The world of urban sustainability is extremely vast and covers all sorts of environmental issues. One of the most significant and pressing issues however, is the issue of water conservation. Water is one of earths most abundant resources and we use it for so many parts of our lives. the average person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day! Although there is plenty of water on earth, it is not as unlimited as we would like to imagine. Water conservation is an extremely important solution that we have to find if we wish to continue living our everyday lives.
While many solutions and compromises have already been implemented, one of the most underrated solution to water conservation is the use of grey water. Grey water is the the relatively clean waste water from baths, sinks, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances. This water is not polluted with chemicals and can be easily cleaned. Obviously, grey water is not safe to drink and would not be used as an alternative to drinking water. However, grey water can be used as an alternative to water that we don’t ingest; such as for our toilet water (which accounts for a house holds biggest water usage) and for irrigation uses in your backyard. One misconception people often make about grey water is that it has come into contact with feces and other similar substances. In reality however, it is only the relatively clean waste water you use for laundry, or washing your hands. The water has never come into contact with feces or any other extremely dirty substance.
If we are able to unlock the potential benefits of grey water then we might just be able to take another step in the right direction. we would be able to save millions of gallons of water per year and continue to live our lives comfortably, knowing that our water isn’t running out
Previously, it was very difficult for the average New Yorker to eat locally grown produce. Many of us still eat produce grown from across the country, which needs to be exposed to many chemicals to remain fresh throughout the journey. Furthermore, transporting vegetation and other produce via motorized vehicles has further damaged our environment due to excess fossil fuel use (Safe Alliance 1994). As a result, many people are interested in urban farming methods to help bring fresh food to the average city dweller. Urban farming also adds greenery to our concrete jungle which helps reduce air pollution.
However, there are many obstacles that come into play when planning a farm in the city. A city like our own, lacks the space needed to sustain a large enough farm to feed a neighborhood. Moreover, in many areas the soil is contaminated with heavy metals and chemicals which cannot sustain vegetation. Certain farming methods such as vertical farming serves as a solution. Vertical farms plant vegetables and produce in layers, one on top of the other. Most vertical farms used artificial lighting for each layer of vegetation and are often indoors to protects plants from harsh weather conditions. Many of them also use the hydroponics systems, which replaces soil beds with water that is going to be reused (aquaponics is a variation of this). Aerofarms also incorporates other uses of technology, such as conveyer belts that package the produce. Many farms that use this technique support local supermarkets which eliminates the need to transport food over long distances. Moreover, it can create new jobs for people in our cities.
This system does have its fallbacks, it can be very expensive to start and manage. It is not an easy project for the average citizen to attempt because it requires indoor space. Also controlling the temperature for these indoor farms also increases the amount of expenditures. Most of all, the cost of lighting to sustain all layers of vegetation can be discouraging. To me, it seems like a task for larger companies like AeroFarms or Whole Foods to manage.
It is widely accepted in today’s society that our planet is over populated and dying from human pollution. Now that this problem has grown so large in our mainstream society, people and companies as a whole are trying to go greener, as long as it does not affect their profit too much. Many opinions arise from this, about what the next logical step is to help the environment without killing our economy and GDP. Aquaponics, an innovative way to garden greener is a small scale way of dealing with our problem, and it faces similar problems as going green as a whole.
Aquaponics is a self sustainable form of gardening that uses the environments of fish and pants symbiotically. Fish waste fertilizes the plants, and the plants filter the waste from the water for the fish. At first it appears to be a brilliant way of saving resources as the water never has to be poured out or filled back up again. The only thing required is for the fish to be fed. A nearly self sustaining gardening system such as this is a big step towards everyday people going green, and producing healthy food too. The main problem with it however, is its cost and relative size. An aquaponics system costs at least a few thousand dollars to set up and maintain, and it simply takes up too much space for one person to have in areas such as New York City. Now it may even be possible for a large scale aquaponics system to provide all of the nutrients required for people. However, the cost for the average American would be equivalent to many months of food, and the investment would not pay off until the plants are fully grown.
Although aquaponics may be a logical next step for those who can afford it and provide the space needed, it will not be a revolutionary system. Unless government action is taken aquaponics will never be able to affect the life of the ordinary individual due to its two great disadvantages, space, and money.
Aquaponics is a system that combines the seemingly independent practices of cultivating plants in water and raising aquatic life. By taking advantage of the natural symbiotic interactions between the two mini-systems Aquaponics has become a valuable technique to produce food for sustainable living. Although it is a self-sustainable system (for the most part) the effectiveness of Aquaponics as a larger scale system is largely doubted due to the relatively high startup costs and relatively low food production per square foot.
A question I’ve always had was: why are vegetables and fruits are so much more expensive than fast food from chains like McDonalds? As shown in the documentary Food, Inc. there are families within the United States that make the decision between filling the stomaches of their children, or eating healthy. Since the startup costs of these sustainable systems are so high,to offset them, vendors would likely keep prices for these items at a premium . Besides these startup costs, it is impossible to produce the sheer amount of food equivalent to that of traditional farming techniques. Since the supply would be less, the price of the items would tend to increase. This does not bode well to those that cannot afford these items originally. It does little if anything to improve the situation these people are in on a daily basis.
Just like many previous attempts to promote more sustainable living Aquaponics, although it provides unique benefits, will prove to be insignificant as the majority of America is concerned more with profit margin than environmental consequence. Unfortunately for us, by the time we adapt these innovative systems, it will be too late to make a difference.
The Bio Blitz exposed me to a variety of very mundane insects, or so I thought were mundane, after learning more about the ancestry of some of insects. I found and captured the Bull Spider. The Bull Spider is one of the most common and smaller spiders found. They are typically gray or brown and move really fast. Now the Bull Spider has nothing special to add to its biological makeup. What was more interesting was when we were told to look upon some of its family members, specifically the Wolf Spider. The Wolf Spider are very agile hunters with excellent eyesight. They are typically ranging in size from 0.4 to 1.36 inches. They are also able to camouflage themselves from prey because of their drab coloring. Yet what makes them one of the more unique type of spiders is their nursing habit. Wolf Spiders are able to carry all their eggs with them . The egg sac, typically a ball of silk, is attached to the end of the abdomen. The spiders would elevate their abdomen so that would be able to walk and not damage the eggs. Even with the egg attached to the abdomen, the spider is still able to hunt. After a period of time, the eggs hatch. For other spiders usually the young disperse and start surviving on their own or near their mother. Yet, for the Wolf Spide, even after the egg hatches, the young will remain attached to the mother. It is not like they are unable to move, or the silk remnants
Female Wolf spider with young and egg sac
keep in place, it is just for protection. The young would move up the legs and settle on the mother’s legs or abdomen and remain with her for a time as she hunts or moves.
Another spider that I looked up just for interest was the Brown Recluse Spider. They can grow between 0.24 and 0.79 inches. Now unlike both of the spiders mentioned above, this spider has hemotoxic venom, which destroys blood cells. Now if the bite isnt treated immediately it can lead to necrosis. The spiders arent aggressive, you could only get a bite if you brush up next to it. Most cases reported where from people who would simply put on clothes and never notice the spider in the first place! These spiders aren’t found in the Northwest coast (thank god) but are instead found mostly in the southwestern region of the United States. You can identify this spider by looking at its eyes and abdomen. It is unique in that unlike most spiders that have 8 eyes, the recluse has 6 eyes. They also have a black line coming from its head and thorax region.
Overall my experience at the BioBlitz was very informative, and it was interesting to learn more about the dangerous spiders as an interest.
Ever since I was young, my parents and relatives have been planting various types of vegetables in the small garden in my backyard. We have grown winter melons, fuzzy squash, zucchinis, and pumpkins. One of my neighbors down the street spend much of her free time in her garden. However, many of these home gardeners, my parents included, have been unaware about the excess amount of various metals in New York City soils, making it dangerous for people to consume the plants or even to be around the soil. Large amounts of lead can be found in many gardens in the city, which poses a problem for young children if they are exposed to it for too long, a likely situation if they are near the gardens. Metals, such as copper and zinc, are toxic for the plants itself. Since many of the gardeners are unaware of such problems, they cannot take action to protect their gardens from attaining high levels of harmful metals. Thus, it is imperative that the community learn and combat this problem. Community gardens are a great way to create safer gardens and progress neighborhoods to eating a healthier lifestyle.
Community gardens in the city allow for gardens to be supervised at a higher level. It is much safer to rely on having more people care for one garden because experienced farmers can create methods to reduce the amount of harmful metals and other toxins in the soil. Gardens in the city may seem useless because supermarkets with fresh fruits and vegetables are abundant. However, many of these “fresh” items become spoiled or rotten through transit, which ranges from about 7 to 14 days to get to the city. Although it seems like there isn’t a lot of space in the city, there are many abandoned, unused lots and areas that can be turned into a garden. In fact, there is an empty range of space on my block that is only used when the MTA are doing construction nearby. Turning empty lots into gardens will create an increase in jobs and provide fresh produce, such as roots plants, leafy greens, and fruits, for the neighborhood. It also reduces the amount of preservatives in the produces, making it better, healthier option than those at the supermarket. Having community gardens throughout the five boroughs allow for everyone to have accessible, healthier foods. It is a cheaper option compared to the organic foods in the supermarket, even affordable to low-income families. Aside from eating healthier foods, community gardens are a way for people to reduce stress and exercise in their free time.
Rather than having individual home gardens, having community gardens may be a benefit for the city. New York City have abandoned lots that can be put to good use to create community gardens, which can benefit the community’s overall physical health.
Aquaponics farming systems are sustainable, environmentally-friendly alternatives to conventional agriculture practices. They reduce the degree of pollution and allow for the conservation of gas, water, and land. For example, in traditional agriculture, the use of fertilizer is prevalent and results in toxic runoff that pollutes nearby rivers. On the other hand, aquaponics utilizes fish excrement as fertilizer, providing an organic alternative that is not harmful to the local ecosystem. In addition, unlike traditional farms, which export produce to far-away markets, many aquaponics farms serve local businesses and restaurants. This brings healthy and fresh foods to neighboring communities, while also reducing the use of gas in transporting vegetables. In addition, since aquaponics is a closed system that recirculates water, it requires significantly less water than typical agricultural methods. This system also requires less land; aquaponic systems can come in a variety of sizes and are often more productive than regular farming methods. Many of these systems produce greater vegetable output in a shorter amount of time and in smaller spaces than conventional farms.
The efficiency of aquaponic farming comes at a cost. The initial start-up cost of the equipment is steep, especially for larger, professional systems. The high-costs also persist in the form of high energy usage. The systems require electricity to circulate water and keep lights on, creating a substantial increase in utility bills. Besides expenses associated with equipment and energy usage, aquaponic systems also require maintenance to ensure that lights, pipes, and other system components are working properly. While costly, aquaponics does provide an environmentally-conscious alternative to traditional farming that may be successfully implemented to feed local communities.
Aquaponics has proven to be an effective way of sustaining a family. To be able to use fish waste as a means of growing plant foods seems extraordinary. It promotes good health, with organic vegetables as well as clean, mercury-less fish. As we discussed aquaponics in class, it seemed that an aquaponics garden could work on a small scale well, but a company in Brooklyn, called Edenworks, is showing that it could really work to sustain a large population of people. The company understands that the quality of the food produced is superior to other means of agriculture. The CEO of Edenworks says “Though the premise of mimicking a natural system in a closed environment is ancient new technologies including proprietary software, a complex plumbing system and cost-efficient LED lighting.” The company, based in East Williamsburg, recently entered a commitment to provide Whole foods with microgreens and baby greens. It seems that people now, more than ever, want to know where their food comes from. An aquaponics system is a great opportunity to provide people with the desired information about their food.
Brian Mansour, a well established aquaponics gardener, says that it is about time that New York City develops and begins to sustain its citizens. He says, “It’s just a matter of time before somebody with enough money and the right crew will get together the right model that will work.” It is exciting to see how agriculture is changing. Not only are aquaponic gardens becoming popular, but urban gardening is developing rapidly. So many food co-ops are providing people with healthy food all over the city. Aquaponics just seems to be the next step in this sort of evolution of large scale gardening in New York City.
Learning about aquaponics in class led to a heated debate about its application and benefit in an urban atmosphere. Many people in the class questioned who would spend the money on these indoor systems and even have the space to begin growing their own greens. Turning to GOOGLE, an urban agriculture search automatically introduced me to the words “vertical farming.” To my surprise, all the articles were fairly recent so this signaled to me that some of my classmates and I had been missing out. One article I had read discussed an indoor farm in Newark, New Jersey – so close to home!
The Jersey restaurant owner of Mompou, Steven Yglesias, began to use greens from AeroFarms. AeroFarms is a vertical farming company which began in 2014. Yglesias describes the greens to have a special and fresher “flavor profile.” This description alerted me because I realized that I seem to ignore or forget the fact that most of the groceries we get at the supermarket have been genetically modified or tampered. However, better taste and appearance was just the beginning. Studying the effects of varying fertilizer, light, and growing times is allowing growers to increase crop nutrient absorption rates. So, these crops are also better for us than their traditionally grown alternatives!
AeroFarms is able to harvest up to 30 times a year due to shorter growing times and grow 75 times more crops per square foot compared to traditional farming, while using 95% less water. Without soil or sunlight, LED lighted vertical gardens grow many leafy greens like kale, spinach, lettuces, and arugula. This system is producing crops in greater numbers more efficiently. Finding fresh food in your area may not be as difficult to find or as pricey as it used to be with an indoor farming system.
AeroFarms Vertical Farming
Experimentation is being conducted to produce tomatoes, cucumbers, spices, and berries. There is no telling how far these indoor farms can go, but their progress has proven to be advancing the agricultural world and giving our urban neighborhoods the chance to enjoy what once seemed like a rural luxury. I, for one, am impressed and all for indoor farming!
The article mentioned is cited below:
Gorce, Tammy La. “How Does This Garden Grow? To the Ceiling.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 July 2016. Web. 22 Sept. 2016.
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Brian Mansour, a well established aquaponics gardener, says that it is about time that New York City develops and begins to sustain its citizens. He says, “It’s just a matter of time before somebody with enough money and the right crew will get together the right model that will work.” It is exciting to see how agriculture is changing. Not only are aquaponic gardens becoming popular, but urban gardening is developing rapidly. So many food co-ops are providing people with healthy food all over the city. Aquaponics just seems to be the next step in this sort of evolution of large scale gardening in New York City.
