Vertical Gardening

Needs Address

• Food security
• Stabilised and/or increased productivity
• Sustainable agricultural practices

Adaptation effects

• Enable an additional source of food production, particularly at the household level for domestic use
• Can also reduce impacts of storm water inundation where the design enables storm water catchment and absorption from rooftops

Overview and Features

Vertical gardening encompasses both vine growth and growth of crops in support infrastructure that enables hung growth or growing on walls or window shades. Crops are grown via either soil bearing or non-soil bearing techniques, the latter employing a felt layer upon which plants are grown and requiring continued watering. The former is more appropriate for crop production

Cost

• Cost of structures and frames on which to grow crops
• Maintenance costs
• Human resources
• Training

Energy source

Human resources

Ease of maintenance

Requires ongoing maintenance and care

Technology performance

• Provides an alternative method of crop production
• Particularly useful in urban environments where space is lacking
• Responds to increasing land pressures, exacerbated by climate change
• Reduces inundation during floods

Considerations

Requires knowhow and an understanding of crop suitability

Co-benefit, suitability for developing countries

• Aesthetical benefits
• Reduce surface temperature, which can contribute to reduced urban heat island effects in urban environments
• Improved air quality and carbon sequestrationCan be installed at the individual or household level, enabling ownership and ease of maintenance
• Production on transportable structures enables use even where land/house ownership is lacking

Information Resources

The Vertical Farm. Webpage. Available from: http://www.verticalfarm.com/ [20 January 2015]