Australians have embraced a global groundswell of interest in growing healthy food in cities and urban areas. Getting our hands dirty, planting our favourite veggies and cooking tastier organically grown food while also enjoying seeing birds and bees thrive in our backyards, has proven to be excellent for our minds and bodies.
Urban Agriculture (UA) is just one of many terms used to describe this global movement. Gardening, urban farming, backyard gardening, city farming, rooftop gardening, city food growing, are all terms that are used when talking about what are essentially different forms of growing food in urban and peri-urban environments.
Food has been grown in cities since the dawn of civilisation, but the importance of urban agriculture in all its forms is given new meaning when we consider that we are part of the first ‘urban century’ in human history, where the majority of the world’s population now lives in urban environments.
Scientists also have taken a deep look into the health benefits of urban gardening and confirmed what most people who have grown their own food already know; while exposure to plants and green space generally is beneficial to our mental and physical health, working in one’s own food garden is particularly good for us. The therapeutic value of growing one’s own food is, for many, one of the strongest motivators, along with a desire for tastier vegetables. Marked reductions in stress, blood pressure and muscle tension are only some of the well documented benefits that food growers reap.
So, along with the health benefits derived from spending time in a food garden, most food growers also quickly discover that a well-managed garden can produce a significant amount of food. And, because not everyone has access to a large patch of land, even a small space, when well nurtured, can provide abundant healthy vegetables, spices and greens for an entire family.
Growing your own food is also an excellent way of helping the natural environment by supporting local habitats. Insects, bees, birds and even some small animals can all benefit from local gardens. Many urban food growers are willing to do whatever they can to be part of a global community that cares for the environment.
An increasing number of people are interested in the food system and how it can be localised, thereby reducing transport costs and increasing food security and the resilience of communities. More and more people are becoming local food entrepreneurs, growing food that is sold locally directly to cafes and shops, thus making it a viable business venture or even a fun ‘side hustle’.
The list of benefits is ever-growing. Gleanr believes that collaboration, through sharing knowledge and working in harmony, further increases positive community impacts.
