Pedal Powered Produce

This video introduces the concept of aeroponics. A bicycle powers a pump to spray water on plants. This entry into the innovate-or-die competition promotes environmentally sound living through the reduction of waste created through food transportation. It also suggests methods for people in developing nations to increase their quality of life through better water usage. Video and editing by Marc Morin Jr. Music: Arcadia by try^d, used under Creative Commons attributions-share alike 2.5 generic.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Aeroponics
• Pedal
• powered
• produce
• innovate-or-die
• bicycle
• power
• green
• environment
• marc
• morin

[hokierose]

I suppose I don't understand how your invention is efficient. You've simply attached a water pump to a hydro/aeroponics setup. By design, aeroponics is already energy efficient, but instead you've put a relatively massive water pump that's being powered for only a minute (or so) at a time. Instead, you could simply create a system where a bucket of water is lifted to a higher potential energy (put on a shelf), allowed to drain over your plants, and then collect the water in a second bucket.

[pack019]

You have a very valid argument, but there is a simple way to explain why we did what we did. First of, this is a small scale, where there is only one bucket growing plants. If intended to be produced, it can be used on a much bigger scale, where more nozzles can be used, and different connections can be made, so the pumped water can go from one section to another, using the pumps full potential.

[pack019]

Secondly, as we mentioned at the end of the clip, the pump on the bike can be used as a way to draw water from a well or irrigate a field more effectively. I am sure you understand why we scaled down the example, due to lack of space, and the time of the video.

[IntarwebUser]

Saving the Earth? No, we're just more efficiently and sustainably exploiting it! :D

[radissus]

What kind of life? One which is much more beneficial to the plants. One in which there are faster growth rates and higher yields, because the plants are constantly being fed the nutrients they need to thrive, as opposed to having to search for nutrients in soil. It's also a life in with reduced threat from pests.

[kimmarie801]

what is in the nutriant mixed water?

[Aelcyx]

Fertilizers used in soil create runoff which is damaging to the environment. Also, it's inefficient in terms of water usage - a lot of it gets absorbed into the earth and does not reach the roots of the plants.

If you garden for social reasons, then this is not for you.

[kimmarie801]

it doesn't look very natural to me...to grow a garden without soil? What kind of a life is that?

[o2dav]

hate polluuuuution!!! how do u make one of these??

[thevideosguy]

that's pretty neat. this might be useful for poor people in desert conditions with no water. but solar panels can also pump water now and thats environmental too.