GoodtoChina is a social enterprise that designs solutions for social innovation and sustainability that encourage a paradigm shift from non-sustainable behavior towards sustainable and healthy behavior. We tackle urban challenges by creating opportunities for change through the development of contemporary systems and environments and by providing tools and education to influence a change in people behavior: as a consequence of these interventions we help to propel new opportunities for social and environmental reform and economic revenue through changes in demand and supply to traditional systems.
Each strategy and design solution addresses the 3 pillars of sustainability, namely, social, environmental and economic.
Our umbrella goal is to create environments whereby people, business and environment are healthier and happier.
The impact from the systems we propose can be measured across both tangible and non-tangible elements that include: happiness, pollution, energy usage, renewable energy, food sources, renewable materials & construction.
We do this through a variety of products and services:
Sky Farms is one of our products and services
Sky farms: An innovative platform of experiential urban farming which encourages sustainable and healthy living, supports a paradigm shift from the conventional food model, which is rural, disconnected and monoculture to an alternative contemporary approach which is urban, connected and distributed.
Sky farms are designed to support social innovation and sustainability: they connect and engage communities, educate and enable sharing in collaborative socially desirable environments
Impact: positively impact the psychology and quality of life of urban residents by repurposing unused spaces and so encourage a re-distribution of the food chain, increase knowledge of how to grow local organic food, increase green space in the city that will help to reduce hot island city effect and reduce energy usage for cooling and heating,
Proposal for sustainable food system to benefit under nourished school children and their communities
1. Sustainable Eco
System
Solutions for
Kids in residence
at economically
poor schools
To improve child health and
education through growing
nutritious food, helping to
create local community
development and economic
independence
2. Contents
The goal
Challenges
Learning from Urban-Rural
prototyping, practice and
iteration
SkyFarms
mission
journey
network
Creating community,
events and workshops
the urban farm
Urban solution
Rural solution
Development status
How you can help
3. Challenges Farming and Food
Crisis
People Food
Disconnect
Kids in school
residence in poor
rural areas poor
nutrition
Limited access to food
variety and healthy
nutrition
Lack of knowledge of
how to grow
sustainably
Values of farming
undervalued
4. ChallengesUnicef.org/nutrition
Proper nutrition is a powerful good: people who are well nourished are
more likely to be healthy, productive and able to learn. Good nutrition
benefits families, their communities and the world as a whole.
Undernutrition is, by the same logic, devastating. It blunts the intellect,
saps the productivity of everyone it touches and perpetuates poverty.
Approximately 40 percent of children in rural China are stunted as a
result of maternal and childhood malnutrition, according to a 2009
UNICEF report.
Compelling reasons to increase efforts. A group of leading economists,
the Copenhagen Consensus, has consistently confirmed that taking
action on undernutrition is the single most important, cost-effective
means of advancing human well-being
5. Apply deep learning from Urban - rural
developments to rural solutions
Share knowledge
through experiential
learning
Use design to change
values
Include ongoing
maintenance
Set up school eco
system for food,
waste, water, people
flow and benefits.
16. Package A for Urban Schools
Ground level educational size farm:
Practices concept from Farm to Table
Closed loop sustainable food system that encourages leadership and teambuilding.
Physical requirement flat area, preferably with water source
Minimum 10 beds + composter + integrated maintenance system
17. Package B for Rural Schools
Ground level educational & experiential farm
+ green house to grow greater volume
Includes: Package A + poly tunnels to support and protect the growth of vegetables in
varying climates. Enable greater volume to support nutritious and independent eco
system food supply for school children.
+
18. Local - Scalable
+
Eco system
development
Workshops &
events
+
Urban farming
Video series :
on-line
distribution
Infrastructure Knowledge share and build Reach and Scalability
Applied Applied In Development
19. How can you help
Short term: Sponsor a local migrant school
• Test locally the model for scaled role out to
malnourished, in residence school children, in
poor rural areas
• Help us give migrant & malnourished children
a chance to eat healthy nutritious vegetables
• Give them the opportunity to experiential
learning, change the values associated with
food
• Provide a highly interactive living green space
in a deprived area
• Enable Volunteers to work with local migrant
school children
Long term: Support our urban farming experiential
learning video series and help us reach many
malnourished rural in residence school children
Editor's Notes
*In China,almost 70% ofwaste thrown into landfills is organic,compostable material. (70%的垃圾是有机的。)
Solutions for roof top and ground level : ready to go packages for schools and small biz – 10 beds and a composter
Until now we have been local so we are developing “knowledge sharing packages” so to be able to provide solutions beyond shanghai Sky farm installation solutions range from our roof-top or ground level ready to go packages to full design solutions. Packages start with a ready-to-go farm - this includes ten raised planting beds (with drip system, LED lights, etc.), one composter. Knowledge share and build SkyFarms represent modern, cosmopolitan, urban green space with a holistic approach, bringing urban farming to life beyond growing vegetables, with activities to engage schools and businesses such as yoga, tai-chi, theatre, art shows plus a mix of workshops. For this reason the Sky Farm installation is accompanied by workshops and events that support the sustainability of the space, drives interest and engagement and encourages informed decision making for healthy and sustainable lifestyles. Reach and Scalability The Sky Farm installation is entirely scaleable and can be installed in any school or business. The experiential nature of the Sky Farm is completed with an inspiring video series that enables teachers, volunteers and employees to engage in their own environments where-ever their location. To optimize the accessibility of our Sky Farms, GoodtoChina proposes to develop a twelve part video series, which will be distributed online (TBD). The videos encourage a direct, hands-on approach to motivate and help new Sky Farmers every step of the way! The entire series is categorized into four themes: Introduction to urban farming, Maintaing your urban farm, Making the most of your urban farm and alternative farming.