Urban farming often occurs in small spaces and is otherwise constrained by the limited availability of land. As such, many urban farmers adopt intensive growing techniques to maximize productivity. This fact sheet breaks down the different approaches to intensive growing systems and provides resources to further support their implementation on urban farms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Intensive growing techniques include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More information on intensive growing techniques is available in the GreenThumb Gardener\u2019s Handbook<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n SPIN Farming<\/a> is an intensive growing system that promotes high-productivity techniques and focuses on small farmer profitability, claiming that it is possible for SPIN farmers to gross $50,000 per year on just half an acre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Urban farmers growing in raised beds might consider Square Foot Gardening<\/a>, a raised bed growing system that involves planting in grids to maximize space use and productivity. For more information, visit the Square Foot Gardening Foundation\u2019s website, or see Mel Bartholomew\u2019s All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space<\/em> (Cool Springs Press, 2006).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several organizations, such as East New York Farms!<\/a>, offer occasional workshops in intensive growing techniques and related concepts such as trellising. See Appendix A for organization information and check event calendars and postings. Sustainable Market Farming: Intensive Vegetable Production on a Few Acres<\/em><\/a> by Pam Dawling (New Society Publishers, 2013) is a detailed manual of small-scale organic crop production that includes information on intensive growing techniques, as well as season extension, profitable enterprise business skills, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSmall-Plot Intensive (SPIN) Farming <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Square-Foot Gardening<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Other Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n