Gone are the days when farming was only done in rural areas. With the many solutions in the market, city dwellers can grow their own sukuma wiki in the backyard.
One of the solutions to farming in urban areas is multi-storey gardening. This is a vertical farming method where layers of the garden are stacked up on each other.
With this unconventional method, city dwellers can grow vegetables like sukuma wiki, spinach, coriander, carrots, garlic, and leeks.
They can also be used to grow herbs like rosemary, lemon grass, and fruits like strawberries.
The multi-storey garden can have four to six layers or even more, depending on what is being grown. A six-layered storey garden goes between Ksh1,500 and Ksh2,000.
According to Erick Mutwiri a farmer, the technique only requires a small space and sand to keep it stable.
"This technique is ideal for all those who lack a stable supply of water. The layers allow water to slowly trickle down to the bottom layer," Mutwiri explained.
Mutwiri who quit his job to pursue farming is offering free classes to the local residents who have praised the end products noting that they are chemical-free.
However, he noted that the main challenge was getting the liner for the garden which is expensive.
Additionally, according to Farming Wonder an organisation designing and installing the gardens, this technique allows a smooth flow of water downwards.
The organisation uses High-Density Poly Ethylene (HPDE) to make the gardens effectively guaranteeing their durability for over 10 years.
"Making money on limited space with easy management," the organisation stated.
From four six-inch multi-storey gardens, and 80 capsicum seedlings in each garden, a farmer can harvest more than 15 kilograms per week and a kilogram goes for approximately Ksh300.
Small Farm Gardening, a nursery and garden centre, stated that the gardens are more stable with no risk of collapsing even on sloppy surfaces.
"The economy is tough, how can you save yourself from it? Multi-storey gardens can save you a lot of space and money too," the centre advised.
Furthermore, the garden can either be placed in the open, in an enclosed greenhouse, or in a shaded room.
