Chiangmai Urban Farm

Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Knowledge creation and awareness raising

1. Transformation of a previously derelict area (waste dump) into a multi-functional urban farm used by the public. 2. Enabling vulnerable communities to produce their own food thus lowering their food expenses, improving nutrition and building self-sufficiency and food security. 3. Foster engagement and develop a sense of ownership of the urban farm among local communities while also supporting social interaction between people in the city. 4. Creation of an urban farm learning centre. 5. Creation of an urban farm that is able to operate on its own, meaning that it can run without relying on outside funding or donation. 6. Creation of a multi-functional open green area. (Ref. 1,2,4,5,6) To achieve the goal of a self-sustaining farm, three more sub-goals were defined. 1. Generate income for nearby low-income community members and for homeless people in the area. 2. Generate income from the selling of farm’s products for the management and maintenance of the farm. This part requires farm manager to help. 3. Distribute farm products to volunteers or anyone who participated in the planting and taking care of the vegetables. (Ref. 4)

Land preparation stage: 1. Clearing of 5,700 tons of garbage. 2. Testing of the soil for contamination (e.g.: heavy metals and any other toxic substances). The result found contamination of several heavy metals. 3. Leveling of the site and bringing in new topsoil that consists of humus, biochar* and compost - approximately 50 cm. thick. 4. Building planting beds and filling them with a mixture of organic fertiliser and biochar - approximately 30cm. thick. 5. Construction of a well to extract underground water. *Biochar is organic charcoal made by burning corncobs or rice straws. As the area is previously a dumping site for construction waste, the contamination of heavy metal can be expected. Biochar has been used to help improve soil quality by retaining soluble nutrients and remediating heavy metal pollution. Land distribution for agricultural activities: 1. Creation of community gardens where short-lived vegetables (plants that need rotation/can be harvested in a short growing period) can be grown by low-income people in the nearby community. The vegetables from this area will be harvested and distributed to the community every week. If the products are more than needed, they can be sold but half of the earnings need to give back to the farm for internal management and buying new seeds and seedlings. 2. Creation of sharing gardens where long-lived vegetables or perennial plants are grown. Once they are grown, they can be harvested for a long period of time (such as lime, banana, mulberries, chilli, papaya). Vegetables in this area are grown by volunteers. Anyone can harvested in this area (for their own consumption) but under one condition which is they need to help watering and take care of the plants. 3. Creation of a chicken coop - Currently the farm has 100 chickens that can produce around 30-90 eggs per day. Eggs can be harvested by the farm’s management team for sell and people from nearby communities can also harvested for their own consumption and also for sell but half of the earnings need to give back to the farm. Establishment of other facilities and activities: 1. Construction of a bamboo pavilion, as a multi-purpose area: a place for farmers-market, trainings, meetings and other activities and events. 2. Creation of a storage area 3. Organisation of events for people to come and work on the farm (growing plants, watering and take care of the plants, take care of the chickens). 4. Organisation of classes and workshops relating to farming. 5. Establishment of a coupon system - people who come to help watering and take care of the plants will receive a coupon that can be exchanged to any products in the farm. (Ref. 1,2,7,8,10)

• Citizens or community groups
• Marginalized groups: Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)