Urban Farming Day #3

With more and more Americans moving to the cities every year, the United States is spending much more money on fuel and transportation of crops. By the year 2050 the world’s population is estimated to increase by 3 billion people, and nearly 80% will live in cities. So instead of taking the people to the farms (clearly not going to happen) why don’t we take the farms to the people. Here are two ideas about how to incorporate farms in to the city:

Vertical Farming


This idea is based on the premise that we, as humans, have already used 80% of the land on this planet that can be used for farming. We will need more land as populations  grow, but perhaps at this point the only solution is to grow up.

The advantages to Vertical farming?


1- year round crop production


2- no weather related crop failures  due to droughts, pesticides, or fertilizers


3- reduced fossil fuel use (no tractors, plows, shipping)


4- food is grown organically


5- eliminate agricultural runoff by recycling black water


6- creates sustainable environments for urban centers


Here’s a potential design:

W
ant more information? Click Here

Big Box Farms

Big box farms provide a new setting for farming as well, while keeping with the idea of horizontal farms. This idea uses old abandoned buildings, typically warehouses, for farm space. 

Because of the year round farming ability the land is used almost 150 times more efficiently



Big Box Farms promote that they can extend the life cycle of a crop, and produce a crop when it is needed - this made a little nervous about the chemicals going in to the food, but these farms are actually incredibly eco friendly

• 
No Pesticides
• No conamination from bacteria due to many steps in processing and handling

• No Chlorine (all packaged salad is sprayed with chlorine)

• 1/20 of the water use
• 
Less than 1% of the land
• 
No Erosion
• 
Significantly reduced waste
• No CO2 injection

• Less fertilizer
• 
No Runoff
• 
Lower Transportation Emissions



Sounds like these two methods are the solution to many of our world food and energy problems. I will be curious to see them implemented



For more information, click 
here