A garden in my apartment | Britta Riley

Summary

In this thought-provoking talk, the speaker explores the power of open-source collaboration in tackling global issues like sustainable food production. By highlighting the development of window farms—an innovative hydroponic system—the speaker demonstrates how community-driven efforts can improve technology, reduce environmental impact, and empower individuals to contribute meaningfully. Through real-world examples and the concept of R&D-I-Y (Research and Develop It Yourself), the speaker challenges the traditional consumer mindset, urging us to embrace collaboration and innovation for a more sustainable future.

Takeaways

• 😀 People rely on others for much of their daily life, and this interdependence is a powerful social infrastructure.
• 😀 Open-source collaboration can help address deep civic issues and foster innovation for societal benefit.
• 😀 Growing our own food, even in small spaces like apartments, can contribute positively to the environment, as highlighted by Michael Pollan.
• 😀 Hydroponics is a promising method for growing food indoors, with applications explored by NASA and now in urban settings like New York City apartments.
• 😀 The window farm concept uses vertical hydroponic platforms that enable people to grow food indoors without dirt, using nutrient solutions.
• 😀 Open-source collaboration on window farms has allowed people worldwide to share ideas, test systems, and improve the technology for better sustainability.
• 😀 The window farm project grew through contributions from a global community, evolving rapidly with feedback and iterative improvements.
• 😀 People worldwide have customized window farms to suit local conditions, such as using LED lights in Finland's dark winters or optimizing nutrients for strawberries in Chicago.
• 😀 The window farm initiative operates on a model called R&D-I-Y (research and develop it yourself), encouraging individuals to experiment and share knowledge.
• 😀 The window farms project is funded by creating and selling products, while patents are held by the community to ensure open-source access to the technology.
• 😀 A culture of collaboration thrives within the window farms community, where contributing to others' ideas and projects is valued more than simply generating ideas.

Q & A

What is the main idea presented in the script?

The main idea is that interdependence in cities can be harnessed through open-source collaboration to address civic issues, with a focus on growing food using hydroponics and the success of the window farms project.

How does the speaker describe the reliance on others in daily life?

The speaker reflects on the feeling of dependence on others for nearly everything in life, which can sometimes feel overwhelming but also highlights the power of social interdependence in solving societal problems.

What was the inspiration behind the window farms project?

The inspiration came from an article by Michael Pollan, who argued that growing food ourselves is beneficial for the environment. The speaker sought to find a way to make this feasible in urban spaces like New York City.

What role does NASA’s hydroponics research play in the speaker's project?

NASA's research on hydroponics for growing food in space provided a foundation for the speaker’s idea, as they adapted hydroponic techniques to grow food indoors in New York City apartments.

What is the primary method used in the window farms system?

The window farms system uses vertical hydroponic platforms with a pump that sends a nutrient solution to the top, which trickles down through plants' roots suspended in clay pellets, without the use of soil.

How did the speaker encourage collaboration on the window farms project?

The speaker created a social media platform to publish the designs and encourage people around the world to participate in the development of the window farms by building and testing their own systems.

What was the impact of open-source collaboration on the window farms project?

Open-source collaboration led to significant improvements, such as reducing the carbon footprint and enabling customization for different environments, including growing strawberries in low-light conditions and adapting systems for Finnish winters.

How does the window farms community approach research and development?

The window farms community practices 'R&D-I-Y' (Research and Develop It Yourself), where people contribute ideas and improvements based on their personal needs and experiences, instead of relying on corporate R&D.

What is the cultural mindset within the window farms community?

In the window farms community, it is valued to support others' ideas and be a tester rather than just an idea generator. The community fosters collaboration and contributes to environmental change in practical ways.

What broader impact does the speaker hope the window farms project will have?

The speaker hopes that the project will inspire a shift in consumer behavior, moving away from passive consumption and encouraging active participation in sustainability efforts, such as open-source innovation in areas like solar panels and aquaponic systems.