veggie wall desing proposal

7/30/2019 Veggie Wall Desing Proposal

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ENGR 103 - Spring 2013

Freshman Engineering Design LabVeggie Wall

Project Design Proposal

Date Submitted: April 16, 2013

Submitted to: Donald J. Bucci , [email protected]

Group Members: Michal Swoboda, [email protected]

Carlos Ruiz, [email protected]

Mick Giraso, [email protected]

Blake Fink, [email protected]

Abstract:

The purpose of this project is to design a vertical fence that is able to sustain the growth of

vegetation and maximize the growing area of urban farms. The vertical fence project was

considered to allow the Walnut Hill Community Farm to maximize their crops and farming area.

The design of the fence poses a challenge as resources and funds are limited. The materials used

to create the fence must be cost-effective. The fence will contain individual compartments that

will house the plants and soil. The compartments materials and dimensions must meet theaverage standard of the vegetations specified need of growth. The two pieces together must be

compatible. The expected product is a functional prototype compartment for the vertical fence

that can be used to grow plants and vegetables over an extended period of time.


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ENGR-103 Freshman Design Proposal Section 080, Group 03

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1 Mission StatementThe goal of this project is to develop a design for a cheap and easy to maintain vertical vegetable

garden for urban farms with limited growing space. The design will be independent, which

means it will not require an already existing wall or any other vertical structure as its base.

2 IntroductionThe increasing popularity of urban farms and community gardens creates a need for a more

efficient use of the growing area. Currently, urban farms use the raised beds technique (Hartley,

Richard S.), which allows the user to isolate the crops from the potentially polluted soil in urban

areas and create a unique growing habitat in every bed. However, the ongoing need to create

more space efficient solutions led to the development of vertical gardens, which incorporate thepositive characteristics of raised beds, in addition to being sustainable and more space efficient.

This project concentrates on developing an affordable and easily maintainable vertical vegetable

garden, which can be used as an alternative to the raised beds technique, which does not require

an already existing wall as its structural component.

The Walnut Hill Community Farm has been developed by the TEC-Community Development

Corporation and the local residents to create a local source of healthy produce as well as a center

to support and strengthen the local community. The farm is an 11,580 square foot vacant lotadjacent to a SEPTA metro station. The farms urban location prevents the use any adjacent

walls as a structural base for the Veggie Wall, which calls for an independent design.

3 Market Study3.1 Stakehol ders and Needs

Stakeholder 1: Walnut Hill farm Stake: The Farm will be using the Vertical Fence regularly. Need 1 (Priority: 1, Planet): Maximize the available space. Need 2 (Priority 2, People): Grow an increase amount of crops. Need 3 (Priority 3, Prosperity): Develop new urban farming techniques. Need 4 (Priority 3, Prosperity): Change the public image of the farm, considering its

urban location.


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Need 5 (Priority 4, People): Allow the farm to distribute an increased amount of growingspace to the community.

Need 6 (Priority 1, Planet): Expand the farm without the need to purchase additionalspace.

Need 7 (Priority 5, People): Provide the opportunity for people to learn and volunteer atthe community farm.

Stakeholder 2: The Walnut Hill Community Stake: The Community will use the Vertical Fence Need 1 (Priority 1, People ): Ability to grow personal crops on the farm Need 2 (Priority 2, Prosperity): An increased number of crops to trade

Stakeholder 3: Students Volunteers at the Walnut Hill farm Stake: The student volunteers will use the Vertical Fence Need 1 (Priority 1, Prosperity): Learn farming techniques Need 2 (Priority 2, Prosperity): Inspiration for the development of sustainable agricultural

technology. Need 3 (Priority 3, People): Learning the importance of sustainable design.


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3.2 Specifications

Specification

Stakeholder(s) Need Units Ideal Marginal

Walnut Hill Farm, The

Walnut Hill

community, Student

Volunteers at the

Walnut Hill farm

The vertical fence is perpendicular to the ground. The angle of the fence

with respect to the

ground ()

= 90 ("Tips For

Building Your

Fence.")

85 < x 6ft (Moseson,

Alex.)

> 5ft


Walnut Hill

community, Student

Volunteers at the

Walnut Hill farm

The vertical fence can allow compartments

with vegetation to hang on it.

Number of

compartments to hold.

> 8 > 6


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Walnut Hill

community, Student

Volunteers at the

Walnut Hill farm

The compartment can hang on the vertical

fence

Number of brackets

needed per compartment

>2 >4


Walnut Hill community

The compartment can produce vegetation Number of plants to

grow in compartment

>1 (may vary on

dimensions)

>2

Walnut Hill Farm,

Student Volunteers at

the Walnut Hill farm

The compartment can be dropped without

damage

Free fall from height

without failure

>6ft (Moseson,

Alex.)

>6ft


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4 DeliverablesThe expected product will be a prototype compartment that will attach onto the vertical fence.

The compartment will be attached to brackets, which will then clutch onto the fence for support.

The compartment will be able to demonstrate the capability to hold the weight of soil and plant

within it. The compartment will have a drain within it allowing water to exit. The compartment

will be able to demonstrate removal for easy access for either harvesting or cleaning. The

material will either be a composition of aluminum or wood. The prototype will be a full scale

model.

5 Technical ActivitiesThe vertical fence may be around 6 ft in height (Moseson, Alex). The fencing may be either a

standard chain link or crossbars fence. The vertical fence will have compartments that resemble

shelves hanging from the cross bars. With regards to the posts, the vertical fence may either be

made of an alloy or pressurized treated wood. Wood is cheap and provides a great amount of

stability but it rots overtime when exposed to water for prolonged periods of time (Building a

Vertical Garden." 2013). Aluminum is more expensive than wood but more resistant to weather.

The crossbars may either be attached to the posts by extruding through the holes within the posts

or the bars may be attached to a bracket. This bracket may be held in place using nails/bolts. The

columns of compartments will provide organization to the fence and allow easier accessibility.

Figure 1 shown below is a general example of the vertical fence, in which the compartments will

be attached.


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Figure 1 shows an example of a vertical farm (Jil lBrit2007)

5.1 The Verti cal Fence designThe walls initial design will require dimensions appropriate to the amount of area given. An

appropriate design of the wall is crucial to its sustainability and longevity. The structure will

require a solid foundation and should face erect. Figure 2. given below shows the initial design,

which was generated to help visualize the overall design. The wall may be composed of either

parallel wooden posts or an aluminum alloy that will be directed vertically. Cross bars will be

installed perpendicular to the posts to create additional rows. The crossbars must be stable as

they will contain the majority of weight from the compartments. Unlike Figure 1 shown above,

additional crossbars may be added for stability and to prevent movement of the compartments as

shown in Figure 2 below.


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Figure 2 Model Created using Creo Parametrics to demonstrate initial fence design

5.1.1 Determining the materials for the Vertical FenceThe materials that will be chosen to create the wall should be cost effective, able to support the

weight of the plants compartments and withstand environmental factors for an extended period

of time.

5.2 Creating the CompartmentsThe compartments will be designed using a 3D modeling program and created within the

machine shop, after which, they will be tested and modified if needed. The stakeholders

preference of vegetation will be taken into consideration when determining the dimensions.

However, the compartment may be constructed from either an existing product or from raw


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materials, which will be modified to fit the computer model, which can be seen in Figures 4-5

below.

Figure 3 Model Created using Creo Parametrics to demonstrate compartment


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Figure 4 Model Created using Creo Parametrics to demonstrate compartment

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Project Timeline

Week

Task 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Initial research x x

Initial design x x x x x

Computer model of prototype x x x

Supply search x x x x

Construction of prototype compartment x x x

Final report preparation x x x

Table 1: Design Project Timeline.


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7 Facilities and ResourcesThe machine workshop will be used to construct the designed prototype. The computer lab will

be used to design the prototype.

8 ExpertiseThe design and construction process will require the proficiency in the field of market research,computer modeling, prototype design and construction, which includes the expertise withspecialized machining tools. Market research will allow assessing the required specification ofthe design, which will be used to develop a computer model, and finally, a working prototype.

9 Budget

Category Projected Cost

Frame $173.55

Six Plant Compartments $139.02TOTAL $312.57

Table 2. General cost overview of the Veggie Wall project.

9.1 FrameThe frame is the main structural component of the vertical fence garden. It is constructed

from materials that are able to withstand the weight of the plants compartments andweather conditions. The frame is a necessary component of the vertical wall, because it

voids the need to alter or damage an already existing wall to which urban farms and

community gardens often do not have access.


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2x4 Wooden Posts$31.18

Tube & Conduit 3/4 in. x 10 ft $42.57

Tube & Conduit 1-1/4 in. x10 ft.$99.80

TOTAL $173.55

Table 3. Cost overview of the frame (HomeDepot 2013)

9.2 Plant CompartmentsPlant Compartments will be constructed from aluminum sheets according to the computer

model in Figures 4-5. The compartments need to be able to withstand the weight of soil and

plants over an extended period of time. References


Aluminum sheets $14.23

Aluminum hooks $8.94

TOTAL $23.17

Table 4. Cost overview of one compartment (Online Metal Store 2013; HomeDepot 2013 )


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10. References"5/8 In. X 4 In. X 8 Ft. MDF Base Moulding."Home Depot. N.p., 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.

"Allied Tube & Conduit 3/4 In. X 10 Ft. Electric Metallic Tube Conduit." Home Depot.

N.p.,2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.

"The Basics." Vertical Garden Institute. Red Factory, 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.

"Building a Vertical Garden."DIY Guides. DIY Guides, 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.

"Command Small Metal and Plastic .5 Lb. 1-3/16 In. Wire Hooks (9-Pack)."Home Depot.

N.p., 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.

"Community Garden Provides Fertile Soil For Freshman Engineers' Creativity."Drexel

University. Drexel University, 27 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.

Farm Fencing. N.d. Photograph. San Diego.Fencing Services. 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.

Hartley, Richard S. "Gardening With Raised Beds." Gardening With Raised Beds. WVU County

Extension Agent, Oct. 1998. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.

Jill. "Jill's Gallery Birthday 07 Vertical_Garden."Jill's Gallery Birthday 07 Vertical_Garden.

N.p., 2007. Web. 07 May 2013.

Moseson, Alex. Group 3 - Annotated - Wallnut HillCommentSummary. Philadelphia: n.p., 18

Apr. 2013. PDF.

"New Products." Vertical Gardening SystemsLiving Wall Components, VGS. VERTICAL

GARDENING SYSTEMS, 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.

"Online Metal Store."Aluminum Sheets. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.

"Tips For Building Your Fence." Tips For Building Your Fence. Quality Equipment Rentals,

2011. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.

"Walnut Hill Community Farm." The Enterprise Center. N.p., 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.


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"What Is Tower Garden."Put a Farmers Market on Your Back Porch. NSA Juice Plus+, 2012.

Web. 23 Apr. 2013.

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