C1 – Advanced
Have you heard of Urban farming? In the US, it’s been a popular idea for quite some time.
Read the article below and discuss some of the issues that urban farmers are facing.
Discussion Questions:
- How do you understand urban farming and what are its advantages? How about disadvantages, what might they be?
- Is urban farming something that is happening in your country? Why or why not?
- Have you started growing your own vegetables? Have you tried it?
12 replies on “The Time for Urban Farmers”
1. I do understand it as the capacity to grow ´food ‘in the cities. It is a very healthy way to nourish ourselves (given the quality of the food-more natural-and the exercise we have to make) yet it is still rather difficult since the space to do so is quite limited, the air is not as ´healthy´ as one would like to have and the time to dedicate to this task is minor, thus difficult to grow sufficient vegetables
2.Indeed, it is already happening around me. Local townhalls do provide with some properties in order to be ´worked´ out by neighbours. It is assigned by contest.
3. I am not growing my own food ( I even have difficulties to care about my plants) yet it is something that I could easily fancy in the future, when I have more time to dedicate to this.
Good job writing your answers to this lesson’s discussion questions.
See how you can write this sentence better:
Always stay consistent with your practice.
1. How do you understand urban farming and what are its advantages?
Urban farming consists on cultivating plants within urban areas where you don’t have that much space as in rural areas.
Nowadays, most of the population lives in large cities and rural areas are running out of people. Therefore, I feel it’s great to understand farming and learn how to do it in small spaces such as those you can find in large cities. In my opinion, this is very useful, in case you don’t want to move to a rural area, but you still want to have your own garden. Not only for your own consumption, but also to sell to other people. This would also help saving money.
2. Is urban farming something that is happening in your country?
I am not aware of this, I think this is not very common in Spain. Tradicional agriculture is the option used here.
3. Have you started growing your own vegetables? Have you tried it?
No, I have had some plants at home and I am not good at all on taking care of them, so I don’t think I would manage to grow vegetables myself.
Good job sharing your thoughts about this topic!
Here is a sentence that can be revised:
Until your next one!
1. How do you understand urban farming and what are its advantages?
Urban farming is the practice of cultivating food in urban areas. The advantages are environmental benefits, economic opportunities, efficient use of space.
2. Is urban farming something that is happening in your country?
No. Given that I reside in a country with extensive farmland near urban areas, urban agriculture is not economically efficient.
3. Have you started growing your own vegetables? Have you tried it?
No, I live in an urban area and have not attempted to cultivate any vegetables.
Appreciate your effort in sharing your thoughts on urban farming.
Here is just a slightly better way to write this sentence:
Keep doing a good job!
1. How do you understand urban farming and what are its advantages?
I understand urban farming as a hobby for some people who want to grow their own vegetables. But for others, it can be a business if they can do it well and overcome all the challenges that it involves, such as farming in small spaces.
2. Is urban farming something that is happening in your country?
During the pandemic, with a lot of spare time, many people started growing their own food on balconies, but only as a hobby.
3. Have you started growing your own vegetables? Have you tried it?
Yes, I did. During the pandemic, I tried to grow tomatoes and radishes.
Good work on answering your lesson’s discussion questions.
Here is just another way to write this one:
Keep going with this exercise.
1. In my opinión, urban farming is a fantastic activity where people try to grow/produce their own food. Advantages: better food quality, BEST Flavor, and you can try new vegetabkes and fruits.
2. Not that i am aware of. Maybe in Madrid and Barcelona, but not in small cities.
3. Yes, once. When we were living un lima, we grew tomatos.
Great job trying to improve your skills in writing.
Here are minor revisions you can make in this sentence:
Keep going with this exercise.
1. How do you understand urban farming and what are its advantages?
I understand it to mean that the farms are closer to the city and are more efficient because they work in less space.
2. Is urban farming something that is happening in your country?
Not much, Spain has a long tradition of large-scale extensive farming.
3. Have you started growing your own vegetables? Have you tried it?
Yes, when I was younger at school they made us take care of a tomato plant.
You are doing very well in developing your writing skills so far. You can try writing longer, more elaborate responses with more complex sentences now.
Just keep on practicing.