from PEOPLE FOR EARTH: something to explore especially for downtown community
gardens?
Vertical farming
March 17th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under
The human population is growing at a fast rate and by 2050, it is estimated
that the Earth will have an extra 3 billion mouths to feed (9.2 billion in
total). An increasing population will require more land for farming and housing.
The Vertical Farm Project states that if farming continues to be practised as
it is, we would need an extra 109 hectares of land to grow enough food to feed
the population. One solution to this problem is vertical farming.
What is vertical farming?
Quite simply farming vertically. The idea behind it is that existing unused
buildings could be converted into vertical farms, or new structures could be
built. Dickson Despommier (Vertical Farm Project) estimates that one vertical
farm the size of a 30 storey city block would grow enough food for 10,000
people.
The fact that these vertical farms could use hydrponics (water) instead of soil
to grow food mean they could be based anywhere - even environments that would
not normally be suitable for growing food:
Cities where there is often a lack of open space
Countries where lack of sanitation is a problem (e.g. human faeces used to
fertilise crops, spreading disease).
At the moment it is an architectural design concept developed as a possible
solution to the food crisis, but it could become a reality in the future.
Musee du quai Branly by Patrick Blanc
Pros
A great way to achieve self sustaining communities, “If you combined a high
rise apartment/ green house with maybe some restaurants, a bakery, and a
grocery store on the fist few floors you might be able a significant portion of
the food you eat from the building you live in”.
Food no longer needs to travel hundreds of miles to reach your plate - bringing
farming to cities
No herbicides or pesticides would need to be used as the crops wouldn’t be
exposed to pests
The levels of water and nutrients would be highly controlled resulting in
maximum efficiency and high productivity of crops
Abandoned urban buildings could be turned into food production centers
Would eliminate weather and climate related risks- which could be essential as
the impact of climate change increases
Reduced need for fossil fuels used to power farm machinery and refrigerate food
during transportation
Cons
Could affect countries who have a large income from exporting crops
If vertical farms can easily be integrated into cities, there could be less
need to keep farm land which may be needed to house a growing population. This
would have a massive impact on ecosystems with that area
Vertically stacking levels would have reduced access to sunlight, so artificial
lighting and heating would be needed to grow food
Large scale vertical farms
Singapore EDITT Tower
Singapore EDITT Tower
Image source: Inhabitant
The Singapore EDITT Tower is a continuous ramp from the ground floor to the
roof top of the building. The total plantable area would be 3,841 sq.m with a
ratio of 1:2 for green space:human use area.
This structure would require very little energy because it captures rainfall
and will use 855 square metres of photovoltaic panels to provide 39.7% of the
buildings energy needs. There are also plans for it to convert sewage into
biogas and fertiliser.
Green Fortune
Green Fortune’s vision is one of urban cultivation where plants are integrated
with modern urban life. Their view is that it is as much about spiritual
replenishment as it creating rooftop allotments that enable people to grown
their own fruit.
By using hydroponics and carefully controlled environments, they create
different tropical climate zones designed to support different types of plants
on rooftop gardens. One of their products is called SteamGarden. This
recirculates water (hydroponics) to grow plants instead of using soil and are
small enough to have in your kitchen.
Small scale vertical farming
Stackable systems and sprouting trays
You can have a vertical farm in it’s simplest form in your own kitchen - a
stackable seed sprouter. You can use these devices to grow lots of nutricious
foods including: cress, rocket, alfalfa, aduki beans, mustard salad, mung beans
and wheatgrass. They also grow very quickly, so after just a few days of
planting you have fresh produce ready to eat.
Urban permaculture
The idea behind urban permaculture is using balconies, window boxes, window
greenhouses and pot plants to grow small amount of herbs of vegetables.
Wall Gardens
Patrick Blanc ‘assembles’ walls of greenery without the use of soil. These
walls use an automated watering and feeding system. He maintains that as long
as water and light are available, plants will grow because soil is just
mechanic support.
His walls can live both indoors and outdoors and are constructed from plants
that thrive in that particular climate. They are given an optimum amount of
water that prevents them from growing into the wall and damaging brick work.
Each wall is made from a metal frame, a layer of PVC and a layer of felt.
Seeds/cuttings or ready grown plants are ‘planted’ in the felt layer, which
also holds water to help them grow.
Much like vertical farms, these structures can be added to an city in the world
and support biodiversity in a man made environment.
What do you think? How would you feel about having a vertical farm in your city
in the future?
LEVEL GREEN - fostering sustainable community through collaborative initiatives
in hospitality, education and the arts, in the 150 year-old democratic spirit
of the Danish Folk School. 1519 Slaterville Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 (607)
339-9472
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