Vertical Gardens 1 Analiza U. Miso, Xavier University

Vertical Gardens

Vertical Gardens

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Analiza U. Miso, Xavier University

Vertical Gardens

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Contents

1. Concept

2. How it can optimize SSWM

3. Design Principals

4. Operation and Maintenance

5. Applicability

6. Advantages and disadvantages

7. References

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Background

•The term vertical garden refers to any kind of construction and support structure for growing plants in an upwards-directed, vertical way and thereby efficiently and productively making use of the existing space.

•A huge variety of different designs and concepts are available.

•The design of vertical garden depends on the available material, space and local preferences as well as on the creativity and imagination of the users.

•Crops that can be grown comprise food crops (vegetables, fruits, herbs) and non-food crops (e.g. ornamental plants, medical plants).

1. Concept

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Important factors how Vertical Gardens optimize SSWM


•Vertical gardening aid to advance the productivity levels of urban and sub-urban agricultural production sites where most often available space is the biggest agricultural limitation.

•Vertical Gardens utilize soil, compost, vermicomost, acrylic material as well as aquaponic and aeroponic solutions as growing media thereby maximizing the use of the resources while compromising the degradation of nutrients by using various planting medium.

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Important factors how Vertical Gardens optimize SSWM


•Vertical gardening can re-utilize greywater, reclaimed water or the fertilization with urine.

•It maximizes the use of space by using sacks, bags, flowerpots and all kinds of available receptacles like bins, cans, tins, bottels, tanks or boxes and even the unused places like on the roof of houses, balconies, on the top of walls or just hung up.

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Cultivation arch, cultivation tower

and cultivation bag, Gampaha, Sri Lanka. Source: RANASINGHE (2008)

Cultivation umbrella, cultivation bangle and cultivation tat, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.Source: RANASINGHE (2008)

Few Different Vertical Garden Designs

•Further vertical garden solutions that allow for a good utilization of available space are cultivation arches, cultivation towers or cultivation bags.

•Other systems like cultivation umbrellas, cultivation bangles or some kind of cultivation tat have also been proven useful

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•A variety of different substructures like cultivation ladders, pyramids or racks can be designed and constructed to grow plants vertically

Cultivation ladder, cultivation pyramid, cultivation rack, Gampaha, Sri Lanka. Source: RANASINGHE (2008)

Cultivation Ladder, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. Source: R. Gensch

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•Walls, murals and exterior walls of houses are also an often used as a vertical gardening alternative either just as beautification of the wall or to grow vegetables and other crops along the wall.

•Either the wall will be modified with additional bricks or holders can be used for growing plants on the surface of the wall.

•Plants should be selected according to the orientation of the wall.

Cultivation wall, cultivation holder, Gampaha, Sri Lanka Source: RANASINGHE (2008)

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•To make sure plants do grow well on vertical surfaces regular water and nutrient supply needs to be ensured.

•Irrigation techniques like bottle irrigation or regular watering with watering cans and alike can be used.

•Essential plant nutrients like Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium should be applied according to the needs of the plants, this can either be done by adding synthetic fertilizers or by making use of compost, vermicompost and/or human urine or other organic fertilizer sources

• The use of treated or partly treated greywater and reclaimed water can also be a cost effective alternative water and nutrient source particularly in water scarce areas.

4. Operation and Maintenance

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•Vertical gardening is an excellent opportunity of growing food in areas where space is limited, particularly in densely populated urban areas.

•The different vertical garden technologies are an effective, simple and sustainable method of enhancing food security for urban communities, slum dwellers and other communities where agricultural production areas are limited.

•Most solutions can easily implemented with locally available material at low cost while it offers at the same time a livelihood opportunity and contributes to the local food security situation.

5. Applicability

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6. Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:

• Low cost

• Minimal agricultural area required

• Contribution to household food security and alleviation of food shortages and poverty

• Reuse and recycling option for human excreta, biodegradable wastes and greywater

• Temperature insulation by growing plants on the walls of houses

• Simple and easy to understand

Disadvantages:

• Unpleasant odours may appear during the irrigation with greywater and urine

• A certain amount of labour required

• Regular watering or irrigation system has to be in place

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7. References

KULABAKO R., KINOBE J., MUJUNGA J., OLWENYI S., SLEYTR K. (2009): Greywater use in peri-urban households in Kitgum, Uganda. Kampala, Uganda: Makere University, Department of Civil Engineering

PASCAL P., MWENDE E. (2009): A garden in a Sack: Experiences in Kibera, Nairobi. In: Urban Agriculture Magazine, Vol. 21, p. 38-40

RANASINGHE T.T. (2008): Review of UPA activities in Gampaha, Sri Lanka: lessons learned. Sri Lanka: Western Province Department of Agriculture (WPDOA)

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Vertical Gardens 1 Analiza U. Miso, Xavier University