Urban farming

As urban sprawl takes over farmland, some people are trying to bring the farm downtown.

AeroGrow is attempting to bring a niche farming technology to the kitchen for people who love fresh herbs and vegetables but don't want (or can't have) a full garden. While it may not offer a lot of opportunities for the average farmer or nursery (it's proprietary and marketed via TV), its success shows there is a segment of urbanites willing to spend for a touch of fresh flavor.

The plants are greener on the other side of the wall too, as vertical gardening demonstrates. It's expensive, at $900 to $1,800 a square meter, but if environmentalism gets more popular, more people and companies will pay a lot for a green facade.

It shouldn't be that surprising that kitchen tomatoes and jungle walls are growing in popularity — people are even raising chickens in New York City.