What is vertical gardening? Let us explore:
Touring a Vertical Garden
At Affluent Farmers we focus on/ and promote sustainable agriculture projects.
What does that mean?
Sustainable agriculture refers to a model of farming/ agriculture that promotes healthy environment, economic profitability as well as ensuring there is social and economic equity.
Sustainable agriculture is all about sustainable food systems. Understandably, vertical gardening comes in handy in ensuring and promoting sustainable agriculture. Why so?
This is because of its approach that is aimed at conserving water and maximizing the use of space for food production, while also reducing problems like hunger, lifestyle health problems, and poverty issues.
The No Dig Farm and Agricultural Sustainable solutions
In elaborating on the importance of vertical gardening, I want to use the No Dig farm as a case study.
Affluent Farmers Agri-tour- Note that we have organized a Farm Tour to No Dig for practical lessons and fun!
What goes on at No Dig Farm?
No Dig Farm is more than a Demo Farm on modern agricultural techniques that utilizes the vertical gardening approach.
The owners of the farm, Mr. Njoroge Muchiri and Mrs. Eunice Njoroge, have come up with systems that are key to promoting sustainable agriculture through:
Promoting soil health-
The farm’s name, “No Dig” speaks volumes. It shows one aspect of what happens at the farm. A unique gardening approach, different from the contemporary farming practices, where digging, either manually or mechanically, is NOT practiced.
By avoiding digging, Muchiri notes that the soil ecosystem and biota are not disturbed hence thriving naturally under the forces of nature. Literally, nothing goes to waste here as one substance is food, or useful, for the other and waste is recycled.
Instead of digging, holes are only drilled into the ground to allow crops to be planted there.
A visit to the vertical gardening farm will have you get this and more information about how no dig helps in promoting sustainable agriculture.
Minimizing Water Use-
You will feel amazed by the amount of water that is used on this farm. In fact, you only need 20% of the water that you would use normally in an open land system. The vertical gardens allow efficient use of water whereby the plants get only what they require to thrive.
Secondly, you recycle all the wastewater. See the following photos of systems and how it recycles the water.
Importantly, the No Dig owners have devised a model of drip irrigation called customized drippers that water potted plants at their base. This approach has made No Dig’s crops thrive well even in dry seasons.
Lowering Pollution levels-
As noted earlier, sustainable agriculture is all about protecting the environment while doing agribusiness for income generation and social equity.
At No Dig, nothing goes to waste. All the agricultural wastes are composted in a special composting system that allows the breakdown of agricultural waste to form organic manure, also utilized in the same farm.
Importantly, Eunice and Muchiri, have shifted from the use of plastic pots to a unique and innovative material made of recycled papers, like used newspapers, and cement. Essentially, this innovation has helped in creating systems that serve farmers, especially urban dwellers their purpose of growing own foods in an affordable and manageable way.
Note that the plastic systems are not only very expensive but have tendency to pollute the environment once their useful period ends. Similarly, entirely concrete-made pots are expensive and too heavy to erect effectively in vertical gardens. Thus, No Dig’s systems helps solve these would be challenges!
This is also in line with the government directive of reducing plastic use, which goes a long way in conserving the environment.
Environmental friendly-
Other than being environmental friendly by reduced pollution in the farming operations, plants in urban centers helps a lot in increasing green cover. This is an important aspect of creating a clean environment within the cities.
Organic farming-
The ‘No Diggers’ do not rely on chemicals like pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, etc. to control pests. Rather, they use various methods in the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) model to manage pests.
For instance, the ‘Push and Pull’ method is commonly used whereby different herbs, some which attract or repel pests, are incorporated in the farm.
For instance, beneficial insects like bees, are attracted by flowers of specific plants planted there like Cosmos- you will always see bees hovering around!
A system of ground cover, using biodegradable papers helps in preventing overgrowth of weed since the farm is not dug. Hence, only the resistant weed growing above the ground cover is uprooted or slashed with a special secateurs.
There is a recycle of waste plants and weeds in the same farm!
Healthy Foods-
Lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, among others, are on the rise in Africa as is globally.
This issue is mainly in towns whereby many people cannot access healthy foods. Having a vertical garden, which you can install even in a 1M*1M space on the balcony is key in guaranteeing the production of healthy, clean, organic food.
The systems provided at no dig have a design to fit in smaller spaces like the balcony, rooftops, along the walls fence lines, etc. This is important because urban dwellers can grow their own food in a clean and organic-based way.
For instance, the following systems are available:
- Potted Plants
- Raised beds
- Stackable planters with stacking spaces (you can stack as many as can allow you work comfortably)
NB: The stackable planters allow water recycling, and you can fit with drip lines. You do not, therefore, have to spend a lot of time watering your plants, hence giving you a chance to do other chores. An employed person will definitely have no reason for not installing these systems as they won’t interfere with their busy schedule.
The planters can also rotate to align with the direction of sunlight for better performance. Importantly, planters designed for balconies have special modifications to prevent water from draining onto the floor, thus soiling it. This is a unique and innovative way of ensuring you recycle all water.
-Summing Up-
At Affluent Farmers, we are promoters of #agriculture for #business while underscoring the importance of observing and promoting sustainability in this endeavor.
The reason we promote #vertical_gardening projects is because they are in line with our objectives in agribusiness as a firm.
The focus on No Dig Farm, is to shine light on us all that sustainable agriculture is possible regardless of the place where you live or the piece of land you own.
To make it even more clearer and practical, WE have organized for a farm tour to the No Dig farm for more lessons by the very people who have started this innovative way of urban agriculture.
Bookings are still ongoing (Contact Us). Come and learn ways of growing your own organic and healthy food.
Remember, you can grow these and more crops in your small farm as evident in the pictures we have posted here:
Vegetables- cabbages, lettuce, Kales (Sukuma wiki), Nightshade (managu), pepper, asparagus, cucumber, and courgette, among others.
Fruits- strawberries, tomatoes.
Herbs- Parsley, Celery, Thyme, Oregano, Rosemary, Basil, among others.
Note, these crops are key in helping prevent or control lifestyle diseases.
The lessons and fun you’ll have during the training is worth your money. Note that our charges to the farm are always friendly to your pocket compared to going individually by own means, hence the reason for creating a pool of like-minded people to go and learn through our various agribusiness tours.
Feel free to comment, add inputs, enquire, or give any other feedback through our various channels.
As Usual, Contact us through:
0796-543-575 or 0756832065 / affluentfarmers@gmail.com
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