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The Benefits of Urban Gardening In the past few years, urban gardening, also called urban farming, has become a global trend which keeps on growing. It utilizes spaces that would otherwise remain unused in cities. Gardens can be fashioned on river banks, steep slopes, empty lofts and on rooftops. So, what makes urban gardening so much better than traditional agriculture in the 21st century? Economic benefits It creates jobs as people earn a living from otherwise totally unproductive spaces It improves the local economy and makes it less reliant on food from other areas It utilizes valuable resources in a city, like compost, that could otherwise remain unused. It can benefit people of different levels of income Environmental benefits It makes a city greener It can help purify rain water and air It helps prevent erosion and removal of top soil It increases the production and sale of locally grown food, reducing carbon footprints It has a direct impact on urban ecology It facilitates the recycling of waste for farming It helps with efficient land use Social benefits It helps bring communities and families together to work toward a common objective that will benefit everyone It helps increase food production Helps combat hunger It creates jobs and income It teaches people to be more self-sufficient It makes a city greener and more productive, creating a better living environment for people It helps cities be more food secure, making people more empowered and independent It encourages people to participate in food production All in all, urban gardening is beneficial in many ways. It’s a great way to increase food production, processing and distribution throughout a city.