An urban garden can take on many forms—tiny backyard plots, community gardening in city parks, guerrilla gardening on vacant lots, indoor hanging gardens, rooftop growing, vertical gardens, patio container gardens, or a full urban farm. According to the USDA about 15% of the world’s food supply is now grown in urban centers. Growing fruits and vegetables is the biggest emphasis of the movement, but backyard chickens and goats, rain water collection, pollinator gardens and beekeeping are also on the rise.

There are enormous benefits of having an urban garden, on any scale. Fresh fruits and vegetables taste better and are more economical plucked directly off the plant. In some urban settings, it may be the only source for non-processed meals. Growing food in your backyard also eliminates transportation costs and fuel consumption. Beyond the produce itself, urban farming can help strengthen communities, give folks a sense of accomplishment, offer the benefits of exercise, build on community and individual resourcefulness, take advantage of unused resources, and add more green space to the city’s landscape.

Charlotte Ricker
Brassica oleracea, ink, watercolor and graphite

Constance Sayas
Allium cepa, watercolor

Randy Raak
Gallus gallus domesticus
(Barred Plymouth rock rooster), watercolor and gouache

Randy Raak
Lagenaria siceraria (Birdhouse gourd), watercolor

Michael Campbell
Origanum vulgare (Oregano), colored pencil

Charlotte Ricker
Capsicum annuum, watercolor pencil

Estelle DeRidder
Berberis nevinii (Nevin's barberry) with Sialia mexicana (Western bluebird), 
colored pencil

Michael Campbell
Dana’s Eggs, colored pencil

Meredith Feniak
Pisum saccharatum, pen and ink with embossing on Dutch gold leaf

Mary Francis
Dahlia ‘Red Flame’, watercolor

Sally Grew
Lablab purpureus (Hyacinth bean), colored pencil

Cathleen Harrington
Tulipa cv., watercolor and graphite

Bev Johnson
Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes (Purple kohlrabi), watercolor

Marjorie Leggitt
Phaseolus vulgaris (Blue jade briar), watercolor

Marjorie Leggitt
Cucumis sativus 'Parisian Gherkin', watercolor

Karen May
Origanum majorana (Marjoram), watercolor

Randy Raak
Viola tricolor (Pansy), watercolor

Anne-Marie Nishi
Narcissus pseudonarcissus (Daffodils), colored pencil

Anne-Marie Nishi
Rosa 'Morden Sunrise', watercolor

Constance Sayas
Oenothera macrocarpa ssp. incana (Evening primrose), watercolor

Charlotte Ricker
Allium cepa, colored pencil and gouache

Marjorie Leggitt
Papaver orientale 'Beauty of Livermore', watercolor

Randy Raak
Helianthus annuus, graphite

Annie Reiser
Allium cepa (Yellow sweet Spanish onions), colored pencil on Mylar

Annie Reiser
Consolida ajacis 'Galilee Blend' (Larkspur), colored pencil on Mylar

Randy Raak
Sedum sediforme, graphite

Marjorie Leggitt
Papaver commutatum 'Shirley Single Poppy', watercolor

Estelle DeRidder
Berberis nevinii (Nevin's barberry) with Sialia mexicana (Western bluebird), colored pencil

Jane Smith
Cucurbita pepo 'Carnival' (Winter squash), colored pencil

Rebecca Swain
Daucus carota, watercolor pencil

Valerie Teska
Cucurbita pepo (Summer squash), colored pencil

Randy Raak
Onopordum acanthium and Bombus sp., watercolor and gouache

Randy Raak
Yucca glauca, Ink on Mylar

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