5 Tips to Start Urban Farming

Whether you want to eat healthier food or are looking for a new hobby that helps you spend more time outdoors, urban farming could be what you are looking for. This article has 5 good tips to get you started or help you improve your urban farm.

1. Plant what you want/will use

Planting what you want and will eat or use is important. Although tomatoes might look good in your garden if you don’t like them you won’t eat them! Urban farmers know that space is a valuable commodity. Make sure you are using efficiently by focusing on growing foods you love.

2. Use what is available to you

Growing your own food can be expensive, lots of people looking to start urban farming are looking to be more cost effective, there are multiple ways to do this. The best tip for this is using what you already have. Everyone likes going out and buying new garden beds, hoses, seeds, and more, however this isn’t necessary for getting started.

Instead look around and see what you already have. Do you have an extra potato laying around, some fresh basil from a previous recipe, or some sprouted garlic. Plan your garden around these, and use the leftovers of what you have!

Planters can be very expensive! Avoid home depot and big garden stores and instead repurpose cheap or previously used materials. Pallet wood can be found for free or very cheap, you can use this to build larger planters, or use old boxes, shoes, or bags for smaller planters!

3. Connect with others

Gardening and farming come with many challenges and unexpected setbacks, although google and chatGPT can be useful, connecting with other farmers and gardeners can be super helpful. Not only do farming and gardening communities love to help each other learn more about the craft, often they have mutual experiences and like to exchange food and tools. Joining a community of gardeners or farmers can also lead to valuable friendships and contacts in the long term. Look for local groups or get in touch through social media

You can join our community for free here. 

4. Learn your zone

Hardiness zones determine what types of plants do best in your area as well as timing for planting through the seasons. Learning your zone is critical to knowing when to plant and what to plant to have the most success. You can use the map below to identify your zone here in Washington, then a quick google search will give you the information you need to have a fruitful first season!

5. Start small 

Don’t overwhelm yourself right away, starting with an herb planter is an effective way to get a taste for gardening. You can take one planter and plant your most used herbs together, then watch them grow! If you are ready to take on more scale slowly, one planter at a time. This way you can be sure you have the time and resources to manage your new plants!

Get excited! 

Farming and gardening have been beloved hobbies and careers since humans began using agriculture for good reason. Not only is it an effective way at keeping your family fed, it can help you connect with your community and learn valuable skills and trades. No matter where you are, farming and gardening is for you!