Vertical Farming Concepts 2

Feasting on my garden's summer crop of berries, beans and greens has me thinking about the future of our food again. The ability to propagate, plant, cultivate and harvest ones own food is truly a moving experience and I consider it a privilege to have the land and knowledge to do so. In my opinion the disconnection that has been created between how and where are food is produced has shortened in the last 2 years. This reconnection to the land has many advocates including the ones below who are helping us conceptualise the future of urban agriculture.

Charlotte Avignon Architect

Eco Laboratory by Weber Thompson

Vertical Farming Concepts courtesy of
www.verticalfarm.com

the tulip fields of Holland

Compost as Muse

Born in New York, New York, 17 February 1939 John Pfahl has been creating photographs for the past 30 years that in my opinion illustrate the potential and fragility of nature. Pfahl's portfolio includes photograph series with titles such as Extreme Horticulture, Altered landscapes and Arcadia Revisited. Although more light hearted than his other works, for me "The Very Rich Hours of a Compost Pile" offers intimacy and insight into the artist's life and work.

The Very Rich Hours of a Compost Pile

"My compost pile, situated in a hidden corner of the garden, constantly changes with the passing months. The rich efflorescence of rotting vegetable matter creates a day book of both the memorable and mundane meals that grace my table." John Pfahl

corn and pinto beans

frozen peas

honeydew and slug

orange peels and fennel

pears

swiss chard in snow

watermelon rinds

For additional insight into Pfahl's work please visit www.johnpfahl.com

Vertical Farming

While preparing my vegetable plot for the growing season ahead I began to realize I was running out of space. After a quick sketch and a materials list I was creating vertical structures to house my strawberries. It seemed logical....why go out when you can go up. I could quadruple my harvest using far less space. My idea of farming vertically is not new. The images below represent the vertical farming projects that have been conceptualized in recent years. Stay tuned for my strawberry tower concept drawing.

"Aberrant Agriculture" by Scott Johnson

Gordon Graff's Sky Farm proposed for downtown Toronto's theatre district.

Advantages to Farming Vertically

*Year-round crop production; 1 indoor acre is equivalent to 4-6 outdoor acres or more, depending upon the crop (e.g., strawberries: 1 indoor acre = 30 outdoor acres) 

*No weather-related crop failures due to droughts, floods, pests 

*All VF food is grown organically: no herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers 

*VF virtually eliminates agricultural runoff by recycling black water 

*VF returns farmland to nature, restoring ecosystem functions and services 

*VF converts abandoned urban properties into food production centers 

*VF dramatically reduces fossil fuel use (no tractors, plows, shipping.)

"The living skyscraper: Farming the Urban Skyline" by Blake Kurasek









"VF-Type O" by Oliver Foster







Mithuns Architects' Vertical Farm Project for Seattle

What are your thoughts on cultivating our food in these types of environments?

For more information please visit The Vertical Farm Project

Waltham Place - Pioneering Landscape

Waltham Place is a 56 hectare estate comprising farmland, woodland and orchards, with landscaped and ornamental gardens. Developed since the 17th century, the entire estate has been managed organically for over 25 years. The gardens have been designed by Henk Gerritsen and are maintained by former Mien Ruys head gardener Beatrice Krehl.  I visited Waltham place while in England and it still remains the greatest working mixed use garden and landscape I have experienced.

The land and gardens have been developed and maintained based on sound agricultural, environmental, food cultivating and social principles. The owner and staff have a firm understanding that organic husbandry needs to coexist with the local natural systems.


The journey through the property begins by mingling through wild bold plantings of grasses and hardy mixed perennial species. Gerritsen's naturalistic planting palette is uncomplicated, with drifts of grouped species appearing to carry a delicate balance that only coexists in nature.




In one portion of the garden, morning glory was encouraged to climb over a clipped yew hedge. Instead of battling the invasive species, Gerritsen worked with it and welcomed its vigorous character. 

As your journey through Waltham Place continues you will be led to working kitchen gardens, open meadows, woodland groves and back through classic Gerritsen planting schemes.

The brilliance behind these spaces is the blurred lines between the natural and created landscape, providing the visitor a sense of balance with the local ecology.

Waltham Place offers education to the public about organic production and environmental principles.  Their method to teaching is a 3 tier approach - factual, sensory and aesthetic. The concept is to put less emphasis on lecturing while promoting value in discovery, observation and exploration, thus connecting the student directly to their surroundings. 

If you have the chance please visit the gardens at Waltham Place. This is, in my opinion, the template for the future of mixed use landscape design. 

For more information please visit www.walthamplace.com