By Cindy Naas

If growing a few kinds of tomatoes, a couple of pepper plants and maybe herbs has inspired you to want to be involved in a larger farm, why not consider CSA, or community-supported agriculture?

It’s a great way for city dwellers to experience farm life and support farmers, too.

CSA is a way of spreading the risk of farming amongst a group of people, and of sharing the produce of the farm as well.

Members subscribe to each growing season, paying a set fee for a share of each week’s produce. In a good year, a subscriber might get several bags of fruit and veggies, but Read the rest of this entry »

By Reggie Solomon

At Urban Garden Casual, the desire to live green extends beyond our backyard, windowsill and container gardens.

Greener and more sustainable living is something we strive for everyday.

However, deciding to move towards greener and more sustainable living so we minimize our carbon footprint and environmental impact isn’t something big we decide all at once – it’s the sum of many small decisions we make every day.

This is why we are pleased highlight 1Green Product which offers news and reviews on some of  the best green products you can buy – today.   Whether it’s choosing a dishwashing detergent or choosing a hotel to lay your head,  integrating eco-friendly products and service options into our everyday decision-making gives us the opportunity to move towards creating a cleaner environment today to bequeath to future generations.

Of special interest to our casual urban gardening crew, 1Green Product is running a sweepstakes that’s free to enter and ends on August 28 where winners have a chance to win a stylish totebag from Act2GreenSmart made from recycled water and soda bottles that might otherwise Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

As gas prices soar, raising the cost of food along the way, a new breed of enthusiasts has been born.

Dubbed ‘localvores,” these people strive to only eat food that has been grown or produced locally.

Where can you get local food?

Obviously, the first place you could try is your own backyard or patio. If you have the space, this is the absolute best way! You know exactly how your produce was grown.

If you don’t have the space, try your local farmers’ markets and stands. You could also try a CSA – a Community Supported Agriculture organization.

I belong to a food co-op. Once a month, I place an order for shares of food. For example, I can pay $23 and get 4 different kinds of Read the rest of this entry »

By Michael Nolan

In the densely populated Cavite, Philippines, a developer is challenging traditional thinking when it comes to food.

Ciudad Nuevo, a project of First Advance Development Corp., is a 327-hectare housing project that encourages and promotes organic vegetable farming in the hopes of building sustainable communities.

Twenty mothers in Ciudad Nuevo have not only been given the tools to take on such a project but also been trained to do so. Previous projects of a similar nature by the same developer have failed, but with the added benefit of crucial training, these families are well on their way to success.

The residents are taught not only about how to cultivate and plant, but also how to compost and care for their plants. In a short span of time they have realized Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

Hopefully the thought of worms under your sink doesn’t make you cringe.

One of the easiest ways for an urban gardener to compost is with a worm compost bin under the kitchen sink.

It can also be kept in the basement or cellar. Since it is indoors, worm compost can be made at any time of the year, regardless of cold and snow outside. The optimum temperature is 72 degrees Fahrenheit, but it can still work down to about 40 degrees if necessary.

Worm composting – properly known as vermiculture – is a way you can get compost faster than traditional composting. You can use regular earthworms and redworms, though Read the rest of this entry »