Research

Urban FarmingTeam 8 Knowing is half the battle! Yuebo Wang | James Schmittler | Ben Serrette | Sarah Reederhttp://www.andrewblum.net/photos/uncategorized/green_brick_t346.jpg1

IntroductionFood is our common ground, a universal experience.James Beard (1903-1985)Introduction Research Goals Concepts Finalhttp://www.andrewblum.net/photos/uncategorized/green_brick_t346.jpgEveryone eats. Food is something that connects us on a primal level. The act of sharing food with one another is an act of peace, respect, and friendship, and the growing of food together creates an equally strong bond. Bloomington Indiana is a special place. It is an urban environment surrounded by rural farms. This geographical feature leads to an enticing local food buzz and we want in on the excitement!2If We Assume ThatIt is more sustainable to consume local foods.Urban areas have a high density of people.Without proper resources, people cant grow their own food.

Introduction Research Goals Concepts Final1. High transportation costs, one of which is pollution, means the tighter the production/consumption chain, the more sustainable. 2. This is the definition of an urban environment high density. Higher density in cities means less sprawl and that more natural, wild area can be preserved.3. Resources include a place to grow, proper sunlight, physical ability, time, and knowledge. It is important to note that not everyone has all of the resources needed to grow their own food, but may have some resources they might share.3And Its True ThatKnowledgeable farmers enjoy sharing trade secrets.New farmers tend to be inexperienced.Experiential education is more effective than book learning.Not everyone has all of the resources needed to grow their own food.

Introduction Research Goals Concepts FinalEthnographic observation at the Bloomington Farmers Market revealed vendors willingness to share what they call trade secrets. Vendors are happy to educate their customers, and were more than willing to tell us about their trade. An example of a trade secret would be to look for mushrooms under a certain kind of tree, to plant two kinds of pawpaw trees in order for them to produce fruit, etc.Second generation farmers are choosing paths other than farming, leaving rural homes to make a living in urban areas. New farmers are now more often not from farming families. A knowledge gap exists between new and old farmers. (source: Farmers Market book)From our focus group we learned of the importance of experiential education. Through the experience of growing food, finding food, etc, the student learns more than what is being taught. Only through experience can one learn of pride, of accomplishment, of sense of place, or connect with nature.Observation of living conditions in an urban environment include lack of proper growing conditions for some, lack of knowledge for others.4Then We ShouldFocus efforts on urban areas.Connect those with knowledge to those who need it.Encourage sharedresource farming.Introduction Research Goals Concepts FinalIf we can encourage people in urban areas to grow some of their food for themselves, we can reach a lot of people! Urban areas have the greatest deficit of local food.Many young people are interested in growing food as a hobby but lack knowledge, other resources, or encouragement to get started.Without sunlight one neighbor finds gardening difficult. Another may have the space but not the knowledge. Together they could grow food, but alone they are likely to fail.KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE!5

ResearchFood is a human necessity, like water and air, it should be available.Pearl Buck (1892-1973)Introduction Research Goals Concepts Finalhttp://www.andrewblum.net/photos/uncategorized/green_brick_t346.jpgSome research we conducted, including observation, focus groups, contextual inquiry, interviews, and an affinity diagram.

Because knowing is half the battle!6Focus GroupPeople in Bloomington are passionate about local foodIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Final

Before deciding which direction we wanted to take in the field of sustainability we held a focus group consisting of four individuals who contribute to sustainability in different ways. We met with Tracey, a local resident of Bloomington who is a gleaner, someone who collects local foods but doesnt necessarily grow their own food. We also met with Judy, also a resident of Bloomington who has a small personal garden in her back yard as well as a few chickens.

7ObservationFarmers MarketPeople who know about gardening are excited to share informationIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Final

Once we decided on a food centered concept we started exploring our opportunities to gain more knowledge on the topic. Through our focus group we discovered that Bloomington is home to a regional Farmers Market every Saturday. As a group of observers, we attended the farmers market taking notes on the routines of the vendors as well as the consumers. What we found was that the venders are very knowledgeable and willing to share that knowledge with anyone who asks. Through a few short interviews with the vendors we also discovered that it was customer loyalty that kept the farmers going. It is also the loyalty of the farmer to produce the freshest produce that keeps the customers coming to the farmers market.

8Contextual InquiriesVolunteer Community GardenWith guidance more people would be willing to helpIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Final

Through more investigation we found that Bloomington has a number of community gardens, gardens that do not belong to a single person but the community as a whole. We attended a work night at the community garden where we met Aaron, a student at Indiana University who has organized the garden from very early on. Once there we learned the basics of upkeep for the garden using Aaron as a guide. He taught us the importance of hands on exposure and expressed the needs of someone like him who wants to try to create a community oriented garden that produces food for anyone willing to help create it. From this we learned there are many responsibilities resting on his shoulders as well as many hurdles he must overcome. For example, because they do not own the land which the garden exists, it can be taken away at anytime. We also found through our own experience that not knowing what to do or what plants were ripe and which ones were weeds, we felt helpless. We looked to Aaron for help and were glad to have him around.

9

GoalsThere can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling.Mirabel OslerIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Finalhttp://www.andrewblum.net/photos/uncategorized/green_brick_t346.jpgWhat did our research tell us?

That knowing is half the battle!10Enhance CommunityIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Final

http://www.cityoftaylor.com/files/images/Img_0007.jpgOne of the first goals we look to explore was the promotion of enhanced community. We found through talking with people interested in local foods that the idea of community is very important to them. We wish to emphasize this idea to help people realize the sense of pride that one gets when helping their own community.

11Provide FoodIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Final

http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/market.jpgBecause food is a necessity to all living things on the planet, it should be a growing concern in the realm of sustainability. What we hope to achieve through urban farming is to provide this valuable resource to the locations where the problem is the greatest. 12Encourage Urban FarmingIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Final

http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/10/24/urbanagriculture.jpgWhat we discovered is that since the population is denser in urban areas the need for food would be greater. Through our research we found that it is possible for our target group to grow food, keep it local, and do so in a sustainable manor that is both good for the people consuming and purchasing the food as well as for the environment in which the food is grown.13Experiential EducationIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Final

http://aeoe.org/news/online/images/Lifelab2.jpgWe also found that for ourselves, learning by doing was a very effective teaching practice. We heard many stories and got a lot of advice from farmers in the community on how we could grow our own food and be sustainable. However, it was the contextual inquiry, actually going to a garden and doing the work, that really showed us as a team how the effort and work lead to a better sense of self, community, and what it means to be sustainable.14Transferring InformationIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Final

http://www.wineducation.wsu.edu/images/studentsinvineyard2.jpgWe also want to explore a means for people who know to communicate with those who want to know. We found that through interviewing people in the community they are very willing to help those who are interested or looking for knowledge. However, we also found that at times it can be hard for them to be in touch with or know the people who either know the knowledge or want to know the knowledge. 15Utilize Local ResourcesIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Finalhttp://www.purbeckdc.gov.uk/images/lowresyofflogo.jpg

The idea of local kept appearing in the information we were coming across. This concept of local food, locally grown, sold locally, consumed locally. Because this seemed to be such a major theme throughout the process we began to realize that Bloomingtons problem wasnt motivation, it was resources. We found that people wanted to farm or grow food but did not have the means. We feel that by providing a communal set of resources that would allow users to do the types of gardening they want without having to purchase for themselves expensive land and take all of the time required to produce the kinds of foods they are interested in.16

ConceptsThe greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses.Hanna RionIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Finalhttp://www.andrewblum.net/photos/uncategorized/green_brick_t346.jpgWe try to understand the users pain. And knowing is half the battle!17ConceptsDigital Task ListIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Final

A digital ToDo List. Users would input tasks that other users could mark as complete after working in the garden. This task list would facilitate collaborative gardening. It could be displayed on a kiosk, online, or both.18ConceptsFarmers Market Online

Introduction Research Goals Concepts FinalA digital ToDo List. Users would input tasks that other users could mark as complete after working in the garden. This task list would facilitate collaborative gardening. It could be displayed on a kiosk, online, or both.19ConceptsGarden Rotation / Apprenticeship Program

Introduction Research Goals Concepts FinalThe garden rotation program involves Donated land. If a user has a plot of land that is being unused, but that user would like to participate in community gardening, he or she can offer the community to use their plot of land. The user would maintain control of the land, and be allowed to partake in the harvest while others would primarily tend to the land. Donated plots of land could include an alley near a business that is being unused, or a persons back yard.

The apprenticeship program would pair a relatively inexperienced gardener who is physically capable of working on the garden, with a more experienced gardener who has the knowledge, but not the means to attend to their garden.

Both of these programs could be coordinated through a basic message board or Internet forum.20ConceptsGoogle Maps mashupNative vegetationOther garden typesSoil fertilityPests

Introduction Research Goals Concepts FinalA mashup between Google maps and information about the local agricultural conditions. This map could feature overlays describing natural vegetation, what people are growing in their gardens, soil conditions, known pests, or plants that have been known to do well in the area. This information would have to be inputted by participating users or would need to cross reference some other, respected agricultural database.21ConceptsGardening Information Wiki

Introduction Research Goals Concepts FinalA wiki that can be used to dissipate knowledge would be helpful for all interested participants. The wiki would contain general information about gardening and more detailed information, including picture of ripe/unripe vegetables. The wiki would be implemented using a standard, free wiki software. One downside is that its content would need to be completely user generated. It would require a large community that is able to submit information, otherwise it will not work.22

Final ConceptTake thy plastic spade,It is thy pencil; take thy seeds, thy plants,They are thy colours.William MasonIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Finalhttp://www.andrewblum.net/photos/uncategorized/green_brick_t346.jpgOur Proposed Design Solution the (semi) final design

23Ruth

Jeremy

Introduction Research Goals Concepts FinalPhoto Credit: Microsoft Clip ArtPersonas:

Ruth is an 82 yearold woman who farmed for most of her adult life, has been persuaded to retire and move to the city by her family, whom she now lives near. Ruth keeps a garden in her small city yard. It just wouldnt feel right if she didnt have one. Yet as she ages, she finds it is becoming more difficult to do routine tasks, like weeding and turning compost. She has time, land, and knowledge, but lacks ability. She is personable, enjoys sharing trade secrets with others, and is sometimes intimidated by technology.

Jeremy is a young college student who took a class on sustainability and has been inspired to start his own garden. Neither of his parents were farmers, but they did keep a garden when he was young. Growing up in California, Jeremys favorite food was bananas. He wants to grow some bananas now, but he lives in an apartment, so hes trying to find some land nearby where he might be allowed to grow some bananas. He heard it can get cold here, though, and wonders how bananas will do. Jeremy has ability, but is short on time, knowledge, and land. He is tech-savvy, inquisitive, and adventurous.

24In Which Jeremy Discovers a Garden

Introduction Research Goals Concepts Final

Our young ablebodied hero, Jeremy, in walking past one day discovers a garden. Curious, he examines the kiosk at its entrance. On learning this is a community garden, he feels welcome to walk around and see what is growing. Saddened that there are no bananas to be found, he leaves a message on the kiosk, hoping some might be added. He sees a post about an upcoming workday and adds the event to his schedule, planning to come back and help out.25In Which Ruth Finds an Audience

Introduction Research Goals Concepts Final

Ruth strolls past the community garden on her way to the local grocery store. She enjoys seeing the progress the young whippersnappers have made. Today the tomatoes appear in bad shape and need to be staked. She stops at the kiosk to leave a message. At the kiosk she sees a question asked recently by what must be a very fresh one! Bananas in Indiana! Ruth laughs out loud, then contains her laughter but continues to smile as she enters her reply. A tropical fruit like bananas cannot survive the harsh Midwest winter. For tropical taste in a robust plant, try pawpaw, the Indiana Banana, instead!26In Which Knowledge is TransferredIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Final

Jeremy has been looking forward to the community garden work day event all week. He told some of his friends from his sustainability class about it and they decided to meet at another community garden closer to them on the other side of town. Jeremy checks the kiosk on the back of the shed at this garden, and is pleasantly surprised to discover he can access the kiosk at the other garden! He reads Ruths suggestion about pawpaws and excitedly asks his friends about the about the Indiana banana. They agree they would like to plant some in the community garden.27

Thank You!http://www.andrewblum.net/photos/uncategorized/green_brick_t346.jpgBecause knowing is half the battle!

Mantra: knowing is half the battleCore problem: transferring knowledge28Extra ConceptsAuto Watering Robot

Introduction Research Goals Concepts Final BS SlidesContainer farming is an important part of urban farming. We think that people may be more inclined to start farming in containers if it were easier to take care of the plants. By adding a shower/waterer function onto a Roomba, it could automatically find plants and water them.29Extra ConceptsAuto Watering Robot

Introduction Research Goals Concepts Final BS SlidesWorst case scenario: The roomba goes crazy and waters your cat instead.30Extra ConceptsSoil Sensor

Introduction Research Goals Concepts Final BS SlidesThis is a sensor that can be inserted into the soil in either a garden or a potted plant. The sensor would be able to describe the soil conditions, including nutrient composition and hydration.31Extra ConceptsSmart Pot

Introduction Research Goals Concepts Final BS SlidesThe Smart Pot is a pot for container forming. It contains sensors that can capture information about the contents of the pot. This could include information about the soil content, sunlight, and hydration level. This information could be displayed through led indicators. It could also be used to send text messages to the owners cellphones or contact an Auto Watering Roomba.32Extra ConceptsSmart Pot

Introduction Research Goals Concepts Final BS SlidesA sketch of concept for smart pot information display.33Extra ConceptsPlant 911

Introduction Research Goals Concepts Final BS SlidesPlant 911 is a system that gives garden owners a support circle. If a gardener cannot tend to their plants, he or she would be able to send out a text to all other members of the users plant 911 circle.34ConceptsPlant Selector

Introduction Research Goals Concepts Final BS SlidesAfter inputting the zipcode or city in which they live, and filling out a short survey, the app would cross reference this information with a database to find plants that the user can grow. 35ConceptsKiosk in Other FormsIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Final BS Slides

Possible forms for the kiosk. It needs to be portable, so that rules out the tree. The concepts with a covering or roof might include solar panels to help supplement electrical needs.36Problems?Local FoodResourcesKnowledge

Expensive

Time

Land

Tools

Short supply

Introduction Research Goals Concepts Final BS SlidesResources:Knowledge, many people have knowledge to share, but many people want to learn the knowledgeTime, not everyone have time to gardenLand, people who live in the urban area dont usually dont have land to gardenTool, people dont usually cant afford so many tools for gardeningLocal Food:Expensive, local/fresh/organic food is usually very expensiveShort supply, local food is in short supply, they do not 37Community Garden KioskPortableDurableInvite UseEncourage ActionIntroduction Research Goals Concepts Final BS SlidesAn advantage of community gardens is that they can be temporary on land which will have some other future use. The kiosk should be as portable as the garden.

Not interaction, action! We want to use the kiosk to inspire action, so it would be designed to be engaging for about 5 to 10 minutes. Perhaps bright colors to get attention would encourage user to go work in the garden after they discovered what needed to be done (task list).

38Why a Kiosk?Weather proofNo peripherals requiredWireless hotspotWeather stationAccess from InternetKiosk IntranetIntroduction - Research Goals Concepts Final BS SlidesA plain old bulletin board would require pen, paper, tape or thumb tacks, etc. With a touch screen kiosk, all you need is your finger and the ability to read. No paper waste, no litter, no lost messages. From this standpoint, its more eco-friendly!

Weather station possibilities: http://www.campbellsci.com/index.cfm Perhaps the Geological Survey, which has this type of stuff laying around in storage, would allow use of the dataloggers when not needed for USGS stuff.39

Why Food?ApplicableVisibleUnique

Why Food?ApplicableVisibleUnique