Maximum Yield USA 2011 August | Page 28

MAX facts hydroponic news, tips and trivia MAX facts hydroponic news, tips and trivia Vertical Garden to Tower Over Chelsea Flower Show A 30 foot tall food garden (skyfarm) was constructed for the 2011 Chelsea Flower Show in London. One wall of the steel-frame structure is entirely plants, the other entirely solar photovoltaic panels. The panels power the water pumps that push water from a borehole round the hydroponic growing system. Inside the tower, along with the stairs are greenhouse areas for propagation, and a compost chute. Everything in the garden is edible, even the trees: the vertically trimmed lime trees have flowers that can make an herbal tea, while the mulberry trees give a crunchy berry. The garden illustrates the hundreds of edible plants in the world, including many unusual varieties like Stevia rebaudiana, a sweet-tasting sugar substitute. (Source: www.guardian.co.uk) Future Green City Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates BrightFarm Systems and Kiss + Cathcart Architects are currently developing the first prototype GreenMarket system (hydroponic food production facility) to be built at Masdar City in Abu Dhabi. The GreenMarket utilizes BrightFarm Systems pioneering rooftop and facade mounted, sustainable greenhouse designs to integrate hydroponic food production into civic buildings. Abu Dhabi has certainly put itself on the map for representing the future in eco-city development. Masdar City is a high-density and pedestrian-friendly development where current and future renewable energy and clean technologies are showcased, marketed, researched, developed, tested and implemented. (Source: www.theurbn.com) 26 Maximum Yield USA | August 201