Landless urban and peri-urban agriculture in Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract

The objective of this study was to test four containers (elevated substrate bed “Furnace Type”, bamboo bed substrate, vertical pots, and “hanging” sleeves) for landless urban agriculture, and evaluate their adaptation under the tropical conditions of Veracruz, Mexico. This system is ideal for small spaces, social housing or located in marginalized areas lacking a yard or fertile land. The containers are small structures built from cheap and recycled materials, which are of easy acquisition and processing, and can be placed on balconies, patios and cement pots both in private or public spaces and on school plots. Containers use a mixture of substrates consisting of soil, peat moss, and vermicompost, in order to provide anchoring, porosity and nutrition. Agronomic management is simple and the production is organic. Vegetables, fruits, leaves and tubers can grow in substrate beds as well as condiments, aromatics and culturally convenient species do in vertical containers. Diversification, staggered planting and transplanting allows for harvest and consumption year-round. Comparative economic analysis showed a good return on investment in all containers, but more importantly, the use of these containers promote good nutrition and decrease home spending on food purchases.