Hydroponics is not rocket science...
… Oh wait, it is! NASA has been using hydroponics to grow food in space, as it is a resourceful and energy efficient way of growing plants without soil. Instead, plants are grown with their roots in an inert material (such as perlite) with a nutrient rich solution flowing past them. Hydroponics systems are an option for future growing methods, particularly in small urban spaces where there is limited access to soil.
For the Allotment of the Future, Sow the City designed a hydroponics system using PVC piping. We used Nutrient Film Technology (NFT) where a shallow stream of nutrient passes through the PVC pipe and is absorbed by the roots of the plants. The system uses energy generated by a solar panel that powers the pump to move the stream of nutrients past the plants. The hydroponics system is now located in the Printworks rooftop community garden in central Manchester.
