Vertical Gardening and Farming - PDF ebook

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This book was written to be both practical and inspiring, as a source of critical information needed by anyone considering growing plants vertically, whether for food or amenity. Vertical gardens are increasingly important in our modern world, particularly in any places where space is at a premium. Growing this way allows us to fit many more plants into every square metre of land. It allows food to be produced in cities and urban areas, and it increases the biomass able to be established within built up areas.

There are many advantages to be had from having more vegetation in any area. Plants help reduce temperature fluctuations, so summer can be cooler and winter may be warmer. Vegetation also reduces flooding, wind damage and other environmental affects; soaking up rain, filtering air pollution and slowing winds.

Growing plants vertically though can be quite different to growing them horizontally. The weight of a wall of green can become extreme if not properly engineered, particularly when it is wet. Plants at the bottom of a wall can build up moisture and nutrients draining from above; leaving the bottom too wet and the top too dry. Considerations such as these need to be understood and accounted for.

Gardening and farming vertically is more than first meets the eye; but it is certainly quite feasible, particularly after you read this book.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 NATURE AND SCOPE OF VERTICAL GROWING
Nature of vertical growing
Green walls
Green facades
Crop production
Scope of vertical growing
The uniqueness of vertical gardening
Where to grow
How to grow
Benefits of vertical gardening
Mental wellbeing
Physical health
Environment
Food production

Chapter 2  BUILDING THE GREEN WALL
The living wall
Design and construction of green walls
Hydroponic systems
Loose media/substrate systems
Fixed media systems
Mat media
Sheet media
Customising
Waterproofing walls
Weight loading
Irrigation
Drainage
Lighting
Nutrition
Other design considerations

Chapter 3   GREEN FACADES, CLIMBERS, WINDOW BOXES, BASKETS AND EPIPHYTES
The green facade
Options for creating green facades
Some techniques in detail
Climbing plants
Hanging baskets
Window boxes
Epiphytes
Espaliers
Growing plants on trellis
Hedges
Wall shrubs

Chapter 4  VERTICAL FOOD PRODUCTION
Making use of vertical crop growing
Hydroponics
NFT systems
Alternative layouts for vertical nft systems
NFT system choices
Aeroponics
Gravel and loose culture
Aquaponics
Mushroom farms
Upright systems
Growing in protective structures
Greenhouse hydroponics
Design considerations
Temperature
Relative humidity and vapour pressure deficit
CO₂ and O₂
Water
Plant nutrients
Control of the environment
Artificial lighting
Outdoor vertical food gardens

Chapter 5  AUTOMATION
The need for automation
Automated systems
Irrigation and fertiliser
Automated irrigation systems for green walls
Fertigation of green walls
Monitoring vertical growing systems
Optimum air quality
Drone inspections
Cation exchange capacity
Measuring EC levels
Measuring pH levels

Chapter 6  MAINTENANCE
The range of maintenance tasks
Inspection tasks
Maintenance tasks
Maintenance of plants
The nature of plants
Watering climbers
Feeding
Mulching
Pruning and rejuvenating plants
Maintaining plants in containers
Watering
Feeding
Re-potting
Maintenance of hanging baskets
Problems with containers
Maintenance of hard landscape components
Maintaining plant health
Symptoms and diagnosis
How to conduct an inspection
Symptoms of nutrient deficiency
Pests and diseases problems
Occupational health and safety
Duty of care
Risk assessment
Identifying hazards and risk
Example of a risk assessment procedure
Work place safety
Safety with tools and equipment
General safety rules

Chapter 7 PLANT SELECTION
Planting considerations
Plants for green walls
Plants for green facades
Climbers to grow on trellis
Wall shrubs
Plants for hanging baskets
Plants for window boxes
Plants for hedging
Plants for vertical farms