reFarm

over 50% of the american population resides in urban environments.

instead of bringing food into cities, what if it was grown there?

reFarm is a responsive ideaset directed at integrating argriculture into the urban environment. reflexive and contextual, the ideaset evaluates the urban infrastructure and creates a response that utilizes what exists within each particular city. these responses then work with the environment to develop argricultural opportunites within each setting.

if reFarm was to target los angeles, one opportunity would be with the large amount of low rise warehouses that comprise the majority of downtown LA. the roofs of these warehouses were equiped with drainage systems, compost could be used to provide a minimal soil volume, which in turn would minimize water retention and minimize weight and could provide an agricultural medium without structural reinforcement on many buildings. these facilities could turn to neighboring areas like boyle heights and central city west for manpower to maintain and harvest crops, while providing food for these areas.

if reFarm was to target houston, one opportunity would be to utilize the massive amount of vacant office buildings in the houston suburbs the plumbing and electrical systems of these buildings could facilitate hydroponic growth mediums and uv lighting for a host of crops that could be planted, grown, and harvested inside of these structures. these vertical farms could borrow from the knowledge base of the argicultural community around the houston area, utilizing a small footprint and a climate controlled environment to provide a large year round yield.

reFarm. not just a singular idea, but a dynamic ideaset designed to maximize the argricultural opportunities within a wide range of urban environments.