Transforming Our Cities Through Urban Farming
with Orlane Panet
About this episode
In this episode, we speak with Orlane Panet, co-founder of Microhabitat, an urban farming company creating rooftop gardens in cities all around the world. We discuss urban population growth and why we need to reimagine the cities’ unused spaces and how rooftop gardens can be a gateway for city dwellers to learn about sustainability, ecological agriculture, healthy eating and more.
Orlane shares her belief in business as a way to make positive change in the world and how the urban farms of Microhabitat have much greater impact than meets the eye.
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[3:56] Microhabitat model and origin story
[10:05] Re-thinking the urban environment
[16:28] Importance of living soil in urban farming
[18:13] Standardization v. improvisation for success in farming and business
[21:54] Social and community impact of urban farms
[29:09] Container growing v. green roofs
[32:48] Alternative career opportunities for farmers
[35:30] Environmental reporting – pollinator tracking with sound and air DNA
[42:41] Covid’s effect on urban farming
[49:29] Importance of education in creating change
[53:35] How a grower or property owner can get involved
[1:01:30] How urban gardens help small farms outside the city
[1:05:02] Orlane’s personal journey from health issues to organic farming
[1:10:47] Why hydroponics is not the answer
[1:14:10] The meaning of “sustainability”
[1:15:16] Why for-profit business can be more impactful than non-profit
[1:20:30] Why collaborating with the “bad guys” may be the best way to change them
[1:28:47] The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Mentioned Links & Resources
Orlane Panet - Microhabitat
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