Founding Member Guide
Beginner Urban Growing Guide
This starter guide helps you choose the right space, build a simple growing setup, keep plants alive, and stay ready for your first workshop.
Assess the site first
Recommendations depend on the space, sunlight, water, and access conditions.
Start with a practical plan
Use the growing guide and tools to prepare for a site review.
No earnings promised
Any production or benefit arrangement is considered after assessment.
1. Start with the smallest space that gets light
- Use a balcony, sunny wall, window ledge, courtyard, or rooftop corner.
- Aim for at least 4 to 6 hours of light if you want a simple first crop.
- Pick one growing zone and keep it easy to reach so watering becomes consistent.
2. Choose forgiving first crops
- Leafy greens, spinach, lettuce, herbs, spring onions, and radishes are strong first options.
- Avoid overloading your first setup with too many crop types at once.
- Start with 2 or 3 crops and learn their watering rhythm before scaling up.
3. Keep your first setup simple
- Use containers with drainage, a basic potting mix, and a consistent watering routine.
- Label what you plant and when you planted it.
- Take weekly photos so you can notice changes before plants decline.
4. Your weekly rhythm
- Check soil moisture before watering instead of watering blindly.
- Remove damaged leaves early and watch for pests on the underside of leaves.
- Feed lightly and consistently rather than overcorrecting with too much fertilizer.
5. How to use Urban Farming well
- Use the calculators in Resources to plan spacing and watering before planting.
- Join workshops as soon as seats open if you want the fastest practical learning.
- Track progress in your dashboard and use the guide as your first operating checklist.
Next move
Use the Plant Spacing Calculator and Watering Calculator next, then register for workshops as they open.