Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of urban agriculture, and more specifically to an in-house terrace farming system for cultivating organic produce in residential areas, providing self-sufficiency, enhanced food safety, environmental sustainability, and improved urban green spaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In many urban residential areas, the availability of fresh and organic produce is limited due to dependence on market-based food supply chains. Such produce is often treated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, raising concerns over food safety and nutritional quality. In addition, rapid urbanization has reduced the availability of green spaces, contributing to pollution, heat accumulation, and declining environmental sustainability.
[0003] To address these issues, terrace spaces in residential buildings have been explored for small-scale cultivation. Conventional approaches generally involve the use of pots, containers, or soil beds placed on rooftops. While these methods provide some opportunity for urban gardening, they require significant manual labor, face challenges in water management, and often lack systematic arrangements for scalability and efficiency.
[0004] Prior art US20130205785A1 describes a rooftop farming system that incorporates modular cultivation units and an irrigation arrangement for growing plants on building terraces. The system relies primarily on structural modules to support plant beds and facilitate irrigation. However, it does not emphasize integrated organic input management, adaptability for household-scale deployment, or methods to directly enhance food self-sufficiency at the individual level.
[0005] There is therefore a need for an in-house terrace farming system that promotes organic food cultivation in residential areas while ensuring efficient water use, environmental sustainability, and accessibility for households. Such a system should enhance food safety, provide self-sufficiency, and simultaneously contribute to improved urban green spaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The foregoing needs are met, at least to a significant extent, by the present invention, which provides an in-house terrace farming system for cultivating organic produce in urban residential areas. The system enables households to achieve self-sufficiency in food production while addressing concerns of food safety, urban pollution, and the lack of green spaces in cities.
[0007] The novel aspects of the present invention include the integration of modular cultivation units, soil-less growing techniques, and efficient water management methods. The system is specifically designed for adaptability in limited residential spaces, allowing users to cultivate a variety of crops without reliance on chemically treated market produce. Additionally, the arrangement ensures optimal space utilization, sustainability, and ease of maintenance for household-scale farming.
[0008] The invention offers distinct advantages over conventional terrace gardening practices. By providing a systematic and scalable framework for urban food cultivation, the system enhances food security, reduces environmental impact, and contributes to improved air quality and urban cooling. Accordingly, the present invention provides a reliable, sustainable, and accessible solution for household-level terrace farming in urban areas.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Various embodiments of the present invention are described herein. These embodiments are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed. The invention discloses an in-house terrace farming system configured for enabling households to cultivate organic produce within urban residential areas in a structured and sustainable manner.
[0010] In one embodiment, the system comprises modular cultivation units that may be arranged on residential terraces. The units are configured to support soil-based or soil-less cultivation techniques, depending on the user’s preference and space availability. Each unit is designed to maximize space utilization while maintaining adequate conditions for plant growth, including proper drainage, aeration, and nutrient retention.
[0011] In another embodiment, the system incorporates efficient water management methods such as drip irrigation or controlled recycling of water to minimize wastage. Organic input management is integrated into the cultivation process, allowing users to employ compost or biofertilizers for maintaining soil health and ensuring chemical-free produce. The design further enables adaptability for seasonal variation by permitting changes in crop selection and cultivation medium.
[0012] In yet another embodiment, the terrace farming system may include lightweight structural supports for vertical arrangements, thereby expanding the cultivation area within limited rooftop spaces. The configuration ensures that the system is suitable for different household scales and building types without imposing significant structural load on the terrace.
[0013] The invention provides distinct advantages by promoting household self-sufficiency in food production, improving urban air quality, and contributing to environmental sustainability. The system reduces dependence on chemically treated market produce, enhances food safety, and contributes to urban cooling and pollution reduction through increased vegetation cover.
[0014] The embodiments described herein illustrate particular forms of the invention and are intended only as exemplary implementations. They are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. Variations and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.
, Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. An In-house terrace farming system for cultivating urban areas, the system comprising:
a) a plurality of modular cultivation units configured for placement on residential terraces, each unit adapted to support soil-based or soil-less cultivation techniques;
b) an irrigation arrangement integrated with the cultivation units, said arrangement configured for efficient water management through controlled distribution and minimized wastage;
c) an organic input management provision incorporated within the cultivation units to enable the use of compost or biofertilizers for maintaining soil health; and
d) a structural configuration adapted to optimize space utilization and permit adaptability for seasonal variation, thereby enabling households to produce chemical-free food while contributing to urban sustainability.