This short video documents the process of construction for one of the vertical garden prototypes, “Cortina de Agua”, developed by students from UDLA and the UDBS during La Tolita workshop in Quito, Ecuador.
The goals for this prototype were:
1) Use low-tech labor and tools for fabrication. This product will most likely be fabricated by individuals in Quito who do not have access to a woodshop. If this product is to be replicable by the community, it must only require tools that are readily available to them.
2) Use materials that are readily available and affordable. “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” By creating value out of material that is of little value to others (i.e. trash), you ensure that you have a constant source for the material and that it is affordable, if not free.
3) Use minimal processing of materials. The vertical garden should be simple and easy to construct so that it can be replicated by the community. It must not involve complex processes. Repeatable, simple-to-understand processes lead to higher quality and faster fabrication time, especially as skill is developed.
4) Compact and light-weight. The hills of Guapulo (the test neighborhood), as well as the rest of Quito, are quite dramatic. Additionally, the end-users may not necessarily have access to a car. Thus, the vertical garden should be easy for one person to carry on foot and install.
Ultimately, we created a light-weight vertical garden “curtain” (“cortina”) constructed of reconstituted plastic bottles, string, PVC pipe, and wood from a deconstructed pallet. It can be made by one person using a hammer, a nail, and a knife. During fabrication of this prototype, we did additionally use a band saw to cut the PVC pipe in half, as well as an electric drill to make drip holes in the PVC; however, we believe the PVC could be replaced by a lower-strength plastic, bamboo, or another material that could be manipulated by a knife rather than power tools. If not, a hand saw may be able to do the job. Additionally, the lower wood member could be replaced by the other half of the top member, reducing the scope of material and waste.
The fabrication method for this prototype we think is somewhat poetic: the stringing and weaving method is reminiscent of traditional Ecuadorean hand-craft. We think this product is something that could even by made and sold in markets, potentially creating a source of income for someone. It is light-weight enough and can be flat-packed for easy transport to site.
We had so much fun developing this prototype, and we hope that it can be improved and implemented to increase ease of gardening and access to food/herbs for the residents of Guapulo, as well as elsewhere in Quito!
