Urban Horticulture is now a major at Greensboro's NCA&T University. Through this major, students learn techniques for producing horticultural crops in the limited space of urban environments. You learn to plant as much as possible in these often wasted spaces: herbs, flowers, and crops in spaces. Cement and barren patches of dirt become lush and green. The A&T curriculum is geared towards food production; however, the ornamental component of urban horticulture is also addressed.
The above photo was taken at the corner of Wright Avenue and Kensington Road, down the street from UNCG. As you can see, the property owners take advantage of that strip of dirt between the city sidewalk and the road by filling it with greenery. They have been practicing urban horticulture for twenty years or so, long before most people were talking about it, much less practicing it.
Hats off to NCA&T for being trend setters in their Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Systems. Today is ABC Wednesday and for GO GREEN Greensboro, "U" is for Urban Horticulture. It isn't too late to go outside and plant something. Consider requesting permission to plant something in an unused space beside your favorite coffee shop or retail store. The price of a pack of seeds could bring the community great joy.
Very good idea!
Posted by: Meghan | Wednesday, June 05, 2013 at 07:25 AM
Pretty scene!
Have a beautiful day!
Lea
Lea's Menagerie
Posted by: Lea | Wednesday, June 05, 2013 at 07:34 AM
2509 Textile Drive Vegetables and herbs grown in converted US Army missile launchers, wild edibles cultivated in the front yard, corn growing in old racing slicks... It's a work in progress. And that's just my front yard.
Posted by: Billy Jones | Wednesday, June 05, 2013 at 09:50 AM
Love the very idea of urban horticulture! Also love the "Corn growing in old racing slicks" from Billy's comment. Made me think there should be some sort of 1/4 mile shucking event ;) too! Urban farmers would be saying "that one there is a Hoosier Corn, that other one is a Goodyear varietal and yonder is a row of smokin' hot Mickey Thompson M/T Funny Corn"! Sorry, the en(tire) event happened in my head when I read the comment, I have old racers brain!
Posted by: Janis of So Cal | Wednesday, June 05, 2013 at 02:23 PM
UBER great idea for Urban areas! Love the photo.
Leslie
abcw team
Posted by: Leslie | Thursday, June 06, 2013 at 04:20 PM
I recently watched a documentary about how important these urban gardens are to our butterfly friends.
An Arkies Musings
Posted by: Richie | Saturday, June 08, 2013 at 09:47 AM