No time, no space

It has been really fun to talk with people about my urban farm. Friends and neighbors have had a ton of interesting questions and ideas, and they have all been super supportive of my small patch of country in the middle of town (hopefully they don't think about The Settlers commercial when they think of me!).

No, thanks

Several people have expressed an interest in starting a garden, but there are obstacles standing in the way between some of these friends and fresh fruits and veggies:

• lack of yard space for a garden
• fear of soil contamination in urban areas
• lack of time for all that weeding while working a full time job and/or parenting

What are some options for getting local produce?

Community gardens-- find one, get on the list. In some areas (like Madison) community gardens are plentiful. It may take a little digging around, however, since some gardens can have waiting lists while others will have open plots this summer (my current community garden has available space). Also, some apartment communities have plots for their tenants. If you don't have any local gardens or they are full, a good option for the go-getter is to create a new community garden. Churches or schools are good places to start. Another option is renting from a land owner. I noticed recently that a farm close to our local dog park rents small garden plots. A free option is borrowing land from a neighbor or friend-- you could propose to plant and work the gardens together or you could do all the work and share part of your harvest as a thank you for the space.

My community's garden, Bock Garden

Raised beds, hoop houses, greenhouses-- if you're concerned about your soil, a soil test (such as this one that tests for lead) can help you find out if you have soil contamination. Raised beds can be used to avoid the city soil all together, and you can even set them on concrete if you don't have a yard.

Photo from nonabrooklyn.com

Another option is building raised beds inside a greenhouse or hoop house. Hoop houses can be inexpensive to build, and these "indoor" options will extend your growing season, which is especially important in locations with short summers (this blog is a great example of growing under cover).

A cool hoop house with raised beds from the blog Greenhouse to Table

CSA option-- if time is an issue, you can do small, easy things like growing herbs or microgreens in your windowsill and, of course, frequenting your local farmer's market. But the way to get a full summer's worth of garden goodness at a fair price is to join a local CSA (community supported agriculture). CSAs offer a subscription service with one price for a season's worth of vegetables, and sometimes fruits, eggs, honey, or meat. The produce is local, sustainable, often organic, and you are supporting a local farmer. In some cases you can get CSA discounts through health insurance or your workplace.

Have fun planning out how to grow, buy, and eat all your summer veggies!