Leading up to the 2013 U.S. Solar Decathlon in Irvine, Calif., Ecobuildingpulse.com is keeping tabs on the progress of several teams. In a regular blog series, the teams will shed light on the experience of putting together their submissions for this year’s Solar Decathlon. The teams will go up against 18 other teams from Oct. 3–13., to see which one designed the best solar-powered house. This week’s blog entry is from Team Capitol DC.
Although the gardens and exterior grounds of the homes are not specifically judged during the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition, our sustainable landscape design for HARVEST HOME will make this home even more energy efficient. In addition to planting shade trees and native plants, providing a wildlife habitat, attracting pollinators and collecting storm water, we have installed two vegetable, herb and fruit gardens that reduce our carbon footprint and eliminate the use of pesticides and preservatives. All of the plants are grown in recycled milk crates, turning an asphalt tarmac into an abundant growing space. In most places, the milk crates are stacked creating a raised planting bed that is easily accessible from the walkway.
A New York City restaurant called Riverpark inspired the milk crate concept. The chefs were looking for a source of fresh produce that was readily available so they turned to Brooklyn design firm, Ore design + technology, who helped them create an urban “pop-up” farm, based on the concept of using salvaged milk crates to provide a flexible and temporary urban farm complete with its own urban farmer. The owner of an adjacent vacant lot agreed to give the group space to install the farm next to the restaurant entrance. Within months, 7,000 crates at Riverpark Farm
were producing enough food to supply all the vegetables and herbs needed to sustain the restaurant.
These milk crates are flexible and portable allowing the homeowners to move them freely (both indoors and out), thus increasing the growing season and providing fresh produce virtually on demand. The concept showcases how a simple idea can support sustainability in a very meaningful and economical way. It has great potential in bringing gardens to urban areas, rooftops, yards with undesirable soil conditions and other places where growing plants might not otherwise be possible.
Sustainable landscape design isn’t just about creating an attractive garden; it’s also about creating functionality. How we use the land is just as important as what we build on it and is key to our future ecological health.
Keep visiting ecobuildingpulse.com for updates on the progress of the teams competing in the 2013 U.S. Solar Decathlon.
