Growing Without Soil: The Future of Urban Farming
Soilless farming systems offer a sustainable way to grow fresh food in urban spaces, using water-based methods instead of traditional soil. These systems maximize space, reduce water waste, and create efficient, high-yield farms in unexpected places — like parking garages.
Explore the differences between hydroponics and aquaponics to find the best fit for your urban farm.
Hydroponic System
A basic hydroponic system is constructed by:
1 base unit, consisting of 2 modules: Control and Storage.
and 1 supportive hydroponic unit per producing unit, consisting of 2 modules: Harvest and Dosing.
and 1 producing hydroponic unit consisting of 10 growing modules.
You also need 1 propagation module, for a set of 5 producing hydroponic units.
Propagation module
Before the growing module in the system can grow crops, it is essential that the seeds are first propagated. This is to ensure the seeds are grown in a specific environment beforehand to assist with their early development.
This is typically conducted in a propagation area, which is kept separate from other areas for cleanliness and ease. Once the seeds have germinated and have developed their first seed leaves, or a small number of true leaves, they can be transplanted into the growing module, where they will receive nutrients from either the aquaponic or hydroponic equipment.
Seeds can be propagated in very high densities, which means a whole farm only needs a very small area for these activities.
Dosing module
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Growing modules
In the growing module, will be vertically stacked shelves and artificial lighting.
Growing modules will produce leafy greens using soilless systems; either aquaponic or hydroponic. In this example we list modules needed for an aquaponic system to work.
Control module
The indoor climate will require constant set points of temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide (or oxygen for mushrooms), which will be maintained by a control module.
Storage module
As with any business, storage is required to provide a short- to long-term home for all the materials required to run said business.
In the case of this urban farm, storage is required to store seeds, growing substrates, tools, cleaningand maintenance equipment, fish food, etc.
It is anticipated that the size of the module should be ten percent of the overall footprint of the urban farm, with a minimum size of one car parking bay.