urbs:small-space_gardening

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urbs:small-space_gardening [2025/12/05 10:43] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1urbs:small-space_gardening [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Urban / small-space gardening+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Urban / small-space gardening ======
  
  
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-## What is small-space gardening?+===== What is small-space gardening? =====
  
 The vast majority of us have limited space in which to grow things, but this isn’t necessarily the huge disadvantage to increasing self-reliance that it might seem. All gardening is about the accumulation of resources into a relatively fertile and intensively-managed area; with small-space gardening we make the most we can of the area in which we garden, and we find that working on a manageable scale can make our systems highly productive and rewarding, as well as positive for our immediate environment. The vast majority of us have limited space in which to grow things, but this isn’t necessarily the huge disadvantage to increasing self-reliance that it might seem. All gardening is about the accumulation of resources into a relatively fertile and intensively-managed area; with small-space gardening we make the most we can of the area in which we garden, and we find that working on a manageable scale can make our systems highly productive and rewarding, as well as positive for our immediate environment.
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 ![urban1](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban1.jpg "Small-space gardening in action using a tiny section of lawn and its border") ![urban1](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban1.jpg "Small-space gardening in action using a tiny section of lawn and its border")
 <caption> <caption>
- In front of the nasturtiums and blackcurrants in the border, a tiny piece of lawn has been turned into a veg plot with lettuce, spinach and brassicas.+ _In front of the nasturtiums and blackcurrants in the border, a tiny piece of lawn has been turned into a veg plot with lettuce, spinach and brassicas._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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 ![Sage and thyme in a pot in the foreground, and in the background - chives, parsley, broccoli, chard, kale, lettuce, rosemary, orach and an apple tree - all in a tiny, gravelled front garden. In monetary terms alone, it's really worth it. ](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban2.jpg "A small gravelled front garden is great for small-space gardening in containers") ![Sage and thyme in a pot in the foreground, and in the background - chives, parsley, broccoli, chard, kale, lettuce, rosemary, orach and an apple tree - all in a tiny, gravelled front garden. In monetary terms alone, it's really worth it. ](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban2.jpg "A small gravelled front garden is great for small-space gardening in containers")
 <caption> <caption>
- Sage and thyme in the foreground, and in the background, chives, parsley, broccoli, chard, kale, lettuce, rosemary, orach and an apple tree - all in containers in a tiny, gravelled front garden. In monetary terms alone, it's really worth it.+ _Sage and thyme in the foreground, and in the background, chives, parsley, broccoli, chard, kale, lettuce, rosemary, orach and an apple tree - all in containers in a tiny, gravelled front garden. In monetary terms alone, it's really worth it._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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 ![urban4](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban3.jpg "Small-space gardening - say goodbye to concrete slabs and hello to strawberries!") ![urban4](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban3.jpg "Small-space gardening - say goodbye to concrete slabs and hello to strawberries!")
 <caption> <caption>
- Another typical front garden - above with the almost ubiquitous concrete slabs, and below with the slabs removed and after planting an apple tree, gooseberries, blackcurrants and strawberries.+ _Another typical front garden - above with the almost ubiquitous concrete slabs, and below with the slabs removed and after planting an apple tree, gooseberries, blackcurrants and strawberries._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-Small and urban gardens present their own challenges, but often they enjoy distinct advantages over other places to grow food. Small spaces can be managed to create excellent micro-climates for gardening: they can be sheltered and enjoy the benefits of being in urban heat islands; roofs present opportunities for rainwater harvesting, and structures can be adapted to support trellises or [mini-greenhouses](/grho/greenhouses-polytunnels).+Small and urban gardens present their own challenges, but often they enjoy distinct advantages over other places to grow food. Small spaces can be managed to create excellent micro-climates for gardening: they can be sheltered and enjoy the benefits of being in urban heat islands; roofs present opportunities for rainwater harvesting, and structures can be adapted to support trellises or [mini-greenhouses](/grho/greenhouses).
  
 <WRAP center centeralign> <WRAP center centeralign>
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 ![urban4](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban4.jpg "Small-space gardening transforms this front garden into a hive of productivity") ![urban4](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban4.jpg "Small-space gardening transforms this front garden into a hive of productivity")
 <caption> <caption>
- And if you're really keen - another front garden.+ _And if you're really keen - another front garden._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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 ![urban5](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban5.jpg "Start your small-space gardening adventure growing your seedlings indoors before planting out") ![urban5](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban5.jpg "Start your small-space gardening adventure growing your seedlings indoors before planting out")
 <caption> <caption>
- Growing seedlings indoors before planting out.+ _Growing seedlings indoors before planting out._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-## What are the benefits of small-space gardening?+===== What are the benefits of small-space gardening? =====
  
 It's hard to imagine one single change that could more dramatically transform our built environment than a massive adoption of urban food small-space gardening. The only thing stopping us realising William Morris’ vision of cities full of vegetable gardens and fruit trees is our lack of community and imagination. It's hard to imagine one single change that could more dramatically transform our built environment than a massive adoption of urban food small-space gardening. The only thing stopping us realising William Morris’ vision of cities full of vegetable gardens and fruit trees is our lack of community and imagination.
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 ![urban6](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban6.jpg "Raised beds are a great small-space gardening solution") ![urban6](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban6.jpg "Raised beds are a great small-space gardening solution")
 <caption> <caption>
- Really productive urban raised beds.+ _Really productive urban raised beds._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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 ![urban7](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban7.jpg "Small-space gardening looking pretty with recycled pots") ![urban7](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban7.jpg "Small-space gardening looking pretty with recycled pots")
 <caption> <caption>
- Used food containers allow this tiny balcony to produce lots of food, and to look really pretty.+ _Used food containers allow this tiny balcony to produce lots of food, and to look really pretty._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 Small-space gardening can be a great place to start a gardening career. Your one nasturtium seed in an old yoghurt pot can be the experience that starts you working on much more ambitious projects. Here are some things you need to think about: Small-space gardening can be a great place to start a gardening career. Your one nasturtium seed in an old yoghurt pot can be the experience that starts you working on much more ambitious projects. Here are some things you need to think about:
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 !["Small-space gardening taken to new heights"](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban8.jpg) !["Small-space gardening taken to new heights"](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban8.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
-A vertical garden that has no horizontal footprint at all.+_A vertical garden that has no horizontal footprint at all._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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 ![urban9](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban9.jpg "Potted herbs are a long-standing favourite for small-space gardening") ![urban9](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban9.jpg "Potted herbs are a long-standing favourite for small-space gardening")
 <caption> <caption>
- Herbs in pots just outside the back door, close to the kitchen.+ _Herbs in pots just outside the back door, close to the kitchen._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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 !["Don't forget the windowsill - bringing small-space gardening indoors!"](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban10.jpg) !["Don't forget the windowsill - bringing small-space gardening indoors!"](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/urban10.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
- ...and even closer - on the kitchen windowsill.+ _...and even closer - on the kitchen windowsill._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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-## Further resources+===== Forum =====
  
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening).
  
 +===== Further resources =====
  
-## Specialist(s)+- [Gardening in small spaces](https://vegsoc.org/blog/gardening-in-small-spaces/?gad_campaignid=23061632320) 
 +- [Mother Earth News](https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/small-space-vegetable-garden-zmaz74zhol/#axzz2wFKEr3t1) - grow a small-space vegetable garden 
 +- [Permaculture for urban homes and small spaces](https://theselightfootsteps.com/2014/01/10/permaculture-for-urban-homes-and-small-spaces/) 
 +- [Alaska Grow Buckets](https://www.alaskagrowbuckets.com/alaska-grow-bucket-guide/) - free guide to setting up an automatic watering container gardening system 
 +- [Balcony Container Gardening](http://www.balconycontainergardening.com/) - tons of information about growing crops in containers on your balcony 
 +- [How to grow vegetables in containers](https://www.bhg.com/gardening/vegetable/vegetables/growing-vegetables-in-containers/) 
 +- [RHS](https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/containers) - vegetables in containers 
 +- [Self-watering container gardening](https://www.urbanorganicgardener.com/container-gardening/) 
 +- [Square Foot Gardening Foundation](https://squarefootgardening.org/) 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [[spro:Sprouting|Sprouting & microgreens]] 
 +- [[hydp:Hydroponics]] 
 +- [[cpst:Composting]] 
 +- [[grho:Greenhouses|Greenhouses & polytunnels]] 
 +- [[mush:Mushroom cultivation]] 
 +- [[vegg:Vegetable growing]] 
 +- [[verm:Vermiculture|Vermiculture (worms)]] 
 +- [[soft:Soft fruit]] 
 +- [[herb:Herbs]] 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
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  • Last modified: 2025/12/05 10:43
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