Posts by Tara Hammonds
Return to the Guide to Urban Farming Table of Contents>> Registering Your Business Name It is recommended, but not required, that you protect your business name by registering it with your county clerk. This typically involves a fee of $25-$50 and helps prove the existence of your business in addition to preventing other business in…
Read MoreBack to the Guide to Urban Farming Table of Contents>> What is a Business Plan? A business plan is a document that summarizes the operational and financial objectives of a business and contains the detailed plans and budgets showing how the objectives are to be realized. Developing a business plan is essential to begin to…
Read MoreBack to the Guide to Urban Farming Table of Contents>> Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. Hydroponics requires expensive nutrients to feed the plants, and also requires periodic flushing of the systems which can lead to waste disposal issues. Re-circulating aquaculture needs to have excess nutrients removed from the system, normally this means that a percentage of the water is removed. This nutrient rich…
Read MoreBack to the Guide to Urban Farming Table of Contents>> Bees are considered an indicator of environmental health. Honey bee populations in the last decade have severely declined, partly due to a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). This phenomenon is due to a hive’s inability to sustain itself after a sudden loss in…
Read MoreBack to the Guide to Urban Farming Table of Contents>> City Ordinances Municipalities might outright prohibit the keeping of chickens and other poultry, prohibit the keeping of roosters, limit the number of birds that can be kept, or require permits or licenses to keep poultry. City ordinances might also regulate the building and management of…
Read MoreBack to the Guide to Urban Farming Table of Contents>> Livestock in Urban Environments Urban farmers interested in raising livestock face challenges unique to their city environments. Space limitations restrict the number and type of livestock that can be kept. Close proximity to neighbors requires that farmers take care not to create nuisance conditions, such…
Read MoreBack to the Guide to Urban Farming Table of Contents>> Tools and Equipment In New York City, the GrowNYC Grow Truck tool loan program traverses all five boroughs and loans out both common and specialized garden tools, as well as other garden supplies. More information and an application to borrow tools are available online at…
Read MoreBack to the Guide to Urban Farming Table of Contents>> Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting Rainwater harvesting in urban environments not only saves money on the water bill for urban farmers, but also has a positive environmental impact. Many US cities have a Combined Sewage Overflow system, which means that rainwater and sewage water use the…
Read MoreBack to the Guide to Urban Farming Table of Contents>> Fencing Fencing can be an effective way to keep intruders and animal pests from entering an urban farm, but fence height and material should be considered carefully. Each fence style sends a certain message. Tall, chain-link fences provide a lot of security, but can be…
Read MoreBack to the Guide to Urban Farming Table of Contents>> Dealing with Theft and Vandalism Urban farms are often highly visible and accessible, and as such are vulnerable to theft, vandalism, and other destructive human activity. Successful urban farms and farming organizations, such as the Food Project in Boston, MA, suggest the following tips for…
Read More
