Walking up the five flights of stairs, harsh to those who don’t work out quite as often as they should, and alas we’ve made it to...a locked door. Leanne Quinn and I are attempting to find the CAS Greenhouse that was recently discovered from an Internet search concerning urban agriculture around Boston, and or specifically, Boston University. We hope to learn that something has come of our efforts, but to avail. However, a very cool hideaway and homework/lounge area has been duly noted. In our efforts to find the hidden (even though it’s literally on the top of the biggest building on campus) treasure, we sought to see if the CAS Greenhouse contributed to the dining hall produce at all therefore allowing Boston University to become “self
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Google defines hydroponics as “the process of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid, with added nutrients but without soil”. There are branches of this type of growing without soil that relate to hydroponics such as aquaponics, fogponics, and aeroponics. Hydroponic systems are created to allow the crop to grow; the most common systems essentially suspend the root of the crop in water sans a growing medium. There are of course more advanced growing systems, and various designs to fit the needs of the proprietor. Hydroponics is a growing industry because it eliminates the factor of weather that so commonly causes harm to crops and crop seasons. It also allows for a greater crop of produce to be grown with minimal space, which urban environments ca hugely benefit from. However, the argument can be made that boutiquey scientific hydroponic growing systems are regularly unattainable. The scientific look can be deceiving, but with a quick Internet search, finding and purchasing hydroponic systems, lighting, etc. is easier (and cheaper) than it …show more content…
Not only are the proper tools needed to be purchased, the technology needs to be learned and mastered by people. This takes time, energy, and of course, money. Certain hydroponic farms can be controlled via an app on a computer, which would contribute to the cost adding technical systems, specific programs, computers, and proper training. And while this may seem like a lot of added costs, the estimate economic leakage saved through being self reliant for Cleveland, ranges from a minimum of 29 million dollars, and potentially upwards of 115 million. With that analysis of cost spending vs. cost saving, I believe that although it will be a lot of upfront cost, the continual nature of hydroponic growing will allow the allocation of money that used to be spent on produce, to be redistributed where necessary. The Freight Farms websites gives a few numbers to simplify the mechanics of their operation. 10 gallons of water are used daily, $300 are used to maintain supplies a month, and 80 KwH per day...and mind you this is a seven ton freight car. With a simplistic version of that to accommodate the space that Boston University actually has, those numbers will be vastly scaled down. Freight Farms even has an program that helps universities integrate hydroponic growing facilities into campus
Google defines hydroponics as “the process of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid, with added nutrients but without soil”. There are branches of this type of growing without soil that relate to hydroponics such as aquaponics, fogponics, and aeroponics. Hydroponic systems are created to allow the crop to grow; the most common systems essentially suspend the root of the crop in water sans a growing medium. There are of course more advanced growing systems, and various designs to fit the needs of the proprietor. Hydroponics is a growing industry because it eliminates the factor of weather that so commonly causes harm to crops and crop seasons. It also allows for a greater crop of produce to be grown with minimal space, which urban environments ca hugely benefit from. However, the argument can be made that boutiquey scientific hydroponic growing systems are regularly unattainable. The scientific look can be deceiving, but with a quick Internet search, finding and purchasing hydroponic systems, lighting, etc. is easier (and cheaper) than it …show more content…
Not only are the proper tools needed to be purchased, the technology needs to be learned and mastered by people. This takes time, energy, and of course, money. Certain hydroponic farms can be controlled via an app on a computer, which would contribute to the cost adding technical systems, specific programs, computers, and proper training. And while this may seem like a lot of added costs, the estimate economic leakage saved through being self reliant for Cleveland, ranges from a minimum of 29 million dollars, and potentially upwards of 115 million. With that analysis of cost spending vs. cost saving, I believe that although it will be a lot of upfront cost, the continual nature of hydroponic growing will allow the allocation of money that used to be spent on produce, to be redistributed where necessary. The Freight Farms websites gives a few numbers to simplify the mechanics of their operation. 10 gallons of water are used daily, $300 are used to maintain supplies a month, and 80 KwH per day...and mind you this is a seven ton freight car. With a simplistic version of that to accommodate the space that Boston University actually has, those numbers will be vastly scaled down. Freight Farms even has an program that helps universities integrate hydroponic growing facilities into campus