urban homesteading: part 3

The third part in a series of urban farmers. Read part 1 and part 2.

A bunch of people, London, England
While not as hardcore as the urban homesteads featured in parts 1 and 2, city farming is taking root (excuse the bad pun) in places like London with regular folks playing the role of farmer. Thanks to Food Up Front, the smallest of plots -- gardens, balconies, windowsills -- are being converted into growing grounds for edibles.

What this non-profit group is proving is that anyone, just about anywhere, can grow their own food. Food Up Front provides novice urban farmers with tools, education, and a network of other growers with whom to trade produce. According to their site, new members receive:

• Starter Kit: a container, locally produced, peat-free compost, and some organic salad and herb seeds (2 types from a choice of 4)
• Basic Planting and Harvesting Guide
  
• Advice and support from a Food Up Front Street Rep: a volunteer who is local to your area.
  
• Details of Food Up Front gatherings and workshops, enabling you to meet other members and develop your food growing knowledge
  
• The opportunity to share and grow food with your neighbours and people in your surrounding area
• Access to the Food Up Front members online forum at Project Dirt

The urban farming movement not only helps people provide for themselves, it encourages community interaction. One of the smart things about Food Up Front is that they favor planting food in the front garden (it's right there in their name) as opposed to behind the house in a backyard. The reasons for this are many:

• More often than not front gardens are dead space
• It is a modern day trend to pave over front gardens, or lay slate or stones down. This reduction in vegetation can lead to heat island effect, making urban areas warmer at night
• It helps to encourage people to get to know their neighbours – there’s more chance of sharing a conversation with someone in the front garden compared to the back garden
• In some cases the front garden could be better suited to food growing due to its position
• It also allows a neighbour or friend to water your plants while you are on holiday, without the need for a key

Read more about Food Up Front.

Watch a video about the urban food growing network.

[Image source: Food Up Front]