Farming Structures: Engineering the Future of Urban Agriculture
- Natalie Akins
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
Urban farming has gotten a ton of attention in the world of sustainable architecture/living in recent years. It offers many benefits in terms of food security, economic stimulation, and healthy living. Furthermore, it is an exciting option for repurposing abandoned urban structures and insulating occupied ones.
With that said, structures must be meticulously designed to make urban agriculture more than just a quaint hobby. Keep reading as we explore various urban agriculture concepts and how to employ innovative materials and techniques to give them the best chance of large-scale success.
Vertical Farming
Vertical farming is one of the prevailing concepts in contemporary urban agriculture. The process involves growing crops in stacked layers to maximize space, often leveraging hydroponic and aeroponic techniques. Commonly housed in repurposed buildings, high-rises, or even dedicated indoor space, vertical farming is a premier option in crowded urban areas that lack adjacent lawn space.
When constructing vertical gardens, it is essential to have the appropriate tools and equipment in place. For smaller residential gardens, this may simply be a step ladder and an assortment of power tools.
However, in urban areas that are attempting ambitious vertical gardens for large-scale food production, it is crucial to use a scaffold. A scaffold is a structure used to support workers, tools, and machinery in the construction of multi-story buildings. It provides safe access and a stable work platform when working at elevation.
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There are a couple of important scaffolding accessories to get right when building large vertical farms, namely midrails and walkboards. Midrails are applied partway between the top rail and the walking platform and will be crucial for ensuring that mid-size gardening tools do not fall off the scaffold.
In addition, a special kind of expanded steel wallboard will be necessary when building the garden. Soil and moisture are sure to accumulate on standard lumber walkboards, creating unsafe working conditions.
Expanded steel provides additional load-bearing strength while letting this kind of gardening debris pass through, ensuring a clean work surface during the construction process.
Rooftop Gardens
Rooftop gardens (also known as green roofs) have been a popular concept in urban design for a while. They have significant utility in providing functional exterior space for a building while reducing the effects of urban heat islands.
According to the EPA, a rooftop garden can be 30-40 degrees cooler than a standard roof, helping reduce ambient temperatures by up to 5 degrees. When used throughout a city, rooftop gardens can have a significant effect on curtailing urban heat islands.
More ambitious approaches to rooftop gardens are using them as a source of food production. This can do wonders for keeping fresh produce close to local populations, streamlining logistical concerns of transporting vegetables from rural farms.
When building a rooftop garden on a new or existing structure, it is crucial to have the roof well-fortified to handle the additional load. Top-notch roof tiles need to promote drainage, provide insulation, and withstand the increased traffic inherent to farming and harvesting.
Depending on the condition of the roofing substrate, metal b-decking may be necessary to help transfer vertical loads from the garden horizontally to the building’s frame. Railing is also a top consideration. It must be sturdy enough to prevent falls when gardening but low-profile enough to allow plants to receive sufficient sunlight.
To this effect, stainless steel cable railing is the top option for urban rooftop gardens. Consisting of a series of cables tensioned between posts, it is the perfect choice for securing the rooftop perimeter without blocking the flow of sunlight reaching the plants.
Hydroponic Systems
Most urban farms will use some sort of hydronic or hybrid hydroponic/soil growing system. A hydroponic system uses nutrient-rich water in place of soil as a growing medium for plants. The more efficient absorption of nutrients makes hydroponics a perfect solution for urban agriculture, as plants can be grown in smaller areas. Not only does this save space, but it also results in improved water/soil conservation.
When implementing a hydroponic infrastructure, it is important to have the correct receptacles in which to house plants. There is zero leeway for porosity. This will cause nutrients to seep and damage the entire garden’s infrastructure. If leakage becomes severe enough, it may compromise the building as a whole.
With this in mind, many urban farms are using recycled plastic lumber (HDPE) when building raised beds, garden boxes, and support structures for hydroponic and hybrid growing systems. In addition to its sustainable fabrication, HDPE is extremely durable and resistant to rot, decay, and moisture damage, making it an ideal solution for constructing long-lasting urban farms.
Take Urban Farming to the Next Level with Innovative Construction Materials
Urban agriculture has exciting economic and environmental potential. However, buildings must be adequately constructed in order to leverage its potential to the fullest. Whether you are using vertical farming, rooftop gardens, and/or hydroponic systems, consider any of the ideas listed above to make your urban agriculture efforts a success.
