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When conflict makes farmland unsafe or unreachable, grow only in a secure, permitted place close to where people live, with a dependable source of safe water. A container or small raised-table garden can provide vegetables, roots, tubers and condiments, but it should supplement food assistance, markets and other livelihood support—not replace them.
Start with safety, permission, water and the time you can reliably remain in the area. Then choose a growing method and locally suitable crops that fit those limits. Conditions can change quickly, so a garden is worthwhile only when tending it does not expose people to danger or create disputes over land and water.
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1. Decide whether growing is safe and feasible
Crop choice comes after a site assessment. FAO’s crisis and recovery guidance says potential agricultural areas should be assessed for “the security situation, the threat of crop theft, the distance between living areas and agricultural land, and the availability of water.” Those questions apply to a container on a balcony as well as to a larger plot.
Check physical security
- Do people have a safe route to the garden at the times it needs watering and care?
- Could fighting, unexploded ordnance, shelling, flooding or sudden movement orders make the site dangerous?
- Would tools, containers or crops be likely to be stolen?
- Can someone tend the garden without leaving children, older people or other household members without protection?
If the answer to any of these questions is uncertain, do not travel to or cultivate the plot. A small growing area beside a shelter is not automatically safe; conditions and access must be checked locally and repeatedly.
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Confirm permission and avoid disputes
Use land only with clear permission from the owner, camp management, municipal authority or other responsible body. In a displacement setting, clarify who may use a roof, courtyard, communal path or water point. Do not move fences, block drainage, occupy an emergency access route or take a shared resource without agreement. Where several households need the same space, plan allocation and maintenance with both displaced and host communities.
Measure distance and available time
A plot that is technically available may still fail if it is too far from shelter to visit regularly. Estimate the time needed to carry water, inspect plants, protect containers and harvest. Also consider how long the household expects to remain in place. A portable container system suits an uncertain stay; a tree or permanent raised bed makes sense only where access and tenure are reasonably stable.
Verify water before planting
Water access is a common constraint in urban and camp microgardens. Identify a source that is safe for handling and appropriate for food production, and determine who controls it, how much is available and whether it is likely to remain available. Never assume that wastewater, drainage water or a polluted source is safe. The safety of water and soil is location-specific and cannot be established from general guidance.
2. Choose a growing model that fits the setting
There is no universal “best” method. Compare options using safety and permission, distance, water demand, availability of seeds and tools, time to harvest, portability and whether the purpose is household food or income.
| Method | Where it fits | Advantages | Constraints to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Container garden | Balconies, patios, rooftops, courtyards or other small permitted spaces | Portable, modular and usable without a ground plot; can grow vegetables, roots, tubers and condiments | Containers need safe placement, drainage, growing medium and regular water; rooftop load and heat may be concerns |
| Small raised table | A secure area near shelter where a shallow production unit can be supervised | FAO describes a one-square-metre table lined to prevent leakage; it can be built from recovered wood and locally available materials | Requires construction materials, stable placement, safe access and a plan for drainage and water |
| Home garden | A permitted patch immediately beside a dwelling or shared shelter | Less carrying than a distant field and potentially suitable for a short growing season | Soil may be contaminated or disputed; the site must remain safe and accessible |
| Rapidly maturing fruit trees | A secure, longer-term site where people can remain and care for trees | FAO identifies them as an option when only small areas can be cultivated | They are not a quick solution if displacement or access may end before establishment; local climate and water determine suitability |
| Shared community area | A collectively managed courtyard, camp space or urban plot | Can spread labor, tools and water responsibilities | Needs agreed allocation, conflict-sensitive management, theft protection and a clear decision-maker |
The FAO microgarden model is a design concept, not a proprietary kit. Adapt the dimensions and materials to local availability and permission rather than buying a specialized system.
3. Build a small container or table garden
Step 1: Select a permitted location
Choose the closest secure place that receives enough light for the crops you intend to grow and does not obstruct movement, drainage or emergency operations. On a roof or balcony, confirm that the structure can safely carry the containers and that wind cannot blow them onto people below.
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Step 2: Use safe, reusable containers
Food-safe buckets, boxes, basins or other sturdy vessels can be reused if they have not held fuel, pesticides, industrial chemicals or other hazardous substances. Avoid containers with residues that could contaminate growing medium or hands. A shallow raised table can be made from recovered wood and other locally available materials, following the FAO description of a one-square-metre unit lined to prevent leakage.
Step 3: Provide drainage without damaging the site
Excess water must be able to leave the container so roots do not remain waterlogged. Place a catchment surface beneath containers or line a table so leakage does not damage a roof, wall or neighboring home. Dispose of drainage in a way that does not create standing water, erosion or a conflict at a shared passage.
Step 4: Check the growing medium
Use soil or another growing medium whose origin is known to be safe. Do not collect soil from rubble, industrial sites, drainage channels, former military areas or places with unknown contamination. If local authorities or humanitarian agencies provide soil-safety advice, follow it. The medium must also be available in enough quantity to fill the containers without stripping a community’s productive land.
Step 5: Plan water handling
Place containers where water can be carried safely and efficiently. Rainwater harvesting may be possible where local conditions and public-health guidance allow it. Keep stored water covered, prevent animal access and use clean vessels. FAO’s forced-displacement guidance identifies efficient water management and drip irrigation as possible approaches; use them only when suitable equipment, maintenance and safe water are available.
Step 6: Gather only essential tools
Start with locally available hand tools, containers, seed and a way to carry water. Keep tools together, mark ownership in a non-confrontational way and avoid accumulating equipment that could attract theft. If a response organization distributes seeds or tools, ask how the items were selected and whether they match the local season and climate.
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4. Select crops by time, water and purpose
No universal crop list or calendar applies. The right varieties depend on local climate, season, water, growing medium, seed availability, security and how long people expect to stay. Ask an agricultural extension worker, camp agriculture team or experienced local grower which varieties are currently suitable.
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| Crop group | Why it may fit a small garden | Questions before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Leafy and other vegetables | Can make productive use of containers and provide fresh food from a small area | How much water and light do local varieties need, and how soon can they be harvested? |
| Roots and tubers | Explicitly included in FAO’s microgarden description and can be grown where a container has adequate depth | Is the vessel deep enough, is the medium safe, and will the expected stay last long enough? |
| Condiments and herbs | Suitable for small spaces and can add flavor to other available foods | Are locally adapted seeds available, and can the household protect the plants from heat and theft? |
| Rapidly maturing fruit trees | Potentially useful where only a small area can be cultivated and access is longer term | Will people remain long enough, and can the site provide reliable water and protection while trees establish? |
Match maturity to the access window
If the growing season or expected stay is short, favor locally suitable crops that mature within that period. A crop that would harvest after a likely relocation is a poor use of scarce seed, water and labor. Conversely, do not choose only for speed if the result requires more water or care than the household can safely provide.
Separate household food from income plans
A few containers may supplement meals but are unlikely to provide all staples or a dependable income. If selling produce is a goal, assess transport, storage, market access, security and whether selling could create tension over shared resources. Begin at a scale the household can protect and water consistently.
5. Use water and growing media safely
Prioritize safe sources over convenience
Water that looks clear is not necessarily safe. Follow local public-health instructions for drinking and food production. Keep watering equipment clean, avoid splashing potentially contaminated water onto edible parts and stop using a source if its quality changes after flooding, damage or military activity.
Reduce waste without overpromising savings
Water containers at times that reduce evaporation where local conditions permit, keep the growing medium covered with a suitable mulch if one is safely available, and check plants before watering again. Drip irrigation can be an option for efficient management, but it is not automatic: emitters clog, systems need maintenance and the water itself must be safe.
Protect the surrounding environment
FAO’s urban and peri-urban agriculture guidance emphasizes product quality and environmental protection. Do not let nutrient-rich runoff enter drinking-water points, drains or neighboring plots. Keep animals away from growing media and harvest areas, and manage waste so it does not attract pests or create standing water.
6. Organize the work from setup to harvest
- Agree on the site and responsibilities. Record who has permission, who waters, who checks security and how produce will be shared. Reconfirm arrangements if people move or authorities change access.
- Inventory available resources. Count containers, safe growing medium, seeds, hand tools, water vessels and time. Design the garden around what can be replaced locally, not around an ideal supply list.
- Prepare the containers or table. Clean safe vessels, add drainage and position them securely. Line a raised table to prevent leakage, as in FAO’s microgarden description.
- Choose a small first planting. Use locally suitable crops whose harvest time matches the expected season and stay. Starting small limits loss if water, access or security deteriorates.
- Label and monitor. Note planting dates, water use, signs of pests, theft or damage and the condition of the growing medium. A simple shared record helps multiple caregivers avoid overwatering or missed visits.
- Harvest carefully. Take only what is ready, keep edible produce clean and remove damaged material. If water or soil safety becomes uncertain, pause consumption and seek local technical advice.
- Review before expanding. Expand only if the site remains safe, the water supply is reliable and the first containers can be maintained without increasing conflict or workload.
7. Plan for shared land, water and social tension
Scarce resources can cause conflict inside a camp or between displaced and host communities. FAO describes joint natural-resource management and conflict-sensitive support as part of forced-displacement responses. In practice, involve affected and host communities when deciding where gardens go, who may draw water, how tools are stored and how harvests are allocated.
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Write simple, visible rules
- Identify the authorized area and keep paths, latrines, drainage and emergency routes clear.
- Set watering times that do not conflict with drinking-water collection.
- Define how new households can join and how someone can leave without losing personal belongings.
- Agree on a neutral process for theft accusations, damaged plants and disputes over harvests.
- Review rules after relocation, new arrivals, water shortages or security incidents.
Do not assume that a communal garden is automatically fair. People with disabilities, caregivers, older people and households without tools may need a different way to contribute or receive produce.
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8. Obtain inputs without creating new risks
Conflict can destroy seed stocks, tools and other productive assets. FAO conflict-response guidance highlights seeds, tools and early support as relevant to recovery. Seek locally suitable seed and basic hand tools through trusted local channels or humanitarian programs, and verify that distributions do not exclude people who lack land or secure storage.
Choose seed for the current climate and season, not simply for a familiar name. Keep a small record of source, crop and planting date so future growers know what was tried. Do not spend scarce money on a kit or variety that cannot be watered, protected or harvested during the available access window.
9. Know what a garden can and cannot provide
Urban agriculture cannot be the only means of achieving food security and nutrition. A container garden may add fresh produce, flavor and a measure of control over food, but it does not reliably replace staple foods, markets, food assistance or livelihood recovery. Households may still need cash support, rations, land access, seeds, tools, storage and protection services.
Urban agriculture is also broader than planting. At an FAO event on 6 August 2019, Liaison Office Director Carla Mucavi noted that it includes “production, as well as postharvest handling, processing, and marketing of foodstuff of crops, animal source-products, and ornamentals and flowers.” For a displaced household, that wider view can mean safe handling, sharing, preserving or selling small surpluses when those activities are permitted and practical.
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The site becomes unsafe
Stop visits and move people to safety. Do not send someone back to rescue containers or tools. If relocation is possible, take only portable materials after authorities or responsible local leaders confirm the route is safe and the new site is permitted.
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Water is interrupted
Pause new planting, prioritize established food plants only if watering remains safe, and contact the organization or authority responsible for the water point. Do not substitute untreated wastewater or an unknown source.
Plants fail despite watering
Check whether the growing medium is contaminated, compacted or poorly drained; whether the site is too hot, shaded or exposed to wind; and whether the chosen crop fits the local season. Seek local agricultural advice before adding inputs or expanding.
Containers leak or damage a building
Move them only when it is safe, repair the liner or drainage, and protect the surface below. A garden that damages a shared roof or blocks drainage can create a larger hazard than the food it produces.
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Do not confront suspected thieves alone. Revisit the site’s visibility, access rules and shared oversight, and reduce the amount of equipment stored there. If theft makes the location unsafe or unsustainable, stop cultivating it.
People disagree about ownership
Return to the permission and allocation agreement, involve a neutral camp, municipal or community representative and document the decision. Do not expand until the dispute is resolved.
11. A practical checklist before planting
- Is the route and site currently safe, and can that safety be reviewed?
- Is written or clearly understood permission in place?
- Is the garden close enough to tend without dangerous travel?
- Is water available, safe and likely to remain available?
- Are soil, containers and any reused materials free from known contamination?
- Do drainage and placement protect buildings, paths and neighbors?
- Do the crop choices match local season, water and expected access time?
- Are seeds and tools locally suitable, affordable or available through assistance?
- Who waters, protects, harvests and resolves disputes?
- What will happen to the garden if the household must move?
If any answer is unresolved, delay planting and resolve that constraint first. In conflict-affected settings, preventing harm is more important than maximizing the number of containers.
12. How to adapt when people may move again
Favor modular containers, lightweight tools and crops that fit the remaining season. Keep an inventory of what can be carried, donated or safely left behind. Before relocation, coordinate with whoever will occupy the space so plants, water arrangements and permission do not become a source of conflict.
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