Homegrown terms

We define types of lots, structures and farming techniques. This includes community gardens, hoop houses and more.

Types of lots

Community garden

A lot gardened by a group of people growing food for personal use or donation.

The garden may:

  • Be divided into separate plots for cultivation by one or more individuals 
  • Be farmed collectively by members of the group 
  • Include common areas maintained and used by group members 
People working in community garden

Market garden

A lot used to grow food or ornamental crops to be sold.

Adult and child in vegetable garden

Urban farm or urban agriculture

A lot used by a business to grow food or ornamental crops to sell, including:

  • Indoor or outdoor growing operations
  • Vertical farms
  • Aquaponics, aquaculture, hydroponics
Person in garden with vegetables

Accessory structures

Cold frame

  • Type: Portable and temporary
  • Use: Protect seedlings and plants from cold weather
  • Features: Unheated and built close to the ground
  • Materials: Often a wooden or concrete frame with a top of glass or clear plastic
Cold frame for garden with plants inside

Farm stand

  • Type: Temporary
  • Use: Display or sell produce
  • Locations: Allowed at community gardens, market gardens and urban farms
Farm stand selling vegetables

Greenhouse

  • Type: Permanent
  • Use: Protect growing food and ornamental crops
  • Materials: Primarily glass or other materials that let light in
Greenhouse with plants

Hoop house

  • Type: Temporary
  • Use: Protect growing food and ornamental crops
  • Materials: Piping covered with material that lets light in
Hoop house garden

Urban farming techniques

Aquaculture

Cultivation of water plants and animals for human use or consumption.

Aquaculture garden with fish

Aquaponics

A combination of aquaculture and hydroponics.

Aquaponics garden with plants and fish

 

Hydroponics

Growing plants in nutrient-rich solutions or moist inert material, instead of in soil.

Lettuce growing in hydroponic garden

Vertical farms

  • Growing crops in vertically stacked layers. Vertical farms are often in an indoor controlled environment.
  • May include aquaculture, aquaponics and hydroponics.
Strawberries growing in vertical farm

Contact us

Homegrown Minneapolis

Minneapolis Health Department

Phone

612-673-3553