Introduction:

From the onset, the course seemed to be “not my kind of thing” but I must say, I was pleasantly surprised from what we learned from this short yet insightful introduction to the long albeit a little lost world of agriculture and its emerging technology. Jonathan, from the get go, let us dive into the soil and get a feel of/for everything dirt-y that surrounds us. Our foray into the agri-forests lead us onto adventures, old and new, some inside the class but the intriguing ones, the more important ones outside:

Community Farm:

Our field visit marked a significant spot in Poblenou, where we dived deeper into our community and its very kitchen. We got a first hand experience, understanding the developments and the initiatives riddled across while also stumbling on the ROMI: our friendly neighborhood robot, capable of accomplishing amazing things all while pioneering advanced mechanisms and taking over planting, crop monitoring, data collecting/analyzing, among other things!

Fun fact: It is important to note that the first image of the tree is not actually a tree but a plant!

Valldaura Trek:

Far away from the dwindling city lights, we went up the hill, to the other side of the campus, all the way up to Valldaura. Frolicking, limping, huffing, panting, doing everything but relaxing, we made our trek while looking at and admiring the local cuisine and enjoying the scenic views of the ever growing city. The trek taught us about the local species and the amazing iNaturalist website and application that helped us identify our local neighbors and develop a deeper appreciation for nature.

The local (courtesy of IAAC) greenhouse and its interesting hydroponic system in play along with the various other indigenous and ingenious techniques involved made for an interesting and fulfilling trip up the mountains that left us wanting for more, which we got, by unplugging the weeds out of the local farm.

The trek-team

Hack-ing Farm-ing

As part of the adventure, we were tasked with finding a site, any site to pick and hack, and be able to deliver a system that would work for the betterment of the same. While wanting to go traditional at first, the team comprising of Flavio, Maithili and me, decided to go in a different, more vertical direction; both literally and metaphorically. We came to a consensus of trying to find a site that is super evident and accessible to most of us (at least here in Barcelona), and generalize the solution. So, we decided to take a walk and landed up on the roof, ergo, terrace, which became our site (IAAC rooftop for the versed and a(ny) balcony for the unversed. And there goes the proposal:

Outdoor Aeroponic Farm with Sound Wave Technology:

We wanted to propose something that was accessible, immediate but emergent enough **for it to take shape anywhere and everywhere: from the largest rooftops to the smallest balcony. Our version of the Aeropnic Farm works like a drum. The Soundwave technology connects at the top and the bottom of the farming system and works on two levels:

The bottom level leverages recycled kitchen greywater into an eco-friendly filtration system, helping nurture the growth of the plants while deterring any pests creeping from the bottom,
The top level functions as the pest deterrent and vibrates off anything that doesn’t belong in the system from the top down, for better care for the plants

This proposal highlights the efficacy of a sustainable and innovative aeroponic farm system designed for “urban” balconies, addressing the challenges of limited space, water scarcity, and chemical-free pest management.