When we think of agriculture, the first image
that comes to our minds is the large fields outside of cities with tractors,
farm animals and a wooden barn. We are certainly influenced by television and
films, many people have not been near agricultural or livestock areas and do
not even know how their food grow in nature. Interactive farms begin to appear
in the cities as amusement parks to familiarize children with this primary
activities, as playful museums of prehistory and ancient paints.
Our image of the city is not related to the
fields for planting. We have bad-learned that the city should be synonymous of
development, roads, vehicles and buildings made by man, despising the nature
and altering it to suit our needs, reducing the pristine beaches to make luxury
resorts that are increasingly more similar to each other, regardless of whether
they are in Los Cabos, Miami or Timbuktu, as we daily reduce daily the agricultural
and pastoral areas. From 2007 to 2011, according to the information displayed
by INEGI, Mexico missed over a million hectares of planting and only uses for
harvesting the 11% of its almost 2 million square kilometers of land area.
And while reducing our crops, concern for
improving our food grows at par. It is increasingly common to hear about
transgenic seeds, chemical herbicides with cancer particles and animals fed
with synthetic hormones to accelerate their growth, activities at the hands of
companies that have been damaged by decades not only our health but the
environment and have endanger the economy of small producers and whole communities.
As a response to this reality, national and international organizations have
made their way to generate nearby alternatives to the population as the
implementation of organic markets, fair trade and solidarity economy.
Have you heard about urban agriculture? Inside
the house we have the opportunity to plant products that we use for our daily
consumption, the type of food will depend on both the size that we have as the
time we want to invest every day. With a small pot or reused tires, we can
generate growing areas for spices and herbs such as rosemary, eucalyptus, mint,
celery, cilantro or basil; they require very little maintenance and besides
being very useful when cooking, they will improve the view of our houses and
naturally turn away some recurring pests.
If the idea to plant herbs is not enough, we
can beans, alfalfa, lentils, lettuce, radishes, beets, carrots, potatoes,
tomatoes, corn, pumpkin and different species of chiles, to name just a few of the most common plants, using crates
in our backyards. You have to be prepared to devote a little more time and
especially to be open to learning the techniques that will help you to keep them
healthy using much of the waste generated at home; We can improve the land
through compost without spending money in nutrients and to make homemade
insecticides that will keep away the bugs not only for your crops but for your
family.
Fruits certainly require more space and time,
but if you're willing to do so, this is an activity that you will enjoy pretty
much. It is not necessary to have a large garden, some fruit species can live
perfectly in a medium pot if they have the care, light and water needed. Citrus
fruits like lemon, orange and guava are very noble plants; it is important to
consider the climate in which they will be planted and preferably choose
endemic species; the more easily adapt to the environment, they will grow
faster and soon you begin to enjoy them. Apple, grape and Granada are some
medium sized options as peach, plum and loquat are large size ones; to enjoy
your harvest, it is not necessary to plant many trees of the same species but
to achieve an appropriate range.
The creation of green roofs related to urban
agriculture is increasingly common, so not only will considerably increase the green
surface of your city but improve internal microclimate of your home, generate
more recreation areas and have healthy and nutritious food for you and your
family. More than 800 million people are engaged in activities related to urban
agriculture in the world according to UN data, which will eventually help to
improve food distribution, reduce hunger and increase life expectancy.
Do you want to know more about this theme and
start your garden at home? Leave your details in the contact form and receive
soon a manual of urban agriculture in your mailbox, the easiest way to start
your harvest.
JPV
Sources
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario