Urban farming is more than just a trend. It’s a sustainable lifestyle choice that has the potential to transform cities, making them greener and more sustainable. Whether you’re looking to start your own urban farm, contribute to food security, or create green space in an urban environment, you can transform your passion for sustainability and community wellbeing.

Certificate of Urban Farming

The Certificate of Urban Farming is ideal if you’re passionate about making a difference in urban environments. Here are some highlights of what the course offers:

Comprehensive Curriculum: Covering everything from soil health and plant biology to innovative urban farming technologies.

Flexible Learning Options: This online course caters to busy schedules by allowing you to learn anywhere, anytime, and at your own pace.

What You’ll Learn:

• Scope and nature of urban farming
• What & where to farm
• Urban farming technologies
• Starting an urban farm
• Animal farming systems
• Plant farming systems
• Value adding
• Problem-based learning project – plan an urban farm