In the current era heavily impacted by pollution and the release of harmful chemicals into the environment, the simple act of breathing in clean, fresh air has tragically become a risky endeavour.
What was once considered a basic necessity for sustaining life is now tainted by the invisible threat of toxic gases lingering in the air. This shift in our surroundings has led to a situation wherein individuals are unknowingly putting themselves in harm’s way by inhaling what should be a source of rejuvenation and vitality.
The very essence of life, air, has now become a potential carrier of danger, illustrating the devastating consequences of environmental neglect and the urgent need for collective action to safeguard our most fundamental need for survival.
Urban gardening started as a small project by people who wanted to keep trees and plants alive and reintroduce the very thing we need to survive: oxygen. It is among the methods which do not pollute the environment. It is also one of the many energy-saving techniques for the environment.
In this article, we will examine what effects cities in urban gardening have had.
Why Create Urban Gardens?
Urban gardens can be created for different motives. The reasons for this are listed in the next paragraph.
- They are also supporting sustainable agriculture.
- Being at one’s disposal, the urban organic produce entity increases the accessibility to the types of crops such as fruit and vegetables.
- They increase air quality.
- It also reduces the cooling effects on the environment due to urban heat.
- It promotes social cohesion and community involvement. Can you re-state this sentence in a more concise way?
On one hand, it contributes to the ameliorating effect of climate change. Besides that, it also enables people to promote skill development and enhances urban resilience.
Urban Landscaping Benefits
The following is the list of benefits that urban landscaping provides.
Mental and physical health benefits
These landscapes have become therapeutic spaces where people can enjoy the scenery and breathe clean, crisp air. The air quality will significantly improve as all the carbon dioxide is removed from the air with more oxygen going around.
Gardens have also given people a stress-free environment, sitting in these spaces provides people with a sense of calmness and gives them peace of mind. It is also a unique bonding space where people can share conversations and ideas while they embrace the beauty of the space they are in.
Some gardens have also started providing organic fruits and vegetables, affecting people’s diets greatly. This means people can start getting their produce from the community garden instead of having to travel to a grocery store.
Social impact and community building
These spaces can also unite people, forming communities regardless of cultural or demographic background. Using educational programs can also increase people’s knowledge of sustainable living and ensure that people become environmentally responsible collectively.
Increases environmental sustainability
These gardens have specific purposes to help create environmental sustainability. They are designed to act as microclimates to cool down urban areas and support biodiversity. Stormwater issues can also be eliminated as the soil will trap and use rainwater instead of running into sewers and other water supplies.
On the economic side, these gardens can help increase property value and business opportunities.
How are these urban gardens created?
With more concrete in urban areas, it might be tricky to start planting an urban garden.
Traditional garden spaces will include a nice backyard or a piece of land that can easily be cultivated to grow fruits and vegetables or plant rows of trees where natural wildlife will start to roam. But with urban settings, this is an unlikely setup.
However, with modernisation and the use of technology, some innovative ways have proven to work.
Vertical gardening is one of these options, which means that the plants are stacked in layers and grown on walls in environments with limited space. Aquaponics is another one of these innovative techniques where fish farming is combined with plant cultivation. Hydroponics, on the other hand, is an innovative technique using nutrient-rich water-based solutions to grow plants.
Technology is another technique used alongside innovative techniques when creating these urban gardens. Smartphone apps can assist in plant care, such as reminding gardeners that plants need watering or highlighting tips that can help control pests.
Other smart devices can help monitor the conditions of the garden, such as sunlight levels and soil moisture, to ensure that plants are taken care of properly.
How to create an urban garden in a small space?
These gardens are usually an extension of an area within and around the home, such as the kitchen, a glass room or a winter garden. These spaces are often used as socialising areas when people get together for a BBQ or just to enjoy time together.
These types of gardens will be small, and often, the designers must create a 3D design to accommodate the small space. This includes using planter boxes, built-in seating, wall-mounted water features and pergolas to provide shade.
Other tools will also be integrated to help make the most out of a small space, such as vertical and hanging gardens, outdoor lighting, surfaces, garden accessories and other materials to ensure that the garden fits into the small space without taking all the available space.
The bigger the garden space to work with, the easier it will be to plant trees and plant life in the available space.
Challenges of Urban Gardening
Although urban gardening has many benefits, it is not without challenges. Some of these challenges that urban landscaping might face include limited resources, urban development pressures and climate change.
There can also be some ongoing challenges in adapting to changing climates and finding ways to use limited spaces to create these urban gardens.
Conclusion
These gardens offer communities several benefits to ensure that society keeps moving forward. By using innovative techniques and planting trees and other sources of plant life, the environment is enhanced for the better. Ideally, if you are looking for assistance with urban gardening, there are online websites that can assist.
For more information on how to help create these urban gardens and protect the environment, click here: https://iconicblogs.co.uk.
Sources
https://forestnation.com/blog/urban-gardening-transforming-cityscapes-and-communities/
https://thirdview.info/2023/02/24/how-urban-gardening-can-transform-your-city/
