Small Farms, Major Reward

BONNERS FERRY — A push for self sufficiency to get the most out of limited space and gardens has caused people to build smaller and smarter.

“Nano” and “micro” farms are miniature farms that are used to make the most out of limited space — similar to victory gardens popular during the first and second world wars.

Whether it is a neighbor on a quarter acre growing vertically to make more space, or any apartment dweller growing potatoes out of a barrel, people are finding new ways to grow as much food with limited space.

“Urban homesteading is a concept that is now sweeping America and other countries who are growing vegetables and raising small livestock in their backyards like they used to do during the wartime where victory gardens were encouraged,” Urbanhomestead.com said.

Victory gardens and other smaller gardens are becoming popular again as more people are looking towards food security and self-sufficiency.

“More people are also concerned about the monopolies of seed companies and so when planting their victory gardens do so with open-pollinated seeds rather than the hybrids and saving heirloom seeds for the next season,” said Urbanhomestead.com

Self-sufficiency can mean many things to many people. For some it might mean getting off-grid, and for others it may mean a little extra produce.

Smaller time farmers have even begun to diversify. It is not uncommon, especially in Boundary County to have some form of poultry. Some small-time farmers go even further by keeping bees, which only help their gardens and other flora and fauna around them.