When you think of farming, you probably think of a large open-air field. We, on the other hand, have chosen to grow differently: vertically and urbanely, giving a new life into a once unused space in the Horta district. It’s a win-win for the city and for our customers, who receive a delicious, fresh, high-quality product much faster. And if this seems strange or futuristic to you, get ready, because in Norway they even grow in underground caves!
In the Sandvika caves, near Oslo, lies Gruvegrønt, a 500 m² vertical farm inside a cave with a total surface area of 30.000 m². Here, underground, more than 1500 kg of microgreens are grown each month, along with edible flowers, cherry tomatoes, and other products for restaurants that use local, seasonal ingredients, fine dining chefs, and gourmet food shops. This all makes perfect sense: with such an extreme climate, Norwegians can only farm outdoors for a few months of the year! This is the perfect solution for ensuring a steady supply of fresh, Km 0 products year-round.
Oslo, the green city
Oslo was named European Green Capital in 2019 thanks to its various initiatives to protect the environment and its local surroundings. With a population of just over 700.000, its relatively small size makes it an ideal city for experimenting with new solutions. For decades, it has worked to become a leader in sustainability, innovation, and green urbanism, being the first city in the world to implement a “Climate Budget,” a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, balancing the CO² emissions it produces with the amount it removes from the atmosphere through sustainable actions.
A positive environmental footprint
How will Oslo achieve carbon neutrality or even a positive environmental footprint? It created Vulkan, for example. Once an old industrial district, it has been transformed into an energy-sustainable neighborhood. Buildings have been renovated with solar panels on their façades, hotels harness energy from elevators and cooling systems, and there’s an energy center powered by geothermal wells.
Following this green transformation, Losæter Park has also become a large urban farm, where a community of urban gardeners and volunteers grows fruits and vegetables. To give the project greater value, more than 50 farmers donated soil to expand the cultivation area, and a “city farmer” was hired to maintain and care for the urban farm.
On an individual level, Norwegians also contribute to combating climate change with the Skogluft method, which involves integrating vertical gardens into homes to reduce stress and improve the mood of the entire family.
Do you follow the Skogluft method at home? Or perhaps you have other sustainable practices? Share your ideas with us in the comments!
