research

vegetable chips

2009-05-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

The problem with growing root vegetables vertically is the harvesting of them afterwards. The root vegetables grow thick and outgrow the spacing in the mesh that convesional vertical plots have. this means that when you pull out a carrot it will tear off the flesh that has outgrown the mesh. this designs mesh is elasticated and only fastned on one axis so it can be moved slightly to help get that veg out safe.

Idea for perspective

2009-05-04T00:25:00.000-07:00

The design of this planter is to offer an easy veiw of the growing vegetables. It puts the plant "on show" for the child and makes understanding them easier.

point of veiw

2009-05-04T00:13:00.001-07:00

Went round my flat for about an hour on my knees and took a few photos of what I saw, a childs point of veiw is very different as our world is designed for adults. Children are almost always looking upwards so I will take this into consideration in my designs.

Amsterdam herbs

2009-04-27T14:56:00.000-07:00

While I was in Amsterdam I saw this stall of ready to grow window herbs pretty standard but nice.

patch update

2009-04-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

Just an update of how my patch is doing.

String and wood model

2009-04-11T10:54:00.001-07:00

Here is a quick mock up of how I intend to grow root vegetables vertically, the string acts like a mesh to stop soil from falling out of the vertical base . The string though can be manipulated to make more space to get the vegetables out without damaging the mesh or vegetable.

Food a fact of life

2009-04-07T04:28:00.000-07:00

This is a really useful website for this project.

Child health statistics

2009-04-07T04:21:00.000-07:00

Child Health Statistics.

Nutrition in Britain

2009-04-07T03:22:00.000-07:00

useful website

Another vertical garden I found

2009-04-07T03:04:00.000-07:00

More vertical gardening, space saving and looks good. This living wall by Smith & Hawken is being sold for growing fresh kitchen herbs easily.

Environmental impact of food

2009-04-06T03:24:00.000-07:00

Meet the Food You Eat from Adam Little on Vimeo.

This is a video of a scale that measures the environmental impact of food. link here

What is wrong with what we eat?

2009-04-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

Interesting talk that fits in well with my breif by Mark Bittman on what is wrong with what we eat.
Link to ted talk.

Moss ecosystems

2009-04-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

Nice blog I found on moss ecosystems

window sill garden

2009-04-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

looking much more lively thinking it's almost time to get into bigger pots. My first intention was to plant these in my plot but I want to conduct an experament as to wether vegetables can be grown well indoors. I will then compare the indoors with outdoors.

Beer, teaspoon of sugar and lots of moss. BLEND then serve onto a wall

2009-03-31T10:09:00.000-07:00

My first try at moss/eco graffiti step by step. Get the moss, wash off dirt/small stones, blend with a beer and some sugar then slap mixture on a wall. wonder if I could dry out the moss and grind it down with a teaspoon of sugar and instead of the beer dry starch? If that worked then some kind if just add water moss paint could be made.

keep me right

2009-03-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

Right no confusion this time, this is an ordered list of my plot with the position of everything that I have planted.

Spuds from space

2009-03-31T09:53:00.001-07:00

These might look like aliens but they are actually potatoes that I have kept in a dark cupbord for about 3 weeks, now they are ready to plant.

Plot

2009-03-31T09:44:00.000-07:00

My plot 2 meters squared and chock a block with seeds. Really easy make lines in the soil then place your seeds in each column before re covering with earth, then water, water lots.

fast growth

2009-03-31T09:38:00.000-07:00

These are a couple of updates on how my seedlings are doing.

Grub from the center of the Earth

2009-03-31T03:54:00.000-07:00

This is a creepy little grub thing that I dug up from the plot... nasty!

Digging the plot

2009-03-31T03:37:00.000-07:00

here are some images of me digging the plot, it's roughly 1 meter by 2 meters or the size of a standard door. firstly i marked the borders edge, I then cut the turf into moveable pieces. The soil underneath was full of rocks that I removed then the soil was almost fluffy, ready to plant.

First life

2009-03-31T03:31:00.000-07:00

First sign of life in my seed trays. Don't know what life though as I have forgotten the order in which I planted the seeds... oops.

1950's style

2009-03-26T04:59:00.000-07:00

The graphic style of the 1950's is long from gone, this new graphic was actually designed for obama by Shepard Fairey

some more eco-graffiti

2009-03-26T04:49:00.000-07:00

Some moss graffiti!!! Crazyness and very cool, I've been researching on how to do this and think Im going to give it a go. For the moss paint get a can of beer a few clumps of moss and a spoon full of sugar just like Mary Poppins, chuck them in a blender and buzz till smooth then paint.

just a cool video I saw

2009-03-26T04:32:00.001-07:00

This video is a cool idea and brings a fun playfull theme aswell as a tactile feel to helping the environment. eco-graffiti.

2009-03-26T04:32:00.000-07:00

Question sheet

2009-03-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

One of the question sheets I am sending to the local primary school to get an idea of how much kids know about there veg.

seeds of change

2009-03-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

Here's just a couple images of my little startup planters and a veiw of the garden below where I am going to start my plot.

plant wall

2009-03-24T11:13:00.001-07:00

So as you can see the walls work inside and above is a modular section, why then if we can build in 3d do we still think of gardening in a 2 dimensional way? The one difference I will have to take into account for my design is that these plants need much less soil to grow but this is a mere design impracticality that is easily solved.

tools of the trade

2009-03-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

These are my tools, recently bought from B&Q they were cheap and cheerfull and all that I expected . The thing I did not expect however was the side effects of carrying these fine implements back home. I had opted to buy the basic tools of the trade a spade a half moon and a fork and when I strolled home with them on my shoulder all onlookers appeared more intent to let me catch there smile. The interest in my exploits had left me feeling slightly forfilled and happy in my quest for sustainability.

greener attempts

2009-03-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

These are a couple of buildings that have actually incorporated plants onto the skin of the building rather than a few scattered pots around it. The plants are hooked up to plumbing so easy to water and give an overwhelmingly beautiful aesthetic.

Just like Dad

2009-03-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

Children always look up to their parents and siblings at an early age, if at this age positive veiws about vegetables or even pride of their vegetables were introduced then theres a strong posibility that the veiws will be retained throughout their life.

Dinner time

2009-03-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

Our nations health is at an all time low, it's now time to take responsibility and give the new generations a chance at living healthily. I intend to look into how much children really know about where there veg comes from, with this information hopefully a solution can be put into action as to somehow change the negative veiws of veg.

A war on environmental change

2009-03-17T16:44:00.001-07:00

The project I am undertaking rings a few bells with the idea of growing fresh produce during war time to aid the country through its time of need. Just because theres not a tangible personified enemy does not mean that there is no enemy at all, the war we are waging now is over our planet and its resources, the enemy environmental change, global warming, the carbon footprints of our fossil fuels. For these reasons I have decided to draw some insperation from old war propegand advertising styles, Dig for victory!

self directed proposal

2009-03-17T16:36:00.000-07:00

These images enforce the idea that is driving my breif, the possibilities of teaching children and getting them living in a sustainable environment while their young enough to take ideas on board, enjoy the time spent with their parents and move on to live healthier lifes with more knowlage of how to do so.

Boat overloading

2009-03-16T11:35:00.000-07:00

Some interesting photos that show how easily overcrouded and overloaded the standard 6 man rescue boats get. Mainly due to the fact that the crew consists of a four person unit only leaving space for 2 more people and a streatcher.

Snap-out

2009-03-02T05:11:00.001-08:00

I like the idea of this snap out dinner set and I think that this idea could be carried through to my design, maybe not the snap out aspect but the idea that the platform could have various rescue products incorporated.

floatation

2009-03-02T04:58:00.001-08:00

Staying with the same theme of buoys and moving onto the idea of rather than transport maybe a teathered platform or rescue point. Like an area where people could congregate for rescue with basic first aid and supplies. Much easier to see from the air and some sort of priority in air lifts out can be much more easily made injured first etc.

flood casualties

2009-02-27T09:48:00.000-08:00

Transport

2009-02-27T09:31:00.000-08:00

Sort of self explanatory some mode of transport that could be hidden around the every day and then come into use as flooding occurs. If not transport then at least some kind of anchored floating platform. Priority of air lifts to most needed, helping wounded maybe some kind of stretcher.

A possible shape

2009-02-27T07:47:00.000-08:00

This is an idea of a shape that could vary in use. as seen in the picture its a make shift shelter or bridge/raised platform. Upside down a floating road when linked together, overflow networks also and possibly others.

2009-02-27T07:19:00.000-08:00

River overflow is another thing I've started looking into, the idea of a multi-funtional design is still at the back of my mind something that could be used as a shelter, overflow, bridge etc

Back to modular shelter idea

2009-02-27T07:03:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about the modular way we already live in Britain, same house next to house and arranged in lines to create streets. If the same basic arrangement could be created then maybe a sense of familiarisation could be developed, this would also mean that the shelter would not seem so alien.

Pizza slice shelter

2009-02-27T06:43:00.000-08:00

The idea of this is to enable a generic stack able form that will lock together to form shelters. this could also mean that no door would bee needed the shelters section could just be slid out of the way for entry.

Space saving for transportation

2009-02-27T06:37:00.000-08:00

The fan is an ideal solution to space saving. similar to an umbrella but with a more rigid structure. the profile of the fan is straight what if it was changed to some other line type that could enable shelter.

initial idea

2009-02-27T06:24:00.000-08:00

A couple of quick ideas incorporating both rotomold and bamboo the basic rotomolded plastic shapes hold the bamboo in different structures, for example an easily constructed raft or partition wall (left). the right side shows possibilities of a wig-wam type structure.

Modular britain

2009-02-20T07:57:00.000-08:00

Modular design makes me think of the housing that we inhabit in britain. house after house in straight lines and not differing from one another much at all. Moving that train of thought to a refugee/ homeless shelter modular housing could be arranged in rows to reflect on the streets that have been left behind. This would also mean that the strange environment wouldn't be such a shock to the system.

K'nex

2009-02-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

I love the idea of having a set number of pieces with almost endless application. If I could simplify my design into a couple of easily fabricated shapes that could have many building possibilities. well that would be awsome!

Cambodian school bus

2009-02-20T07:38:00.000-08:00

While for most places flooding is a dangerous and unexpected disaster, some places in the world live with flooding annually. Above is a picture of a school in the kandal province in cambodia and the schools transport for the flood season.

lifeguard float

2009-02-20T07:21:00.000-08:00

This object is something I find interesting as it matches some of the ideas I am proposing. the plastic body is bright and has easily found handles along with probably being rotomolded.

Visibility

2009-02-20T06:52:00.000-08:00

For flood survival a valuable asset is visibility. If you can be spotted by rescuers easily and quickly you have a much better chance of being rescued. If you are in the mirky waters or stranded without food and water time is of the essence, people are hard to spot so how about making it easier?

Bamboo

2009-02-20T06:24:00.000-08:00

Bamboo is an amazing and widely available material it grows extremely fast and so is a very renewable material. Bamboo can be used to build a multitude of structures due to the fact it is both light and strong. bamboo can be easily lashed together to form rafts, bridges, irrigation systems. As well as having the ability to be split easily along it's length giving even more possibilities to construction with bamboo it can be eaten and also made into a wool like fabric.

The construction properties of bamboo are similar to that of plastics in that the are both light and strong. Plastics though do not degrade as fast the can come in any shape and also in any colour. for example the final property stated means that a luminous object could be created which could be easily seen by rescuers.

Just a report I found useful

2009-02-17T06:44:00.000-08:00

Reducing the Vulnerability

of the Poor to the Negative

Impacts of Floods

A park bench

2009-02-16T11:32:00.000-08:00

When times are bad people pull together and I think the image above shows this well. comunitys strengthen and petty feuds are dropped. A clean slate to start on.

Safes uses

2009-02-04T13:12:00.000-08:00

Storage has to consider what it is that is being stored within. There's not much point in keeping ice cream in a safe, it will keep it untoched but also melted.

Crocodile safety

2009-02-04T13:02:00.000-08:00

Storage of a baby crocodile by its mother, the safest place for the young is in the caring parents mouth. A place of storage is a place of security and safe keeping, Storage then when considered within a design brief is something that will keep the stored object safe from harm.

food storage

2009-02-03T05:54:00.000-08:00

Another example of storage, in this case a hamsters life line,its food. I don't think its too applicable to my design considerations but hey, a little giggle.

Umbrella style shelter

2009-02-03T05:14:00.000-08:00

An umbrella is a form of shelter, a possible large scale portable shelter?

Similar to a teepee in form and they are a very sucessful shelter having been used for thousands of years without any change to design.

Refuge in buddhism

2009-02-03T04:58:00.000-08:00

The meaning of taking refuge in the Three Jewels is explained somewhat differently by the various schools of Buddhism. The Theravada teacher Bhikkhu Bodhi said,

"The Buddha's teaching can be thought of as a kind of building with its own distinct foundation, stories, stairs, and roof. Like any other building the teaching also has a door, and in order to enter it we have to enter through this door. The door of entrance to the teaching of the Buddha is the going for refuge to the Triple Gem — that is, to the Buddha as the fully enlightened teacher, to the Dhamma as the truth taught by him, and to the Sangha as the community of his noble disciples."

Re-use housing

2009-02-03T04:47:00.000-08:00

Above is a block of flats made from re-using shipping containers. This design gives me another idea as to how I will confront the design problem. The re-use of available materials along with the rotationally molded plastic would be a very useful thing to look into.

Safety in visability

2009-02-02T12:43:00.000-08:00

Hermit crabs have their shelter with them their whole life switching it every so often but will always have another shelter to go to before vacating their current shell. The fact that you never see a hermit crab out of its shelter makes this picture quite intriguing in that it is visible to an extent. For some reason it doesn't seem like it's that effective a refuge because of its transparent nature. In essence I feel a refuge should make you feel safe. For example I would feel safer sleeping in a tent than a green house in the middle of a dark wood. It's the thought that your on show,visible to all like a display shelf that makes you feel vulnerable.

A hug as a source of refuge/shelter

2009-02-02T12:27:00.000-08:00

Hugging is a shelter of types, the safety and welbeing felt from a hug is hard to match and can wake you from the saddest of feelings.

feelings of safety from height

2009-02-02T12:11:00.000-08:00

Height gives an advantage over our enemys, we get a better view and can see further. the extra distance added between us and the threat also enforces the feeling of safety. The nests in the picture below are made by weaver birds and I really like the fact they are built in a little community. A possibility is to design some kind of ready made stilted foundation to build ontop of, or some communal storage area where grain, school materials, clothes and medical supplies could be stored hanging and hauled up and away from flood water and to safety. lots of little stores hanging from the structure ready to be pulled away to safety.

Ants and boats

2009-02-02T11:56:00.000-08:00

More similarities drawn between nature and man. Above is a picture of fire ants in a flood, what they do is link their floating bodies together to support each other agianst the currents and keep the queen away from the water. This made me think of marinas and how they are just a floating metropolis of boats and walkways. They are very safe and easily cope with the currents and wind speeds of open water very much like a flood would have. Possibly some flotation device that could be connected together on a large scale would be helpfull. Attach survivors to grow in size and stability.

high density living

2009-02-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

A comparison to the animal world through linking a refugee croud to a swarm of bees, the high density living of both of these pictures is obvious. The bees solution, a hive can hold a huge number of bees and neatly fits vast numbers of honey stores and grub nests in a small amount of space. refugee camps are messy ununiform and unwelcoming, they have few resorces and if they do are far between.

One nil to nature giving a possible basis for my design.