ABOUT:
Here is my process work and final execution for a brief given to me in 2015, my last year at Vega.
In order for me to meet the briefs criteria, I planned and built a portable hydroponic system that can be manuvoured and altered wherever or however needed. The brief inspired me to look at myself in a new light by illuminating and eliminating the unimportant factors that influence me as a creative. Through maturity and self-motivation, I was able to create this on-going project because I felt growing plants best reflects my creative interests, strengths and integrity.
Whilst attempting to explore different themes and concepts, Urban-Farming was the only medium where I felt I could consistantly express myself. Throughout the brief I began independently managing and critically contextualizing my creative process from beginning to end, through a series of photographs, videos and trials and errors.
The documentation of the productivity and outcome of my final execution has enabled me to capture the growth of the plants grown in the hydroponic system over a period of 13 weeks.
TRIAL & ERROR:
Growing Corn over a total of Six(6) weeks
RESULTS:
Planted the corn too close to one another, plants started competing for nutrients + light
causing stunted and uneven growth, thus resulting in premature flowering.
HYDROPONICS:
Although the conventional way of farming had been most appealing to me, after learning about hydroponics through watching different growing techniques online, I began doing everything necessary in order to build my own system.
MY FIRST STEP WAS TO BUY THE FOLLOWING:
Hydroton - clay pebbles
Rockwool - medium that I would be growing in
Net pots
Hydroponic nutrients & suppliments
Hormone rooting powder
Airpump and Tubing
Hand held PH meter
Hand held EC/PPM meter
Measuring instruments
Seeds
SECOND STEP:
I decided on using the NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) method.
This method I felt would be best because it would be the cheapest to maintain.
Why? Because the plants would grow in long PVC tubes whilst being constantly feed by a small film of nutrient enhanced water.
This is a closed system that uses a pump to circulate the nutrient water from a reservoir to the PVC tubes, which then runs back into the reservoir.
After buying four 3m PVC tubes, I began drilling 50mm holes, 15cm appart from one another in each tube.
This left me with 19 holes 15cm appart in each tube.
19 x 4 = 76 PLANTS GROWING AT THE SAME TIME!
THIRD STEP:
Once the system seemed to be running smoothly, I planted my first cuttings of Mint, Basil & Rosemary.
I decided to use one PVC pipe at first because this would make it easier to maintain and learn from.
FOURTH STEP:
Consistently regulating nutrient uptake by the plants through controlling the PH levels and amount of nutrients in the water.
RESULTS:
Plants began showing roots within the 2nd week of growing.
Roots were white, showing that there is a healthy amount of nutrients and oxygen in the water.
FIFTH STEP:
Document the overall plant growth.
Here are pictures of the cuttings at the 2nd week stage and 8th week stage.
SIXTH STEP:
After learning how the system worked and understanding when things didnt work their best, I felt it was time to grow Lettuce.
First, I began planting the seeds into rockwool(that had been soaking in water), then placed them under a CFL light in a closed container
to retain moisture.This lasted a few days before the first seedlings could be seen.
After learning how the system worked and understanding when things didnt work their best, I felt it was time to grow Lettuce.
First, I began planting the seeds into rockwool(that had been soaking in water), then placed them under a CFL light in a closed container
to retain moisture.This lasted a few days before the first seedlings could be seen.
Once they were big enough, I planted them into the system and at 5 weeks they were ready to be picked from.
Bellow are the images from seedling to 5 weeks.
At 5 weeks I was able to harvest 100grams of lettuce.
