Can We Sustain Society Without Destroying Nature?

September 23, 2020 - Reading time: 4 minutes

"Our material eye cannot see that a stupid chauvinism is driving us from one noisy, destructive, futile agitation to another." Anne Sullivan

Necessity breeds innovation and there is a lot of necessity for sustainable food production, though the innovation has already in part been laid out before us.

Hagging gardens are nothing new. But they do provide us with solutions to modern problems.

Vertical Gardens

Hydroponic vertical gardens or crop walls are vertically planted gardens on a wall, using two sheets of fiberglass, with a coconut fiber substrate to root the plants. It is very similar to hydroponic gardens, where fertilizers are added to plants by means of nutrient-rich substances.

To make a vertical garden, you need to have a metal structure, preferably, that can be purchased in the garden shops, or made with a few cables and a little creativity. This metal structure hangs on the wall in a way that does not be completely attached to it, but must have a little separation to avoid excess moisture and for some oxygen to enter.

Two PVC or fiberglass plates can be used to design the vertical garden, cut to the desired size. Between the two plates is placed a layer of felt, where the plants and coconut fiber will be rooted. Basically, it works as a hydroponic garden, with drip irrigation with nutritious substances, and in a soilless environment.

In a vertical garden you can plant all kinds of ornamental plants and flowers, as well as plants such as aubergines, strawberries, melons, beans, among others.

Another way to make vertical gardens is by means of a crossed vertical armor made of wood, in the form of a rectangle, where vine plants that grow vertically, centered in a single space, are planted.

The Basic Hydroponic Gardens

The idea is simple. And it is simple to achieve. The resources are basic and readily available. There is nothing stopping us. Save space constrains for some, and the motivation for others.

The idea of a hydroponic garden seems daunting, though they are simple and facilitate the growth of plants using a mineral solution instead of soil. The mineral solution usually contains water and certain nutrients that are needed for the plant. With basic tools we can grow vegetables in our hydroponic garden and without any maintenance required.

The first thing we need is a support for PVC pipes, this support will be necessary to make some holes where the pots will be inserted where we will subsequently place the seeds of the plants that we want to grow. The nutrients needed for plants are introduced directly into the water.

Gone are the need for garden beds, dirt, and large amounts of space.

Some Reasons to Consider Them

1. This type of garden is known for being small and easy to grow indoors, they are also perfect for growing vegetables, especially tomatoes. As if that were not enough, the equipment required to maintain such a garden is not expensive and is relatively easy to handle.
2. Hydroponic gardens are those that grow plants without a soil, in other words they are "landless gardens."
3. There are many methods for making a hydroponic garden, most work better than traditional gardens, because it's easier to give the plant exactly what it needs when it needs it.
4. In these gardens, plants only receive what one gives him, that's why you'll be able to regulate pH, nutrients, the strength of nutrients, the amount of water and the amount of light plants receive (and you won't have to worry about the winter cold).
5. All of this makes it necessary for you to learn everything you can about the plant who is trying to grow, so that you know what to give them to grow and thrive.