Growth...

There is no doubt about it. Things are growing!



View of the beautiful post-summer storm sky from the garden lot.

Design Inspiration - Golf Bag Carts

On my way to water the garden, I passed the open door of an architecture office down the hallway from my loft. The cart just inside the door caught my eye (as a result of this project, anything with wheels and at all cart-like makes me stop to look). The two-wheeled, compact cart is used to carry a golf bag which was sitting next to it. So I started looking at other golf carts and was surprised by some of the smart designs I saw (minus the remote controlled, self-propelled motorized ones).

Design Inspiration - Bike Trailers

I've been looking at the designs of bike trailers both those that are manufactured and those that are DIY projects. I'm studying their ruggedness, simplicity, lightweight materials, standardized wheels, construction, hitch systems and practicality.

Urban Farm Cart Part 2

My second stage of the Urban Farm Cart Project led me to focus more on material and form. It was, at this point, that I wanted to go screaming into the night. I felt stuck and started to realize that I really needed to grow some things in order to push the idea and design in the direction that I wanted it to go. I wanted something meaningful, functional and as a result, beautiful because of its logic and intent. I still want these attributes as the foundation of the Urban Farm Cart and this middle stage was the critical, albeit incredibly frustrating part of the process I needed in order to gain important insight on the project.

Urban Farm Cart Part 1

Here are some images from my early design ideas for the Urban Farm Cart. I imagined it as part of a larger network, where each cart could 'plug-in' to a city-owned and maintained Urban Farm Cart station. These stations, powered by solar photovoltaic panels and would provide electricity and water hook-up for urban farmers wishing to use them in order to sell their produce. The designated locations would be chosen by the city and community as the best spots for commerce, safe and efficient traffic flow and optimal sun exposure for the solar collectors.

As I worked on this early stage of the project, I focused on Little Village, a neighbourhood located in the City of Chicago. This is a predominantly Mexican community that is vibrant but in need of more economic opportunities; it is feeling the effects of the ailing U.S. economy and the current immigration policy that is forcing undocumented workers further into the informal sector. I saw thus network of Urban Farm Carts, Farmers and Farm Stations as an opportunity to create sustainable business opportunities for the residents as well as a way to turn empty lots and underutilized backyards and rooftops into create healthy green spaces.

Urban Green Space = Good

Being out in the empty lot next door to water and look at the garden is refreshing. Despite the man-made rubble that lies beneath, it's amazing to observe the life that thrives there - the wild flowers and plants, butterflies and dragonflies. The city breeze that moves through the space is different than the breeze that usually moves along concrete, brick and pavement. It is sweet-smelling and unobstructed. It's too bad more people can't enjoy it. I'm one of the few who has this view because I climb through the fence each day.

It's important for people to see things growing and thriving in the city. It seems to awaken something good in us. The people passing through the alley that runs next to the garden stop while I am there to say hi, to ask me what I am doing and tell me they are glad to see someone doing something positive in the vacant lot. These two small boxes of a few herbs and vegetables have a power that I did not anticipate - to start conversation, to create community and to show to others the potential that lies in a place that has been empty and fenced off from the neighbourhood for so long.

Is Anything Growing Yet?!

I went out and watered today. I think things are growing but I'm not certain yet!