“From Grey to Green: 15 Powerful Effects of Urban Gardening & Sustainability”

“From Grey to Green: 15 Powerful Effects of Urban Gardening & Sustainability”

Introduction

In the 21st century of technology, urbanization and global warming, our Mother Earth is facing more and more environmental concerns day by day. Our very best solution is Sustainability, which has become a paramount subject these days. There are ample ways to include sustainability in our daily routine. One of the easy and more adventurous ways is Urban Gardening. It is the practice of cultivating plants in urban areas, like in rooftops, verandahs and community plots. This massively benefits the environment and city dwellers by reducing carbon footprint, improving food security and fostering a sense of community. In this article, you’ll explore how city gardening lends a hand in achieving sustainable development goals, transforms gray jungles into green oases, can make the Earth bloom once again, and how you can serve nature straight from your own home!

Sustainability Defined

In 1987, Brundtland Report, formally known as "Our Common Future," which was produced by the World Commission on Environment and Development, The United Nations defines sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The definition and connotation for sustainability provided by the UN strives to stimulate an integrated and comprehensive approach to development, recognizing the correlation of environmental, social, and economic factors in achieving long-term global well-being. The world continues to experience unparalleled environmental challenges and remains vulnerable to threats of planetary catastrophes, the 3 main ones being the climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.

Why Do We Stand in Need of Sustainability? 5 Prime Benefits of Sustainability

In today’s generation, Sustainability has become a cardinal topic for scientists, government and even for the common man. This is because Sustainability has the power to bandage the wounds of our environment and revive it once again. Here are 5 prime benefits of Sustainability for our home, Earth and Man-

1. Preservation of Biodiversity: Sustainability protects ecosystems and species from extinction and being endangered, hence maintaining the balance and vigor of our biodiversity.

2. Reduction of Pollution: It helps minimize waste production and emissions, ushering to cleaner air, water, and soil.

3. Stable Climate: Reduces climate change impacts by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration.

4. Stable Economy: By implementing sustainable practices, we can promote efficient resource use and reduce waste that enables long-term economic growth, increases jobs, and cuts down costs associated with environmental disgrace and resource shortage.

5. Finer Quality of Life: Sustainable practices allow us to get cleaner air and water, healthier food, and safer communities, advancing overall human well-being and quality of life.

How Sustainability Actually Works

Sustainability operates by focusing primarily on meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs. It works by coordinating economic development, environmental health, and social equity. Key practices include renewable energy usage, proficient resource management, and waste reduction. Sustainable agriculture promotes soil health, uses natural methods to increase soil fertility and stable biodiversity, while sustainable business ethics emphasize eco-friendly production and fair labor. By balancing these elements, sustainability aims to create a peaceful system where economic development aligns with ecological preservation and social well-being. It therefore promises a healthier, pollution free Earth, which being our only home, is our utmost duty to incorporate sustainability in our lives, and obviously, a cleaner environment and firm economy is the way to longer life expectancy.

3 Pillars of Sustainability

The concept of sustainability is usually fragmented into three salient pillars: economic, environmental, and social—casually also known as profits, planet, and people. Economic sustainability paves the way to rational financial practices, environmental sustainability promotes preservation of natural resources, and social sustainability focuses on equity and building a harmonious community. Together, they create a backbone for long-term abundance and ecological health.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 17 Goals of UN

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations fiercely aim to tackle major global challenges by 2030. These 17 goals include:

1. No Poverty

2. Zero Hunger

3. Good Health and Well-being

4. Quality Education

5. Gender Equality

6. Clean Water and Sanitation

7. Affordable and Clean Energy

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth

9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

10. Reduced Inequalities

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

12. Responsible Consumption and Production

13. Climate Action

14. Life Below Water

15. Life on Land

16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

17. Partnerships for the Goals

Each goal targets urgent areas such as eradicating poverty, saving the planet, and ensuring tranquility and prosperity. They provide a map for global cooperation to attain a more sustainable, equitable and radiant world for all of humanity.

What is Urban/City Gardening?

Urban gardening sometimes also known as city gardening or backyard gardening is the culture of growing plants, vegetables, and fruits in urban environments, utilizing small spaces such as rooftops, verandahs, balconies and community gardens to produce fresh food for local dwellers and to make the best, sustainable use of green spaces for the tremendous benefit of nature and mankind.

The Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) of the UN defines the outcome of urban gardening as “a sector or an industry that yields, processes and markets food and fuel, mainly in response to the daily demand of inhabitants within a town, city or metropolis, on both land and water distributed throughout the urban and suburban areas, applying comprehensive production methods, enacting the method of 3Rs- Reduce, Reuse & Recycle to utilize natural resources and significantly reduce urban wastes, to earn a diversity of crops and livestock.”

History of Urban Gardening

Evolving from ancient city farms to modern day community and rooftop gardens, urban gardening dates back centuries. The pioneering reasons of urban gardening were mainly food shortages. It now emphasizes sustainability and community engagement, bettering urban landscapes and the whole Earth while also fostering local food production.

Why Every City Dweller Should Have Urban Gardening on His To-do List? 5 Fundamental Pros of Urban Gardening

1. Improvement in Mental Health: City life is fast and furious from which urban gardening offers a peaceful escape, reducing stress and enhancing mental health. Also it can serve as a great hobby for people interested in gardening and nature.

2. Fresh Produce for the Locals: Producing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs provides guaranteed access to a fresh, healthy, and potentially organic food supply, thereby, reducing dependence on store-bought produce.

3. Environmental Benefits: City gardening contributes to purified pollution free air, brings down urban temperatures, and decreased carbon footprints by promoting greenery, eco friendly and sustainable practices.

4. Community Engagement: Gardening encourages community engagement, bringing people together to share resources, knowledge, and experiences, strengthening social bonds and spreading positivity.

5. Educational Opportunities: Backyard gardening provides hands-on learning, practical experiences about nature, sustainability, biodiversity conservation and food production that will be fruitful for both adults and children for their future.

How Urban Gardening Improves Health

When we go jogging just a few minutes after sunrise or take a light stroll in the park in the evening after a frantic day, it genuinely feels calming and almost euphoric. We all love flowers, plants and nature, so why not just keep them in our own houses. And believe it or not, it not only heals nature but it heals you too! Yes, here are the ways urban gardening supports your health:-

1. Reduces Stress Levels: When we are exposed to nature, our brain releases serotonin and endorphins that spike our happiness levels. Daily gardening activity helps reduce stress levels and promotes relaxation.

2. Enriches Mood: Gardening boosts mood, reduces the risk of mental illnesses and improves mental well-being through exposure to sunlight and the satisfaction of nurturing plants. Also vibrant colors of plants and flowers like green, yellow, red, enhances our spirit and has a soothing effect on our busy minds.

3. Fosters Community and Physical Health: Urban gardening fosters social interactions and a sense of community, lowering feelings of isolation, depression and loneliness. Further, engaging in daily physical activity, endorphins are released in our body, giving us that “feel good” state of mind.

Ways to do Urban Gardening

So you have finally decided to start your own sweet city gardening journey, but what are the ways you can actually do gardening? Well, here are some kinds of urban gardening ideas you can look up to according to your needs, resources and conveniences:-

1. Setting up your own personal viridescent spaces-

First of all, you have to start by deciding how much space, lighting and resources you’re going to invest in for your garden.

i. So figure out, would it be outdoors like a garden in your verandah, balcony, patio or a backyard? And if yes, then you can make a small, elevated garden bed, with a diversity of plants, flowers, root vegetables and also small trees. For greater privacy and safety, you can also outline the zone with tall, large evergreen trees.

ii. Or if you like having your indoors filled with nature, you can do that too! There are many creative ways like you can keep a big bucket or a pot with various resilient plants like succulents. You can also add your favorite flowering plants or include herbs to help with your cooking like parsley, basil, rosemary, etc.

iii. If you don’t have a lot of space, don’t worry, you can still have hanging pots or vertical pots up your wall, also adding a touch of aesthetic decoration to the walls of your room. Money plant, Ivy, Sword ferns and Fuchsia are superb options.

iv. In cities, generally sun exposure is not always nice, but there are many shade loving plants that you can keep like Touch-me-not, Begonia, Lungwort, Lucky Bamboo, etc. Or in the reverse case, there are a lot of plants that like direct sunlight like lavender, coneflower, hibiscus, marigold, sunflowers, etc.

2. Community Green Spaces - A lot of studies indicate that physically speaking, cities are densely populated but mentally speaking, they are quite isolated and can pose a risk of loneliness. Building community gardens offers a solution to bring communities together whilst also encouraging an eco friendly culture and serving Mother Nature. For instance, in the data published by Statista Research Department in Jun 15 2023, “Cities with the most community gardens per 1000 residents in the US, 2022”, Spokane, Washington had the most community gardens, with 4.8 community gardens per 1000 inhabitants.

3. Rooftop Gardens - Rooftop gardens are methodical and receive good sun exposure. They can be utilized for cultivating food, with huge beds of soil, or for comfort, with seating and visually alluring plants. Moreover, roof top gardens also help reduce floods caused by rainfall, assuage the heat island effect, which refers to the higher temperatures in cities.

4. Allotment gardens - Allotment gardens offer small plots for individuals to grow their own fruits and vegetables and flowers, promoting sustainability, social bonding, and entryway to fresh, local produce.

5 Important Tips for City Gardening You Must Know

Here are 5 utmost tips that’ll make gardening simpler for you, even if you’re just a beginner:-

1. Begin with Easy Plants - Start with plants that are known to be easier to grow and manage. Herbs like basil, mint, spinach and vegetables like lettuce, onions, radishes, and cherry tomatoes are often suggested for beginners.

2. Composting - Composting kitchen scraps, peels and wastes can provide you with nutrient-dense soil for your plants. In small spaces, you can even use a worm bin or small compost tumblers.

3. Being Mindful of Pests - Urban areas might have its own unique pest issues. Using natural methods for pest control like neem oil, insecticidal soap, companion planting, coffee grounds or white vinegar will go a long way in keeping those bothering pests at bay.

4. Water Efficiently - Container plants might dry out quickly, so watering them frequently is one of the key steps. You can also try using self-watering containers or try installing a drip irrigation system to maintain constant moisture levels.

5. Staying Patient - Gardening requires patience and obviously you have heard about “Practice makes perfect.” Sure not everything will grow perfectly just the first time but believe in yourself. Keep up your daily progress and really enjoy the process!

5 Urban Garden Ideas to Help You Build a Beautiful, Pinterest-like Garden

Here are some ideas to help your urban garden look both functional and visually enchanting:-

1. Vertical Garden - Add wall-mounted planters, trellises or pocket planters to create vertical gardens. This has two benefits – a) saves space b) produces a lush, green wall effect.

2. Garden Furnishings - Include a cozy seating area with stylish, aesthetic garden furniture. A small tea table and some chairs will definitely transform your garden into an inviting, warm outdoor living space

3. Lanterns and Fairy Lights - String fairy lights or place lanterns around your garden to create a magical, ethereal ambiance, especially in the evening. Also, these are cost-effective.

4. Water Features – You can include a small-scale water feature like a fountain or a birdbath. The sound of trickling water will be calming to the soul and will add a sense of tranquility.

5. Themed Gardens - Design your garden around a particular theme, for instance, a Mediterranean garden along with terracotta pots and herbs, or a Zen garden with bamboo, moss, stones, cherry trees, healing plants, etc.

Eco Houses - What are Eco Houses, How it Bandages Nature and Everything Else about Them You Probably Want to Know

After reading this article, you’ve learnt everything you really need to know about urban gardening. City gardening which is also a way of eco friendly gardening is a holy thing to do, so why not get creative a bit more and have an eco friendly house aka an eco house, that will not only keep you healthy but Our Only Home, Earth too! So here’s everything you want to know about eco houses:-

• What are eco houses? - Eco houses are eco friendly homes that are designed to minimize energy utilization, diminish carbon footprint, and magnify sustainability. They introduce usage of renewable energy resources, structured insulation, sustainable materials, and water-saving mechanisms to create a healthier living environment and assist in achieving sustainable development goals all around the globe.

• How Eco Houses Save Nature? - Eco houses help rescue nature by reducing energy exhaustion, utilizing renewable sources, shrinking waste production, and reducing carbon emissions, encouraging sustainability, and saving water through efficient systems and sustainable substances.

• How You Can Restyle Your Own Home Into An Eco House - To restyle your own home into an eco house, enhance insulation, insert energy-efficient windows, and use LED lighting. Install solar panels, a rainwater harvesting apparatus, and energy-efficient gadgets. Select sustainable items for renovations, practice composting, and lessen water usage with low-flow fixtures. Try to opt for eco-friendly heating and cooling systems.

Takeaway

Terri Swearingen, an environmentalist, who was awarded Goldman Environmental Prize in 1997, once said “We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to.” This clearly evokes a feeling of fear of losing Earth as well as love for earth and an urge to save it, because we really don’t have anywhere else to go in this universe. Henceforth, to protect Earth, we must embrace sustainability and urban gardening as they offer logical solutions to environmental challenges, strengthening community and improving local ecosystems. By bandaging our bleeding nature with sustainable development goals and by exercising urban gardening, we can promote healthier lifestyles and more resilient cities and build a better, happier future for all of us and for our sweet home and sanctuary, Earth!