Expand-o-matic

As the summer winds down, I have been thinking about the future of the urban farm. My goal for next year is to produce enough vegetables to both feed my family and sell some at a local farmer's market.

I need more space!

I have a couple of options, in addition to the new raised beds I'm going to add next year...

1) Use land in other people's backyards. This would be the ideal way for me to keep my urban farm truly urban, while also putting someone's abandoned garden to good use or transforming lawn into something productive. Additionally, people who may want a vegetable garden-- but don't want to take care of one-- can enjoy the look of a garden along with eating fresh veggies grown right at home.

It might look something like this: I plant four plots in your back yard. You provide the chemical-free land and water and I do all the planting and maintenance. Two plots I harvest for me and two plots I harvest for you. (If you're interested in this option, please let me know!)

2) Rent or buy land. Buying an acreage is something we have been thinking about as a back-up plan. For now we could use the land for planting veggies and fruits and eventually build a house. I like living in the city, however, so this is an issue to overcome. Another option is renting land (an acre or less) and using it as my urban farm extension.


This week at the urban farm:

As I remove plants from the beds, some of them go to the chickens. In this photo they are enjoying a green bean plant. Most of the late pods I kept for next year's seed, but they got to enjoy eating these extra plants.

For the beds that are finished for the year I am using winter rye as a cover crop. This keeps the soil in place during the fall rains and adds organic material. It also suppresses weeds and just looks nice and lush!

Fall carrots are coming along.

Spinach and lettuce should grow well into the fall. I am planning to get some into the cold frame and see how far into the winter we can have salads.

Urban Farm Field Trip

I am so lucky to live in an area that has urban farms to provide inspiration to us newbies. Last week a local organization that promotes CSAs, Fair Share CSA Coalition, held a tour of one of the best around: Urban Homestead & Solar Electric Open House. Much thanks to our hosts, Claire Strader and Sarah Shatz!

It is always very inspiring to see what other people with similar ideas are doing, what they are testing out, and how their farm has been incorporated into the greater community. This tour also provided us the opportunity to check out solar buying options.


An urban farm in photos

The most interesting part of this urban farm is that the row crops are all grown in the front yard! Because the plots are kept neat and tidy, the neighbors don't seem to mind. How well would this go over in your neighborhood?

The other side of the front yard gardens.

Although they don't raise chickens, they do keep bees and enjoy delicious honey!

Tomato plants (it's nice to see that these urban farmers also use the stake method).

Solar prices and break-even points are coming down. This is a technology that may now be worth buying into.

This week at Two Wheels Urban Farm

Lots of raspberries and beets, the first squash harvests (and feasts!), and picking, canning, and eating all the green beans we can handle!

The new pressure cooker is fantastic! The canning options are now endless.