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Urban farming

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FAQs

Find answers to common questions about MicroHabitat's urban farming programs, services, and how to get started.

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32 questions

Why would someone integrate urban farming?

Urban farming offers social and environmental benefits for communities seeking healthier, more sustainable lives. It provides fresh produce, educational opportunities, community engagement, and supports green building certifications.

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What is the first step to define if my building can welcome a program?

Conduct a free site evaluation with MicroHabitat during a virtual meeting. Our assessment includes evaluating available space, sunlight exposure, water access, and structural integrity of your property.

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How do I know if my building is suitable for an urban farming project?

Requirements include at least 200 sq ft (~18.5 m²) of space, adequate sunlight (minimum 6 hours daily), accessible water sources, and safe roof access if applicable. Our team can assess your specific situation during a consultation.

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Can I get points for my building from green building certifications?

Yes! Our programs support LEED, BOMA, BOMA BEST, GRESB, Fitwel, and WELL certifications. The specific credits depend on the project scale and scope.

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Do you offer indoor production solutions?

Yes, MicroHabitat offers an indoor unit which produces year-long growth through our turn-key solution. These are perfect for lobbies, cafeterias, and dedicated growing spaces.

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Why was MicroHabitat created?

MicroHabitat was founded to address urban food insecurity by transforming underutilized city spaces into productive ecological gardens, promoting sustainability and community connection to food sources.

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What is the history of MicroHabitat?

Established in Montreal in 2016, MicroHabitat has grown to become the largest network of urban farms in North America, now operating across multiple cities in Canada, the USA, and Europe.

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Where is MicroHabitat implemented?

Our projects operate across North America and Europe on rooftops, terraces, and ground spaces of businesses, schools, and organizations in over 20 major cities.

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Is MicroHabitat a franchise?

No, MicroHabitat is a single company with dedicated full-time employees and offices across multiple regions. We maintain consistent quality and service across all our locations.

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Does the installation modify my building or space?

No permanent changes occur. Our grow pots are designed with your property in mind—there's no drilling or digging required. Everything can be removed without leaving a trace.

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How much space do I need to get an urban farm?

A minimum of 200 sq ft (~18.5 m²) of accessible space is required for an outdoor farm. Indoor solutions can work with smaller spaces.

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What are the requirements to have an urban farm?

You need adequate space (minimum 200 sq ft) plus a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight daily for outdoor farms. Indoor farms have more flexible requirements.

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Is it safe to add a farm to a roof location?

Our ultra-light grow pots typically don't compromise roof load capacity. We always recommend consulting your building engineer, and we report universal approval from engineers we've worked with.

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What insurance coverage do you offer?

Our programs include liability coverage of 5 million dollars for commercial, automobile and excess liability, giving you complete peace of mind.

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How does the program work?

Our turn-key programs include installation, ecological irrigation systems, planting, weekly maintenance visits, harvesting and delivery, educational activities, and marketing tools. Outdoor farms work almost anywhere outdoors; indoor units work almost anywhere indoors.

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What is included in the program?

Our comprehensive package includes: installation, ecological irrigation system, seasonal planting, weekly maintenance visits, harvesting and drop-off, educational activities, marketing tools, and corporate gifts (depending on your selected package).

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What happens with the fresh produce?

You choose! Options include internal distribution to building occupants or employees, or donation to local food banks through our Urban Solidarity Farms program which runs from July to October.

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What is MyUrbanFarm?

MyUrbanFarm is our digital platform that connects you directly with your urban farm. It allows you to track your farm's progress, view harvest schedules, access educational resources, and communicate with our farming team—all from your phone or computer. Every MicroHabitat client gets free access to MyUrbanFarm as part of their program.

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How is the MicroHabitat program engaging with occupants?

Our programs include a minimum of two educational activities covering ecological farming practices, seed saving, composting, and related sustainability topics.

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Do you have different types of activities?

Yes! We offer interactive kiosks, guided garden visits, and educational workshops. Activities can be customized to your organization's needs and interests.

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Do you offer online activities?

Yes, our virtual workshops cover ecological farming, maintenance best practices, winterization, seed saving, crop succession planning, and pollinator support.

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Do you offer activities for all age groups?

Absolutely! All our educational activities are designed to be stimulating for individuals of all ages, from children to seniors.

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Can we partner with MicroHabitat?

Yes! We welcome partnerships with commercial real estate companies, corporations, schools, food banks, and community organizations. Contact us to discuss collaboration opportunities.

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Do you work with food banks?

Yes, our Urban Solidarity Farms program connects our partner properties with local food banks to donate fresh produce and support food security in communities.

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How do I get started with MicroHabitat?

Simply book a demo through our website or contact us directly. We'll schedule a free consultation to discuss your goals and assess your property's potential.

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What is the timeline for installation?

After signing, installation typically occurs within 4-6 weeks, depending on the season and project scope. We coordinate with your schedule to minimize disruption.

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Do building occupants need to access the installation?

Access is not required for our maintenance team to do their work. However, accessibility may be desired for tenant engagement or to qualify for certain green building certification credits.

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How do you create safe farming spaces on roofs without guardrails?

We create minimum safety clearance per local guidelines and contain all gardens within a localized perimeter away from roof edges. Safety is always our top priority.

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Can I have an urban farm if wild animals are present?

Yes. A well-kept farm does not draw animals in, and on rooftops animal damage is rare. Where squirrels, rabbits or other wildlife already live on a property, our urban farmers protect the crops site by site, for example with fencing at ground level or netting.

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Do you use pesticides?

We do not use synthetic pesticides. Pests are prevented and removed by hand first. When that is not enough, farmers use low-impact products of the kind sold for organic gardening, such as insecticidal soap, and only after that visit's harvest is picked.

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Do I need a farming license to distribute my produce?

No, all produce from your farm belongs to you and can be distributed freely to occupants or donated to food banks without any special licensing requirements.

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Do I need a green space to get a program?

No! Our solutions work on any surface with adequate lighting—concrete, gravel, or existing green space. We bring the greenery to you.

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Still have questions?

Can't find the answer you're looking for? Our team is here to help. Book a demo or contact us directly.

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