3. Who said gardening was out of date? Green spaces are more in
demand than ever in our crowded world. Here are just a few
examples of gardening initiatives, large and small, transforming
environments and communities.
We have graded the examples out of pink garden gnomes.
1 garden gnome = poor innovation / 5 garden gnomes = great innovation.
1. Hydroponic Gardens: Wuhan, China.
Can you imagine private hydroponic gardens for
every apartment? Yes, every unit in the tower has a
100-square-foot trellised hydroponic garden that’s
designed to produce fresh vegetables all year round.
In addition to providing a relaxing and great space at-
tached to each apartment, it offers up a renewable food
source for a family living there, making it both stylish
and functional. It’s a wonderful idea, one that would be
great to see in the plant-starved cities here in America
as well. Who wouldn’t want their own hydroponic
garden, after all?
www.ecofriend.org
2. London: Feeding Olympians in 2012.
The Mayor aims to create 2,012 new growing spaces in
time for the Olympics, partly by offering owners of flat
roofs incentives to convert their space into gardens.
Mayor Boris Johnson wants Londoners to convert
unused spaces, including rooftops, into vegetable
gardens in order to feed 2012 Olympians with products
grown in the British capital.
London’s flat roofs, where gardens can use rainwater,
offer an area roughly 24 times the size of Richmond Park,
the 2,360-acre urban park in the British capital.
www.thaindian.com
1. Cuba: Revolutionary Community Gardens.
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba’s
economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by
more than half ~ and food by 80 percent ~ people were
desperate. Community gardens dramatically reduced
the hardships and struggle the Cuban people experi-
enced during this difficult time.
Cubans made the transition from a highly mechanized,
industrial agricultural system to one using organic
methods of farming and local, urban gardens. Cubans
refer this time as the‘Special Period’.
www.yesmagazine.org
1. Guerilla Gardening: USA & Global!
Your imagination is the limit: railway embankments,
back gardens, golf courses, roofs, car parks, overgrown
bits, cracks in the pavement. The flower beds in your
town centre could be growing your crops, right in the
heart of the consumer landscape of burger bars, chain
stores and supermarkets.
Guerrilla gardeners are out there now. Why not join
them in digging for revolution
www.primalseeds.org/guerrilla.htm
1. Chicago: City Hall’s Roof Top.
Can you imagine a whole city disguised as a forest
dwelling? This is one of the forward thinking ideas,
the Mayor of Chicago is planning in his term in office.
Roof-tops are vastly underutilised spaces in the urban
environment, yet it is possible for any landscape, plaza,
or garden to be installed on a building or structure.
Even the thinnest green roof can effectively absorb most
rainfall events, reverse the urban heat island effect, and
provide wildlife habitat. They also insulate buildings,
extend the life of the roof membrane, increase property
values, and vastly improve urban aesthetics!
www.asla.org
1. Kenya, Africa: Garden Enterprise Philanthropy,
KickStart’s Economic Growth.
Give a man a rod and teach him how to fish! This is
the attitude KickStart.org takes to the wider issues in
war-torn Africa.
Since 1996 KickStart tackle water, poverty and starvation
head on with innovation and philanthropy ~ turning
garden farmers into entrepreneurs, with small amounts
of capital ($100 - $1,000 US) to start a new enterprise.
KickStart then helps them to identify viable business
opportunities and access the technologies required to
launch the new enterprises. KickStart’s technologies,
expertise, and methods are widely applied throughout
Africa to support programs in agriculture, shelter, water,
sanitation, health, and relief. www.kickstart.org
1. Wellington, NZ : Intersect - Creating
A Greener Web-Based Community
Intersect’s network is home for young professionals who
share interests in community gardens, sustainability,
regeneration and creating positive change.
They are diverse bunch, including accountants, artists, de-
signers, engineers, entrepreneurs, health practitioners, IT
gurus, journalists, lawyers, policy advisers, researchers, and
many more.
This is a place where you can meet some like-minded (and
not-so-like-minded!) folks, learn, inspire, seek assistance,
share events and develop opportunities.
www. intersect.ning.com
1. Melbourne, Au :‘Veg Out’Creates Community
Friendship, Conservation & Organic Gardening.
Originally Veg Out’s site was a retired lawn bowling green,
literally going to waste. Until local volunteers decided to take
action, and reserve it for public use.
They now have over 140 plots, where members, friends,
families and community groups enjoy getting their hands
into the soil. Many have little or no gardening experience,
but they soon learn as advice, seedlings and friendships are
readily shared.
A commitment to a sense of community, conservation and
organic gardening principles underpins all activities on the
site. Related endeavours include the monthly Veg Out St
Kilda Farmers’Market and water conservation initiatives in
association with South East Water.
www.vegout.asn.au
Where’s my Garden dude?!!
1: Affinity Diagram
4. Welcome to a Day in my Garden
2: Activity Analysis
Studying towards a Masters Degree gets mighty busy at times, but I do
manage to get some quality R & R. When time allows, I like to spend
my days off in my back garden, enjoying what I do best...
getting my hands dirty and being in with Mother Nature.
9.00am: Bucket Duty
If a garden bed becomes really
overrun, I have a good rummage
for self-sown treasures. These can
live happily in a bucket until I
find a new home. Free is good!
1.30pm: Giving Life Back to Nature
This is what it’s all about! So much preparation
has gone before... nothing is more satisfying than
setting little plants into their steamy manure beds.
There is a promise of reward in the future...
4.00pm: Stake Out!
Some plants need support as they
grow. By ramming in the stake now,
I won’t be damaging roots later
in the season.
9.30am: On the Trowel
Gotta get all the roots of the weeds
out... cutting corners now will bite
back fast.
10.00am: Just Dig it!
I learnt to dig watching my Father
in his garden. I could merrily dig all
day. Turning the earth lets in the
air, and in turn warmth. Gardens
need feeding, so big barrow loads
of compost are added now.
Funny... I forget to stop and feed
myself.
6.00pm: Chill Out
Aaaah...rewards at last.
Enjoying the results of
my hard work, in my
private Eden.
4.30pm: Cool Down
Phew I’m completely
wasted... Water is the final
essential ingredient.
At least I know I am doing
something useful while
I stand aching and
exhausted.
3.00pm: Seeding
Propagating from seed makes the
plants your own. Buying seedlings
is a bit like adopting orphans.
5. Welcome to my Garden Shed
3: Personal Inventory
When I took an inventory of the contents of my shed, I realised what a wide
range of items were stored there. My useful garden tools, herbs and onions
strung up to dry, and of course some‘memorabilia’. My shed is also a summer
retreat for my cats, and apparently for a visiting possum.
4
7. Solar
Dome
1
401
Concept
Scenario
Enhance the growing
environment with this
miniature biosphere.
Translucent polymer acts like
a green house, trapping heat.
Temperature level is moni-
tored... when things heat
up, the solar powered petals
unfurl. The reflective inner
surfaces now focus radiation
to really power the
photosynthesis process.
Free standing in
the city... just fill with
growing medium.
Protection from hungry
rabbits and possums in the
rural environment.
8. 2Just a little design thinking
could incrementally improve
the standard wheelbarrow.
Effortlessly vault over the step
in your garden. Just dial in
your step height and
tread length.
Lock and leave in any setting.
Take a tight 360 turn
on the spot.
Barrow
Boy
401
Concept
Scenario
9. Barrow
Boy3Revolutionise an every day
peice of garden equipment!
Keep your load level as you
traverse slopes.
Enjoy improved ergonomic
function; easier filling and
dumping.
401
Concept
Scenario
10. Safe
Rake4
A rake slamming into my face
inspired more than an egg on
my head. The Safe Rake uses
a lever-tensioning device to
release the tool head from
the handle.
The addition of a scythe
style handle allows for
a fluid sideways
raking movement.
401
Concept
Scenario
11. Smarty
Pants5Hands-on gardening just
became more hands- free.
Keep your mobile handy
and visible in a transparent
pouch. Have all your tools on
hand with the velcro bands.
Protect knees with built in
pads, while waterproof fabric
for the lower legs keeps you
dry. Stay hydrated with camel
back on the ready. A hotwater
bottle fits against your back
to keep you toasty.
401
Concept
Scenario
12. Edge
Hog6This little hydrating critter
waters your garden when you
are busy!
The robotic water system
follows the layout of
your garden.
Simply programme your
garden plan into your mac
(software provided). Place
sensor pegs into ground, the
‘Edge Hog’ will follow
Watering as long as you
want~ worry free!
.
401
Concept
Scenario
13. Sweet
Motor-Vator7Your automatic digging friend!
The Sweet Motor-Vator chews
through the hardest earth, with
little effort from you.
Using renewable energy
sources for power, applied to
innovative guiding systems.
The feet grip soil as revolving
body tunnels into soil.
Constructed from recycled
materials and life-time
guarentee for customer
satifaction!
401
Concept
Scenario
14. Gummy
Grabber
401
Concept
Scenario
8Remember those cold, wet
days in the garden? Your
boots are clogged and your
hands are frozen.
This innovative‘Boot Grabber’
takes the hard work out of
taking your feet
out of gum boots!
Simply place boot in Grabber
Tray and the rest is easy!
electricity
16. Assembly
Components
9
401
Concept
Scenario
Roof top gardens can be
installed using off-the-shelf
assembly components.
The basic
fundamentals include:
waterproof membrane
growing media
and plants.
Beyond the basics
could include:
hothouses
compartmentalised planters
rain collectors
irrigation systems...
in fact anything found in a
land based garden could be
incorporated into the design.
17. Sheltered
Spaces
401
Concept
Scenario
Exposure to the elements is
much greater on a roof top
garden, compared with a
ground level garden.
In order to make the space
inviting and useable for
people, shelter will need to
be provided.
The Mist Room is cooler by
up to 10o
, due to the fine
spray of water vapour.
Shade can be created by
layering the space with
canopies or shade cloths.
Screens for wind shelter can
double as growing frames.
10
18. Mulch
Cups
11
401
Concept
Scenario
The practise of mulching is all
about retaining precious
moisture in the soil, by
reducing evaporation rates.
This is even more critical
with shallow substrates,
such as those used for
roof top gardens.
Mulch cups are transparent,
condensation- catching
concave forms. They are
endlessly reusable, eliminating
the need to transport large
volumes of traditional organic
mulching material onto your
roof top garden.
19. Retro
Clip12
401
Concept
Scenario
The greatest opportunities
for green roofs and roof top
gardening lie in retro- fitting
existing structures. Think
about all that unused
urban space!
Most roof tops can
support at least a thin
growing layer, suitable for
drought resistant plants such
as sedums. Clip devices that
work with common
roofing structural elements
and materials simplify the
installation process. The
growing layer can even be
kept elevated from the roof,
reducing concerns about
moisture build up.
20. Resourceful
Reuse
13
401
Concept
Scenario
Gardeners are notoriously
resourceful, creatively
solving problems relating
to site, conditions or
plant selection.
Old materials including
packaging can be put
to good use, for
germinating seeds or
as growing containers.
Under utilised spaces can be
productively‘reused’, such as
with vertical gardening, or
pocket gardening.
21. Bumper
Harvest14
401
Concept
Scenario
Roof top gardens can be
productive beyond
a few salad greens.
Sun and rain can be
captured, providing light,
heat and water.
Further, electricity can be
generated from sun
and wind energy.
Don’t forget about flowers,
and a harvest of honey
from our busy pollinators.
22. Invitation
to Aspire
15
401
Concept
Scenario
Good design can invite you
to explore and enjoy.
Combine a peaceful seating
nook with a growing frame
for beautiful privacy.
Set your favourte recreation
in an inspiring setting.
Try growing your favourite
plants in new ways for new
effects, ease and aesthertics.
25. Barrow
Boy
Expanded
Product
Opportunity
2
Just a little design thinking
could incrementally
improve the standard
wheel-barrow.
Innovations include:
Lock and leave in any
location.
Easy drain bung application.
Roller ball lets you take a tight
360 degree turn on the spot.
Unloading crossbar and bucket
handles for easier dumping.
Flashing bike lights for road works
use. Placed in handles.
Ergonomic assymetric
bucket design.
Step vaulter.
27. Mist
Room
Expanded
Product
Opportunity
1What is better than sunshine
on your city roof top garden?
Being able to enjoy it, no
matter how hot it gets!
The air in concrete-dense cities heats
up in what is known as the‘urban
heat island effect’. Also, roof top
gardens are more exposed to the
elements than traditional gardens.
Relief from relentless heat can be
found by retreating to a Mist Room.
Atomised water lowers air
temperature by up to 17o
C, due to
instant evaporation. There is
no sensation of wetting or
increased humidity, and
running costs are very low.
Beat the heat and enjoy the
refreshing outdoors!
28. Mist
Room
Expanded
Product
Opportunity
2
The Mist Room could
contribute to your own
roof top green house.
Select temperature and
ventilation levels to create
an energy efficient growing
environment that supports a
diverse range of plants. Grow your
own fresh food year round!
Modular construction allows
tailoring of size and configuration
to suit the site.
Even the most hostile city
environment can become a gentle
natural haven... so get growing!
29. Mist
Room
Expanded
Product
Opportunity
3
Let green- fingered enterprise
in your roof top garden be
your favourite pastime.
Misting technology works equallly
well in an open air environment.
So now the coolest place to be is
outside, celebrating with nature.
The misting concept can be
applied anywhere- improve
bus stops, pedestrian zones and
lunch areas in public gardens.
