What is urban agriculture?
Urban agriculture means growing plants for food in and around towns and cities, where space is small. People use balconies, rooftops, walls and small yards to grow vegetables and herbs. Good design helps plants grow well even in tight spaces.
Smart designs for small spaces
- Vertical garden — plants grow up a wall to save floor space.
- Container garden — vegetables grow in pots, boxes or recycled bottles.
- Hydroponics — plants grow in water with nutrients, without soil.
Key idea
Urban agriculture uses small spaces cleverly so people can grow fresh food close to home.
Designing with technology
Follow the design process: identify the problem, gather ideas, sketch a design, make it, then test and improve. Technology can help — a simple timer or a moisture sensor can water plants automatically, and recycled materials make the design cheaper and greener.
Example
Mei builds a vertical planter from recycled bottles on her balcony wall and grows chillies and mint.