Vertical Farming

This year we're dreaming about the future, and thinking about ideas to get us there. Some ideas take a while to catch on, others seem inevitable. With more and more of us on the planet and living in densely populated cities, sustainable food production is an ideal topic to think about. Is there a better way to farm?

In SOM's (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) vision of future cities, many crops are grown right in the city, ensuring fresh produce and eliminating the need for transporting it over long distances (see Cities of the Future). In some places this is happening now through hydroponics (the growing medium is nutrient-rich water, instead of soil); aquaponics (water and fish waste is the medium); or aeroponics (air and nutrient rich mist is used). With these alternate methods, plants can be stacked in vertical racks, rather than planted in soil horizontally.

Growing lettuce vertically (photo attributed to Valcenteu)

But could these methods be done on an even larger scale? A few companies seem to think so, and are proving their concepts at both the commercial and residential levels). True Garden offers vertical tower garden systems that use aeroponics, for both markets. Plenty is located right here in the San Francisco Bay Area and grows greens vertically for the commercial market. Gardener's Supply even offers a high-rise, low-footprint solution for the home gardener that uses soil and drip irrigation.

Of course, there is always a counterpoint to consider (see 9 Reasons Vertical Farms Fail). But overall these are exciting trends to watch, both for the commercial grower and the backyard gardener.

Cities of the Future

Vision is our big theme this year. We're looking to the past for ideas that got us where we are today; living fully into the present moment; and looking ahead for visionary ideas of the future. For the past several months, COVID-19 has shaken up the whole world – the future is now! We're all eager to get back to our lives, but will it ever be the same? How must we  change and adapt?

Last year National Geographic published a special issue on Cities: Ideas for a Brighter Future (April 2019). I especially liked the conceptual ideas of architectural and urban planning firm, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Their design focuses on principles, rather than a prescriptive approach. One fundamental idea is that cities of the future must stabilize and restore ecological systems. Another is that cities must be human-centered. They call these design principles “biomorphic urbanism”. Densely populated "urban hubs" are planned with the ecology of the site in mind. Water is protected and reused; energy is renewable; waste becomes a resource; high-speed transportation makes it easy to get around; culture and heritage are protected; the infrastructure is carbon neutral; and the economy is automated and online.

Densely populated urban hubs are sustainable and liveable
[Image copyright by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)]

Of special interest to me: green zones are plentiful; parks and infrastructure allow water to percolate through the soil to recharge the water table; food is grown locally in urban farms and gardens; green roofs are plentiful; and living spaces include both common areas for socializing and spaces to retreat. I came of age in a world with only 3 billion people, and love my space and open areas! But, according to a United Nations projection, there will be 9.8 billion of us by 2050, with 70% living in cities. The ideas by SOM provide a vision of how we might change and adapt the cities of the future.

Learn More:

• This is What the Future's Sustainable Cities Could Look Like (subscription required, or visit your library). National Geographic, The Cities Issue, April 2019.
• What Should Cities Be Like in 2050? Peter J. Kindel of SOM. March 26, 2019.
• Monocle on Design: Cities of the Future. Podcast: Josh Fehnert interviews Daniel Ringelstein of SOM. May 21, 2019. 

Scouring your Fabric (Soaking Method)

Welcome back to season two of Plants to Dye For! Last year we learned about the history of dyeing with plants, how to prepare plant-based fabric, and how to dye it (see Plants to Dye For: Wrap Up). It was satisfying to see the white dish towels dyed to beautiful shades of brown and yellow using weld extract, walnut hulls and onion skins (and frustrating when the towels that were dyed with red cabbage faded from beautiful blue to dingy white). This year we'll try a few more projects.

Today I'm trying out another scouring technique, which is to soak the fabric over night in boiling water and scouring agents. I'm also trying out the idea of pre-scouring a larger quantity of dish towels. Fabric preparation is so important, but takes time. My plan is to separate the practical process from the creative process, by preparing a stockpile of scoured fabric for when the creative mood strikes! In this project I scoured 14 dish towels, most of which were used in the red cabbage project last year (see Dye Project: Red Cabbage). I also threw in an old cotton T-shirt just for fun.



I processed two batches of fabric, each weighing a little over a pound. The weights and measurements are not exact for the scouring process, but are provided as a guideline. I used Synthrapol and soda ash for the scouring agents. Synthrapol is comprised of water, isopropanol alcohol, and detergent. The detergent molecules surround impurities on the fiber, and water rinses them away. Soda ash (sodium carbonate) neutralizes the pH making it easier for dye to bond to fibers.

Scouring agents - Synthrapol and soda ash

The basic process for this technique:

1. Prewash the fabric. 
2. Soak the fabric overnight in boiling water and scouring agents. 
3. Rinse the fabric in cold water, then wash in the washing machine.

For equipment I used a large plastic bucket from the hardware store, and boiled about three gallons of water in the microwave using a one quart Pyrex measuring cup, and on the stove top using the tea kettle. I worked in the kitchen, since no fumes are generated, but used rubber gloves when handling the fabric, since soda ash is caustic. I also used a wooden paint stick from the hardware store for incorporating the scouring agents, and rotating the fabric periodically while soaking.

Large plastic bucket for soaking fabric

First, prewash the fabric in the washing machine with one teaspoon Synthrapol. Since I'm reusing the dish towels that I dyed with cabbage last year, I'm using Synthrapol to remove all traces of dye and impurities from that project. If you are processing new fabric, you could use detergent.

Then add the three gallons of boiling water to a bucket, and stir in:

• 1 tsp Synthrapol 
• 4 tsp soda ash

Add the dish towels (and T-shirt) and soak overnight. Stir periodically to rotate the fabric. After about half an hour, the water starts turning brown with impurities.

The satisfying brown indicates impurities are being removed from the fiber

 The next day, rinse the fabric in cold water, and squeeze out excess water. Wash the towels in the washing machine (no detergent). Optionally add an extra rinse cycle.

Air-dry the scoured fabric, then store for future use

At this point you can immerse the wet fabric into your mordant, brightener, or dye bath, or you can air-dry the fabric, and store it until needed. Label it so you know how it was scoured. Since I'm experimenting with doing these processes in batches, I air-dried the fabric, labeled it, and put it away until I'm ready for the next process. We'll delve into these processes in later posts.
  

Bring Back the Natives – Open (via Zoom)!

The Bring Back the Natives garden tour is an annual highlight for gardeners and nature lovers here in the San Francisco Bay Area. The private gardens are far flung – from Martinez to Fremont, Albany to Danville, and everywhere in between. Most gardens are water-wise, use California native plants, and are wildlife friendly. They are beautiful and inspiring and full of wonderful ideas. You really have to plan your tour to visit all the gardens you want to see.

Wildlife garden that provides water, food, and shelter

This year, COVID-19 stopped the garden tour cold due to lockdown and social distancing. This was devastating to both planners and would-be participants. Luckily, a few individuals sprang into action and re-architected the show from an in-person event to an online extravaganza to take place over three Sundays – April 26, May 3, and May 10. The event was kicked off on Sunday, April 26 with an online talk by ecologist Douglas Tallamy, author of “Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens” and “Nature's Best Hope”, and a virtual visit to the East Bay Wilds Native Plant Nursery with Pete Veilleux. Technology and some creative hustle saved the day!

Electric blue flowers of the native Ceanothus

Birds love this birdbath

To attend the final day of the virtual tour, you must register at 2020 virtual event. See View 2020 Gardens for photos of the gardens, and Bring Back the Natives to learn more about their mission and resources. Videos of the tours are posted to YouTube (search for "bringing back the natives garden tour").

Mix of native plants line the path