Sky gardening or vertical farming is a new agricultural scenario enabling farmers to farm deeper instead of spreading out over more land. It is sometimes referred to as urban gardening, since it favors urban environment with little space on the ground but a lot of it vertically. It helps farmers to appreciate the benefits of valuing more the depth of land fertility than the size of land holdings. It therefore concentrates on more intensive than extensive farming.
A great benefit of vertical farming is the maximum utilization of the little land available in urban areas. Many high raises are developed where many levels of different crops are grown. The plan highlighted here focuses on farming of strawberry and tomato. An additional important aspect of this type of farming in that it is also essential for teaching purposes, whether for healthy cooking, amongst other aspects. Various aspects of the plan have been discussed as follows:
Problem and Opportunity
There has been a major challenge around the globe with continually shrinking amount of arable land as compared to the rising global population and with it the demand for food. This may sound a warning of a serious problem in the coming days if some concrete measures are not undertaken. In addition, the modern agriculture, with green revolution has resulted to increasing demand for water. There is also a lot of pollution going hand in hand with current agricultural practices especially on its reliability on irrigation. It calls for review on the manner we would continue growing food in the future.
A great opportunity of handling the rising dangers presents itself with growing food vertically in enclosed domes that are self-contained. These have a great potential to absorb carbon dioxide and generate valuable carbon credits. It would go a long way into producing highly nutritional and mineral-rich vegetables and fruits aeroponically. It is estimated about twenty times potential increase in produce can be realized from an acre of land using this method as compared with traditional methods (Blackman, 2012). The greenhouse facilities can be located anywhere since there is no need of soil. Therefore, the organization focuses on producing healthier, tastier, and more disease resistant vegetables and fruits, as well as teaching people how to cook in a healthier manner.
Vision and Mission Statement
Mission: Attain a society that appreciates advanced sky farming to promote self-grown organic vegetable and fruits, as a major achievement in living healthier at cost-effective terms while creating opportunities for the urbane mostly youth population.
Vision: We sensitize the populace on making more use of healthier, fresher and more nutritious food, and learn a lot on healthier cooking.
Products Description and Features
There are several features that differentiate our products from competitors. These include the fact that the products are grown in-house, and near the customers. This is an advantage in that it is supplied to them while still fresh. In addition, the social factor of participating in development of the society is enhanced through engaging the youths in urban centers. This is unlike the major competitors who deal with whole food that may need a lot of transportation and processing.
The product range dealt with includes tomato and strawberry. An important aspect emphasized is retaining the great quality of tomatoes and strawberries, and how to make healthier use of the products.
Contact Information
Located in the South Bronx, we choose to get established in the neighborhood of Mott Haven, identified as an area suffering from low levels of sensitization and shortage of supermarkets.
Marketing and Competitive Analysis
The whole foods are the major competitors in the market. Our products remain on the top of the competition considering that they are in-house, and near the customers, and thus supplied to them while still fresh. In addition, development of the society is enhanced through engaging the youths in urban centers. This is unlike the major competitors who deal with whole food, more expensive and not quite fresh.
Customer Benefits
There is a great reduction of the need to transport produce for longer distances since the greenhouse facilities can be located in the urban areas near majority of consumers. Therefore, consumers benefit a lot with reduced prices.
Another advantage includes reduced use of petroleum products in the production process. These include fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, amongst others. In organic gardening, it is possible to grow vegetables and fruits that are healthier, more disease resistant, and tastier.
In vertical farming, the farmer brings together technology, economy, environment and society. The mush-needed jobs in urban areas are provided, while also creating a sustainable environment in urban areas through use of byproducts that would rather have been pollutants. The technique also contributes a lot in reducing carbon footprints and pollution of drinking water by pesticides and other chemicals.
The facility would also be of great use as a learning center to teach people on healthy cooking. It involves meal preparation, while it could also be used for students of nutrition, science, and farming in learning institutions.
Conclusion
The effort of this project has been dedicated to use the advanced sky gardening technology to promote health by providing a local supply of organic high quality foods. This is a favorable urbane method of farming considering the lesser space required, and the opportunities provided to youths through employment.
References
Blackman, Matt. “Vertical Aeroponic Farming: Healthy Food Near You.” Planet Forward, 2012. Print. Web.