How to set up an urban farm with limited home spaces

City dwellers are often removed from the agricultural process that brings food to their tables. But thanks to technology, there's a growing trend of urban farming that is making it possible for people to grow their own food right in their own backyards or balconies.

Professor Vernie Compas signs a copy of his book

Recently, Professor Vern Compas, with support from Bank of China Manila, launched his book entitled “Crafting an Innovative Urban Garden” at the Ascott in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The book looks at how city dwellers can now realize small-scale home-based farming technology to produce vegetables right in their own home and small yards.

Known as “Mr. Organic” among his partner farmers and organic farming advocates, Compas has been advocating organic and urban farming, healthy food, food security, and the environment including population and development for already a decade.

Deng Jun, Country Head of Bank of China Manila, and Professor Vernie Compas advocate for urban farming and sustainable development in the Philippines.

As an advocate of development, Compas envisions raising the interest of Filipinos living in an urban setting to become self-sufficient and generate healthy food and income through urban farming technology.

In his book, Compas gives out the following tips for those who want to set up their own urban garden even with limited spaces:

1.     Choose an indoor or outdoor space. For the outdoor garden, choose areas where the morning sunlight can reach your plants. If not, a net can be used to provide shade to minimize heat and moisture. For an indoor garden, it is best to support it with full light spectrum grow lights. These grow lights contain colors that help indoor plants produce chlorophyll and support their germination and growth development.

 

2.     Choose the type of urban farming setup. There are different kinds of urban farming setups based on the available spaces and resources. A hydroponics setup using the Kratky method or Nutrient Film Technique can support planting lettuce in a vertical design. There is also container gardening using recycled bottles, containers, and jars. No matter the gardening model or the plants to be produced, it can all be done with the right technology and skills, available resources, and the commitment of the urban farmer.

 

3.     Proper Watering System. Now, every plant needs water to grow and produce the right yield or harvest. In the case of urban farming, whether soil-based farming or water-system farming, the amount of water should be based on the needs of the plants. In the case of lettuce production through a hydroponics system, much water is required based on the method and technique used. But in soil-based lettuce urban farming production, the drip system makes sure that the soil has enough moisture. There are also available soil-testers, moisture- testers, and water-testers in the market for use in determining the level of moisture, acidity, and alkalinity of the desired growing medium.

 

4.     Proper Fertilization System. Each plant needs fertilization to ensure better growth development, color, and higher yield. However, the use of synthetic fertilizers or synthetic nutrient solutions is not recommended. The author recommends that the urban farmer use an organic nutrient solution as they are also available in the market. Compas highly recommends that the urban farmer learn how to produce their own concoctions from their kitchen waste. The urban farmer can produce Fish Amino Acids (FAA) from fish intestines or bones, Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ), or Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) right from their kitchen waste.

 

5.     Effective Pest Management System. As described in the fertilization section, the use of organic nutrients solution has an ingredient that protects the plants from insects, fungus, and diseases. Compas warns against the use of chemical-based pesticides or insecticides as they can contaminate the plant, soil, water, and the air. They can also be harmful to the gardener and the community as a whole.

For Bank of China, supporting Compas is part of its larger mission of embedding Environmental, Social, and Governance initiatives into its activities. According to Deng Jun, Country Head at Bank of China Manila, this is because sustainability is a core long-term strategy at Bank of China. “The Group continues to integrate sustainable development into its overall business development strategy and daily business operations, promoting sustainable development through various innovative transformation and digitalization, green operation initiatives, sustainable finance, and green financial products and services,” he said.

“This book should not be an end in itself,” shared Compas. “The hope is that more people integrate urban farming within their local communities. Together, we can build greener communities and help address the issue of food scarcity.”

“I am very thankful to Bank of China for supporting this advocacy,” said Compas. “I hope that this book inspires others to integrate urban farming within their local communities so that we can create greener communities in the cities of the Philippines.”

 

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About Bank of China

Founded in 1912, Bank of China is China’s most international and diversified bank with operations in over 60 countries and regions around the world where it provides a comprehensive range of financial services to customers. In the Philippines since 2002, Bank of China continues to pursue its mission of bridging Chinese and Philippine trade and investments through corporate banking, personal banking, and financial markets services, facilitating more Chinese investments in key sectors of the fast-growing Philippine economy, and investing in a Renminbi (RMB) transfer system to encourage the settlement of payments in RMB.

Bank of China Manila is the official RMB Clearing Bank in the Philippines.