URBAN

GARDENS
Sustainable Gardens in Metropolitan Areas
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Impact on Economic and
Population Environmental Impacts
01 How Urban Gardens Effect
the Population
02 How Urban Gardens Impact
the Economy and
Environment

Effects on Physical Creation of Livable

Environment Communities
03 Urban Gardens Effects on
Natural Features and
04 How Urban Gardens Lead to
more Livable Communities
Systems
 What is
Urban Gardening
Urban gardening is the cultivation of crops, mainly food, flower beds, and other
flora found within a garden, inside or around a particular urban area. As the
world is getting more urbanized and urban sprawl is becoming more of a
concern. According to the ICI Radio-Canada, the rate of urban sprawl in Canada
is up by 34 percent and 1,700 square kilometres have been added to the nine
central metropolitan areas (CMAs) of Canada. Urban gardens are a way for us
to cultivate and distribute food inside urban areas. These urban gardens are
useful as they are sustainable and can contribute to climate mitigation. Urban
gardens have various forms, as the way they are created is dependent on a
region's natural factors such as land space. Urban gardening is a broad term that
is used, but underneath many kinds of farming techniques can be found such as
vertical farming, indoor farming, hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics.
Urban Gardening is a sustainable way for major cities to grow their produce
locally and supply local supermarkets with produce grown near and in the city.
01 Impact on
Population
How Urban Gardens Effect the Population
Impact on People
(Large Scale)
Urban gardens can be used in two different ways that both will provide different
impacts in the location they are being used. The first usage is when urban
gardening is used commercially. When companies want to cultivate crops, for
profit, selling the food to local supermarkets to sell to the consumer. Urban
gardens are meant to supply a central metropolitan area (CMA) with produce that
is grown nearby so that less product can be imported. Urban gardens took a rise in
popularity during the pandemic when Canada’s food system was in confusion.
This was because Canada could no longer import as much food, due to COVID-19
restrictions. This is a problem as, Canadian Geographic states that Canada imports
$6.37 billion in fruit and $3.9 billion in vegetables, the majority coming from the
USA and China. Now to feed the large population of CMAs, urban farms were
used to cultivate the crops, because that way produce would still be accessible to
the population. In Montreal, a company Lufa farms began greenhouse urban
farming, to increase the local production of their food. Lufa’s urban farms contain
hydroponic systems which create zero water waste and grow plants in their water
enriched with a nutrient solution. Because this urban farm’s conditions are
controlled and manipulated, crops are grown year-round, decreasing the import.
 Vertical Farming
Vertical Farming is the most common form of urban gardening used by
companies to cultivate the highest number of crops and provide them to
supermarkets to sell. Vertical gardens are a branch of urban gardens that are
used for the same purpose as urban gardens, to integrate the cultivation of
crops within an urban community, to allow for climate mitigation, and less
transportation required to bring the produce to the consumer. Vertical gardens,
allow for plant beds to be stacked on one another, filling up volume instead of
area, unlike a typical farm. These vertical gardens often have hydroponics
implemented within them, so when vertical gardening is done at a large scale
within urban centres, they grow throughout the year. Vertical gardens tend to
be used in a large-scale environment to output the most produce possible for
the consumer. This making vertical gardens an industry for the cultivation of
plants.
 Impact on People (Small Scale)
Urban gardening also can be done at a smaller scale, where individuals are just growing food for
themselves. This can also be applied to small local business owners who are growing food locally.
 Impacts on People Continued

Social Economic Environmental Political

Having our produce grown at a large scale close to urban

areas provides social, environmental, economic, and
political, all stemming from the idea of imports being
decreased.
 Social
Having food grown near an urban centre will allow the community to be more
involved in the creation of their food. Along with that food gardening is a
soothing activity that can act as a stress reliever to individuals, it automatically
adds a connection to nature as you are more surrounded and are taking care of a
garden. In a larger space, an urban garden can be used for recreational purposes
and educational activities, allowing children to have a greater relationship with
nature. These educational activities can also be a great moment to create a
connection with the entire community. According to Peel Region, “Families
who participate in community gardening typically offset 30 to 40 per cent of
their fresh produce needs.” This tells us that urban gardens increase the health
of individuals in the community and that individuals will be improving their
lives by eating more fresh produce. Recreational activities can help to
strengthen the community and bring a sense of nature to the population for
people to enjoy. This also generates a higher opinion of the location and can
make it more appealing for migration to a certain area. Urban gardens
positively impact the lives of people and make them better.
 Urbans Gardens Placement
Urban gardens as you just read allow individuals to increase
their intake of vegetables. Vegetables are important to
consume as they provide many necessary nutrients that the
body needs. It would be important to build and use indoor
vertical gardens, to provide communities that do not have
the natural conditions to cultivate vegetables. An example
would be northern communities, because these communities
stay cold throughout the year, and thus do not have the soil
requirements to grow vegetables. Providing these
communities with indoor urban gardens will allow them to
get access to vegetables, improving their health, and
allowing them to enhance their quality of life.
 Political
With urban gardens being used, cities and CMAs would no longer have to be
reliant on imports from other countries. This reliance can be bad for two reasons if
a pandemic were to occur again, then the import of produce would be restricted,
and if relations with the country decrease, the same would happen again.
Communities, especially CMAs are no longer heavily reliant on external imports
from different countries, and food can be grown locally, near the CMA providing
the reassurance factor, so our country no longer is as reliant on import trade for
food. This reassurance factor is important, as people’s lives would be affected in a
positive way as most of their food is grown locally, so they don’t have to worry.
Also, this reassurance factor allows the population to see how the product is made,
leading to an increase in health, which improves the quality of life. The population
growth would also then be positive due to the quality of life increasing because of
urban gardens.
 Economic
Urban gardening enables the city to import less food, which creates two
beneficial outcomes. The cost of importing food decreases since food is now
being grown within or near our urban centres, making the product more local,
and not imported. Importing costs money, and by growing our produce in
urban gardens, the transportation costs for importing will be cut down, and
selling the produce from the urban garden will generate more cash flow within
a community, increasing the economy, and increasing the appeal for people to
migrate to that city. Along with that, Urban gardens also create new jobs, as
the garden needs individuals to run it, boosting the economy. This creation of
jobs will also positively impact people, within the community, and may cause
a migration to CMAs from rural areas as farmers could get jobs to help
maintain the farm, thus giving them the migration from rural to urban areas.
Even Lufa farms, partners up with hundreds of farmers, to provide them with
the chance of migration to an urban area. Since, farmers have experience with
the cultivation of crops, having them migrate to work for an urban farm would
be beneficial for the company and the farmer's life.
Environmental
Depending on the location, size, and shape of the urban garden, the
urban gardens add wildlife habitats adding biodiversity. The plants
may also be great for bees and create additional food for pollinators.
For large-scale indoor gardens, if they use herbicides, it won’t act as
runoff polluting the water bodies within the area as the pesticides are
contained within the walls of the garden. These gardens add green
infrastructure, that may aid with stormwater management, making
urban gardens contribute to water regulation, improved air circulation
and cooling of the surrounding area, creating microclimates for the
gardeners, visitors, and immediate neighbours. The air quality would
also be improved as you add more plants to that area, thus the plants
would output oxygen, increasing the quality of the air. This quality of
the environment can increase the level of migration there, and lead to
positive population growth, as more people are attracted to live in a
cleaner and healthier place.
 Economic and
02 Environmental Impacts
How Urban Gardens Impact the Economy and
Environment
 Environmental Impacts
Along with all the previous facts listed in the slideshow, urban gardens
have environmental impacts as well. These gardens when built outside,
allow for the restoration and enhancement of biodiversity within an area.
Also, the greenhouse gas emissions that would be created due to the
transport of produce, would be less, as the product can be grown on an
Urban farm near the city, so the transportation would have fewer emissions
in total. Also, because urban gardens grow plants, they automatically,
release oxygen, increasing the air quality. Also, because urban gardens that
are open, absorb rainwater, regulating stormwater in a more natural and
sustainable manner. Therefore, urban gardens provide many kinds of
positive environmental benefits, that all lead towards creating more
sustainable ecosystems, that have biodiversity and help the Earth by
protecting the nature present.
 Economic Impacts
Urban Gardens are a great resource not only for the community but also for the
economy. Urban gardens, such as vertical farming, allow companies to control and
moderate natural conditions, making the garden highly efficient in growing
produce, that can be supplied to the supermarket, increasing the product that the
consumers will buy. Along with this, these farms can produce any crop throughout
the year as all-natural conditions are controlled, inside indoor vertical farms. An
example of this is Lufa farm, which according to Canadian Geographic, grows
tomatoes year-round and sells them in Montreal. This boosts the economy in two
ways, one, you are providing products to be sold by markets, increasing the
economy within a community, and two, the crop that is imported a lot in northern
areas, will be decreased, thus the cost related to the import will also be cut, as we
can grow it year-round in indoor urban gardens. As mentioned in previous slides,
urban gardens open more local level jobs, to maintain the garden.
 Future With Urban Gardens
Urban gardens will help Canada create biodiversity within its cities.
This will help create sustainable cities. Canada fully adopting the idea of
urban gardens and spreading it to all CMA’s will provide all major areas
with positive environmental and economic impacts, this would help
Canada’s cities become self-reliant in terms of their food systems. Along
with this, each one of the CMA’s or even just cities can become
sustainable, with biodiversity. The Urban gardens can benefit these big
cities’ stormwater management and provide the city with improved
green infrastructure to help reduce the effect of climate change.
Furthermore, economic effects each city will receive boost
sustainability, as the urban gardens provide products that can be sold.
This will reduce the imports for the city, thus saving money on
transportation and emitting fewer greenhouse gases. In addition, it
provides jobs for the city, boosting local employment. Overall, adapting
urban gardens in Canada will have a positive gain.
 Challenges with Implementation
Soil Contamination Maintenance Cost

Many challenges can also be seen in implementing urban gardens in Canada, both from an economic and environmental
perspective. Environmentally speaking, the urban garden would have to be made on top of soil that is not contaminated,
but in urban areas, with all the pollution due to cars, and runoff from stormwater due to the concrete, soil in urban areas
could easily be contaminated. This leads to comprised crops. Tests of urban soil also reveal this, as the Global Citizen
states, “Tests on urban soil often reveal the presence of arsenic, lead, and heavy metals,” and when this is the cause, the
soil must be replaced or cleaned in some way. Along with that, soil contamination can occur from causes such as if the
area was previously used for commercial, residential and industrial reasons. The economic costs, all lie within the price
of the maintenance of the vertical farm or urban garden. This is because urban farms are expensive to maintain, as a lot
of water is used, especially if a system such as hydroponics is being used. Along with that, the maintenance of the LEDs
(used to imitate the sun), water systems, trays, and other infrastructure can get expensive, and that cost is what stops
urban gardens from being built everywhere.
 Effects on Physical
03 Environment
Urban Gardens Effects on Natural Features and
Systems
 Necessary Natural Features
There are various forms of urban gardening, and none require a complete set of
natural features. This is because urban gardens must rely on cities, as the location of
these gardens is what defines them. Being near an urban area would be the feature
that is most important to achieve that sustainability aspect. Apart from that, urban
gardens would need flat land so that vertical farming can be done so farms stack
upwards and urban gardens can be created. No natural features are required for this
because, the purpose of urban gardens is to adapt to the urban settings, and the
indoor vertical farms control all-natural features. However, small urban gardens, that
may be on rooftops, or balconies do require natural features like adequate sunlight,
and access to clean nutrient-rich soil to plant your crop in. Additionally, having a
warm climate is beneficial as well. In Canada, these features for an outdoor, small
urban garden can be found in the more southern parts of Canada, like Toronto. But
the large-scale, vertical farms used to mass produce crops, don’t need to have any
natural features, as the crops are indoors, where all-natural factors (humidity,
sunlight, water, etc.) are controlled to optimal conditions, based on the crop. This
garden of course must be near a city, usually, a CMA, whereas the small urban
gardens should be in more southern areas where the climate is a little warmer, like
Toronto.
 Impacted Natural Systems
Using urban gardens would be positively impacting two natural systems: the food chain and the water
cycle. The food chain is impacted because urban gardens, when used outdoors provide habitats, increasing
biodiversity in terms of flora and fauna. Furthermore, they also provide food for pollinators depending on
the crops grown. This can be very important as the Canadian food studies state that, out of 26 ecosystem
services tested, urban gardens exceeded the gardens found in park areas in terms of ecosystem value. Urban
gardens adding food for pollinators is beneficial to the ecosystem. Along with this, more producers are in
the food chain, thus not only releasing more oxygen, by sequestering the carbon dioxide from the air to
complete photosynthesis, but then there would also be more food for urban animals from the open gardens.
In other words, the biosphere, and atmosphere are impacted, as animals get habitats and become diversified,
and the atmosphere’s oxygen level increases.

The water cycle is affected due to the stormwater management that is provided by the urban garden. When
precipitation occurs, runoff occurs due to the cement or concrete in the city, thus the water takes all the
metals with it, into a storm drain, negatively affecting the lake or river quality that runoff ends up in. Urban
gardens provide more ground area for there to be soil, then precipitation doesn’t become runoff and can be
absorbed by the soil, filtering into the aquifers. Then the ground water goes into the streams, regaining the
natural sustainable way to filter stormwater. This allows urban gardens to reduce the amount of runoff that
occurs during the rain. This would impact the hydrosphere as urban gardens affect some water bodies on
Earth.
 Long Term Effects
If urban gardens were to be used at a large scale, then the overall physical
environment would be positively affected wherever they are being used. Within urban
gardens, there is an increase in the biodiversity of the area around, because you are
bringing non-native species and native species into the urban garden. This increases
the overall biodiversity of the location because now new habitats are also provided to
the animals in the area. The only problem is; invasive species can also be added to
the urban garden, that being a challenge as these species are not beneficial to the
ecosystem. But urban gardens will be helpful towards stormwater management,
proving soil so that the water can be absorbed and filtered naturally, to not become
runoff. Urban gardens can be a great location for pollination, as food for pollinators
can be grown, and this would be great for the ecosystem. Also, green infrastructure is
added with the urban garden, and this can help reduce the urban heat island effect,
caused by the physical environment we created, roads, pavements, and other
infrastructure for the urban city. The green infrastructure from the urban gardens adds
a portion to the city, where the sun’s heat is not absorbed and re-emitted to the same
level as concrete or pavement, decreasing the urban heat island effect.
 Creation of Livable
04 Communities
How Urban Gardens Lead to more Livable
Communities
 Challenges Faced By Communities
As mentioned in all the previous slides, most communities struggle with the problems of carbon
dioxide emissions, air pollution, water contamination, destruction of natural habitats, food
production harms, connectivity to nature and many more. The reason all these issues are occurring
is because of the fact, that we are making more communities urban, and with that comes, extra
cars being driven causing carbon dioxide emission, roads being constructed, the construction
causing pollution, deforestation occurring, converting forests into urban cities and nearby water
bodies, that may get contaminated by runoff. All these issues lead to communities being
unlivable, as we humans want to live in a clean environment.
As stated previously in the slideshow, urban gardens help tackle some of these issues to make
communities more livable for the people to live there. With air pollution, we will have plants
sequestering carbon dioxide, to complete photosynthesis, releasing oxygen, making the air cleaner
and more desirable to live for people. Stormwater regulation from the urban gardens (stated in the
previous slide), helps limit the runoff causing water contamination. Urban gardens create habitats
for insects, and other animals, allowing there to be more habitats. Urban gardens have techniques
such as hydroponics that can be used to cultivate crops, providing stable food production. Urban
gardens, especially ones found in the back or front yards, or the centres of communities, as
mentioned in the beginning provide a connection to nature. Urban gardens thus not only make
positive environmental impacts but also help strengthen a community, by providing a connection
to nature, all making the community more livable and desirable for people to live in.
 Difference in My Community
As mentioned before with all the social benefits, if everyone in my community uses urban
gardens, we will see many social changes. These urban gardens will provide everyone in my
community with an activity that can act as a mental stress reliever, as urban gardening is an
enjoyable activity. Along with this, my community will gain a connection to the environment and
this connection can help build a stronger community. Individuals, will be able to connect, bond
and build relationships with others in their neighbourhood, by having a similar mindset about their
connections to nature, which will connect them, increasing the relationships within the
community.
Apart from this, we will see a much bigger difference throughout South Ontario (St. Lawrence
Lowlands). This is because there are many areas in southern Ontario where having urban gardens
will provide benefits on a bigger scale. For example, Toronto has more roofs, and therefore urban
gardens can be built on those providing all the same environmental effects listed prior in the
slideshow, and the same social effects listed above. Toronto has so many roofs that according to a
CBC article, Toronto has the land and rooftop space available to produce 10 percent of the
vegetables consumed in the city. In these large areas as well, there is more space to cultivate a
larger number of crops, increasing the production that is going to be distributed to consumers.
Also, in Toronto, the community is more compact, as the population density is far greater than in
Brampton, so individuals who do take part in urban gardening will create bigger communities,
where they share a passion for gardening. Also, individuals in other parts of Southern Ontario not
only can have larger areas, but they can have the extra appreciation of the greenery as they can be
surrounded by it and have ideal conditions for urban gardening.
Future Neighbourhood with Urban Gardens
A future neighbourhood with urban gardens would contain all the positive
impacts discussed throughout the presentation. We would see a neighbourhood,
that is sustainable, having an even land usage, for gardens and residential,
commercial and industrial purposes. We would see both commercial large scale,
and small scale urban gardens, with a mix or gardening techniques. The
commercial gardens would be cultivating crops year-round no matter the
external conditions because they are grown indoor. The neighbourhood would
have supermarkets and grocery stores full of the produce grown by the
commercial farm, as the neighbourhood doesn’t need imports of produce, it is
fully reliant on itself. The economy would be boosted by the gardens, and the
air pollution would be lower due to the amount of plants. Stormwater
regulation, would also be reducing the level of runoff ending up in streams.
Smaller gardens would be very common, and people would have a great
connection with nature, as well as a great activity to relieve stress, increasing
mental health. Everybody in the neighbourhood would have a good relation,
strengthening the community, because all of them have urban gardens and they
help one another out, building a community. Recreational activities would be
very prominent within urban gardens, and the education of nature which would
be given to younger children to build their connection with nature.
That is what a future neighbourhood would be with urban gardens.
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