Process work

Problem Statement

While there is a burgeoning interest in urban ecological restoration efforts, urban agriculture, and a general renewal in green spaces, urban soils are highly modified by human development. This presents the threat of toxicity, particularly in the case of edible plants. Urban agriculture presents an opportunity for a healthier, more self-sustaining city with a greater connection to the land, but this movement is impeded by the threat of toxic soil. While the altered nature of urban soil isn’t a secret, the degree to which it is common, public knowledge is uncertain. An understanding of soil quality is an essential step in urban restoration because it simultaneously promotes human and ecological health. By developing a system that promotes soil education and proper action to avoid risks, city dwellers can contribute to the greater health of their habitat.

Prototype 1

Sunday marked the implementation of our first prototype, an experimental design of sorts. After discussing the joy of pea shoots, we stumbled upon a beautiful little surprise.

A perfect plant to test our ideas out. We want to see
a. if the pea shoot thrives
b. how people interact with our planters

We built a small planter to hold our exceptional sprout, and left it outside to be seen, touched, or even taken.





















The site:9th street and third avenue in Brooklyn




No instructions were left with the prototype. Before we give any instructions, we're curious to just see what happens. Round two will include an instruction booklet and, hopefully, an entirely different outcome.

Notes from Meeting 3/28/10

Discussion:

-targeting with community gardens may stop diffusion (although this is a sector we would like to address too)

-Diffusion into Park Slope Food Co-Op community/Other CoOp community for people who may be interested but not directly connected with urban vegetation, open spaces, and agriculture. (erica working on making the flier to attract people at the CoOp

- Focus- Designing and creation of the booklet as a test to our control prototype for more awareness, silkscreening identifiable logo or symbol that becomes associated with Growing with Transparency. Distribution and networking of job sharing

-Flare- ...in need of further discussion. (providing a service for people who are interested in starting where we build the planters and tech them how to take care of them, and we help them place them on the street or in open areas that will improve curb appeal...?) (seed bombing?) What do you guys think?

Our Prototype

Potential materials:

wood- long lasting but hardest to work with

Paper Mache- good for smaller scale plants- potential for decomposition

Milk Crates- Ready made

Found objects- may decrease curb appeal

Burlap- Best to start out with and true to our aesthetic

Connection with coffee shops/grocery store/restaruant- utilizing their space....?

Potential Questions for our other:

Would you be happier seeing green in this open space, than now?

How important is curb appeal to you?

How important is plant life in the city to you?

Are you interested in growing your own food?

Would you be more interested if engagement with a community group is involved?

Do you want to know more abut plant care and soil health?

Do you wish you had an available ground space?

What is preventing you currently from growing in the city? (lack of knowledge, limited space, concern for soil and air quality,?)

Would you be more likely to be involved if the work is shared?

What level of involvement are you willing to take on?( so we can know what segment of our diffusion group they are in.)

Process Work

Feedback notes















Mind Map



















Design Proposals















A proposed business model for creating and distributing raised beds to Brooklyn residents

Group Storyboard

this is our first story board exploring the simple steps of creating and implicating chain link fence planter boxes
3.10.10

Value and storyboard notes

Lilah Horwitz 3.10.10

Design Proposals

Lilah Horwitz 3.3.10

Process documentation and Individual Mind Map

Lilah Horwitz 2.24.10

Notes on Systems

Lilah Horwitz 2.17.10

Notes from group brainstorming

Lilah Horwitz 2.17.10

Project Brainstorming Process

Lilah Horwitz 2.17.10

Seed Starting

On Friday, I started germinating lettuce seeds in my window.



























This is partly a personal endeavor, and partly an experimental design. What would happen if this plant was placed in our urban environment? I'm curious to find out. If I gave plants away how many people would care for them? I'm attempting to grow lettuce in my window because I want to see if, given the constraints of my urban lifestyle, it's economical and practical to start growing what I tend to eat a lot of. I often feel guilty for buying lettuce year round because I'm all too aware of hidden costs in production and manufacturing. I would like to be more self-sufficient, and I'm fed up with using my lack of a backyard as an excuse not to pursue this project. Lettuce is pretty shade tolerant, and thrives in soils ranging from 50-80 degrees Fahrenheit. If I can do this successfully, can I convince others to follow suit?

-Erica

Group Assessment

3/10/10 Erica, Lilah, Hannah

Process Notes: Hannah Kramm Part 2

Both from: 3/3/10

Process Notes: Hannah Kramm

Fixing urban soil spaces: 2/24/10

Problem Statement: 3/3/10
What Brings us Together: 2/17/10

Interests: 2/17/10

Group Mind Map

Erica, Lilah, and Hannah

2/24/10

Preliminary Mind Map

By Hannah Kramm

Date 2/17/10

Who we are:

We are experimental and Responsible students and designers who are concerned with social and environmental issues in the urban sphere, in our case, New York City. We use urban interventions, work-shopping, experimentation and grass roots construction to promote awareness around the potential for plant growth in neglected open spaces in Brooklyn. We are interested in education about issues of soil health, urban agriculture, curb appeal, city beautification, rehabilitation through the use of plants, and figuring out ways to use existing infrastructure as a place to support vegetative growth instead of suffocating it.