Urban + Farming

I used to consider the words "farming" and "urban" as opposites. Now the two words are being joined together--"urban farming". More and more people are interested in this concept, "farming" has gone upscale, and training courses abound. Here is one taking place in downtown Vancouver:

Urban Farmer Field School program

This program is tailored to growing and farming food in Vancouver. Using the YWCA Metro Vancouver Rooftop Garden as our classroom, students have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning about urban agroecosystems. For 2012, we are offering 14 classes related to food production, community food systems, small-farm business planning, city chickens and coop construction, urban soil management and season extension. Students can sign up for several classes, or just one. Registration is open and school starts on April 5 with Managing a Direct-Market Small Scale Farm.

Garden Ornaments at Jardins Jardin

I love going to Jardins Jardin which takes place every year in Paris. Along with plants and planting ideas, there are amusing objects.
Here is one of the booths selling garden ornaments. This photo is from 2010, but the booth is there every year.

Some containers for plants:



Here's an idea on how to recycle your old computer monitor.
These chickens are made in Africa from recycled metal.
A metal scarecrow, also re-purposed from scrap metal.

Not enough space for a chicken house in your urban back yard? Go vertical and test the bylaws...

A French chicken showing its colours.
For Jardins Jardin 2010, see my earlier blog.

Garden Ornaments-Birds

A chicken rules over a very productive front-yard garden:

Big bird keeps his eye peeled on the boulevard garden. Or maybe he's a dinosaur.

Two birdhouses on the lane for smaller birds and a refrigerator free for the taking:
I'm keeping my promise about no gnomes or wishing wells, but I did not say anything about flamingos!