This is because many urban gardens, including those at Battery Urban Farm, are designed to be aesthetically pleasing and functional, but they often lack the diversity of native plants that insects rely on for food and shelter. For example, consider a raised garden bed filled with tomatoes, basil, and other common vegetables. While these plants are nutritious and delicious, they offer limited sustenance for native insects.

The air is filled with the scent of fresh herbs and the sound of bees buzzing around the flowers. It’s a microcosm of nature, right in the middle of the concrete jungle. The farm is a testament to the power of urban agriculture, showcasing how even in the most densely populated areas, food production can thrive.

The concept of urban gardening gained fresh momentum in the mid-2000s with works like Michael Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” which shed stark light on the environmental toll of “Big Ag.” In the decades since, dozens of farms, more than 700 community gardens and countless backyard plots have blossomed across New York City — as well as around the world. Read the complete article here. Share this post: on Twitter on Facebook on Google+ on LinkedIn