'A KickStart on Farming - The MoneyMaker Pump' by Dave Holborn

The Super MoneyMaker Irrigation Pump is a cost effective solution to irrigation issues. It provides the user with the ability to pump water up from the ground and even uphill in order to water crops. Its is a two-cylinder, foot operated pump, meaning that it uses no energy and produces no waste. It is low cost (from $35-$95 for retail and install) and is light weight and portable. The pump can pull water from up to 7m underground and pump it to a height of 14m, it can pump water 200m on flat ground and has the capability of irrigating up to 2 acres of land.

1. The irrigation pump in use

The Food and Agriculture Organization states that irrigation can increase crop yield 100-400% so this pump can easily benefit farmers in developing countries. Also, it allows for crops to grow year round, even in the dry seasons when food supplies are minimal and the market prices are high. It can also allow for a greater diversity of cash crops like fruits and vegetables. The farmers can sell these high value crops in the marketplace and can help increase their net incomes by an average of ten times.

Use of the MoneyMaker Pump in Africa

2. Pump use in Africa

As well as being economically sound, the pump is environmentally sound. As mentioned before, the pump is entirely human powered so there is no use of fuel or energy (also a good economical factor). It is also water efficient in that there is no water waste. As well, this form of irrigation (unlike flood irrigation) does not lead to build of salts in the soil which can ruin crop and create conditions in the soil which are unsuitable to grow in.

The KickStart organization has many other technologies and ideas which help farmers in Africa such as using SMS technology (text messaging) to keep in touch with the farmers and to supply information on new products. They also produce a block press for easily creating building bricks and a cooking oil press to produce and sell cooking oils (a rather expensive product in African countries).

Agriculture in third world countries is crucial to the development of the country and is the one of the main factors in increasing the economy. The urbanization of the slums of the world depends partially on economic development, thus making agriculture a crucial part of urbanizing a third world society. Agriculture can also be beneficial in an already urbanized society. Urban Farming is a charity in Detroit who help to turn urban wastelands into vegetable garden to help feed the poor residents of the area. This concept is a way of maintaining a pre-existing urbanity as well as helping to boost the economy, especially in Detroit where the economy is in a downfall and they are need of new, marketable ideas.

3. Urban farming in Detroit

These developing forms of urban agriculture can definitely have come impact on architecture. New designs can be created that incorporate these concepts into a space. These designs could include rooftop gardens, maximize yard space, and utilize water systems that stress irrigation for farming.

Image Sources:

1."Super MoneyMaker," http://www.kickstart.org/products/super-moneymaker (accessed Nov. 2, 2009 , 8pm).

2. "MoneyMaker Irrigation Pumps," January 2009, http://www.kickstart.org/news/KickStart_B2B_BrochureJan09.pdf (accessed Nov. 2, 2009 , 8pm).

3. Matthew Wells, "Urban famring takes root in Detroit" July 10, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7495717.stm (accessed Nov. 2, 2009 , 8pm).

Information Sources:
"Super MoneyMaker," http://www.kickstart.org/products/super-moneymaker (accessed Nov. 2, 2009 , 8pm).

"Kickstart Technologies: irrigation, and cooking oil human powered pumps," July 25, 2007, http://www.afrigadget.com/2007/07/25/kickstart-technologies-irrigation-and-cooking-oil-human-powered-pumps/ (accessed Nov. 2, 2009 ,
8pm).

Rita Kiloo, "An SMS 'kickstart' for Kenyan farmers," October 27, 2009, http://www.kiwanja.net/blog/2009/10/an-sms-kickstart-for-kenyan-farmers/
((accessed Nov. 2, 2009 ,
8pm).
Giok Ling Ooi and Kai Hong Phua, "Urbanization and Slum Formation" March 27, 2007, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1891640/ (accessed Nov. 2,
2009 , 8pm).
Matthew Wells, "Urban famring takes root in Detroit" July 10, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7495717.stm (accessed Nov. 2, 2009 , 8pm).

-Dave Holborn

'Embedded Water' by Claire Kurtin

This is not necessarily a technology, per say, but rather a concept or economic system. Embedded water is the idea that everything we create takes a certain amount of water to manufacture, sort of the same thing as embedded energy, so therefore, when we ship a certain product, for instance, wheat (1300 cubic meters of water/metric tonne), we are also shipping 'virtual water' (the actual water content of a product is usually negligible compared to it's virtual water content). Every year, vast amounts of embedded water are shipped around the globe. Since the majority of the world's water usage consists of agricultural production, virtual water is especially relevant to agriculture.


The embedded water content of various agricultural products (in liters)

Though this trade in embedded water may just seem like part of the whole system, it could be the key to solving water shortage issues in drier parts of the planet. For instance, in the middle east, which is a very dry place, it would make sense to import water intensive products (such as wheat) and divert the 'surplus' water to the production of products with a lower virtual water content and therefore conserving scarce water resources. This may seem obvious, however, Australia, one of the world's driest countries, is the world's fourth largest exporter of embedded water. Australia exports 80% of it's rice and 98% of it's cotton (two very water instensive products).


Map of the world's exports of virtual water (brighter green = more exports, brighter red = more imports)

The virtual water content of products can easily be measured. In Australia, where fresh water is becoming increasingly scarce, it has been proposed that there be a tax imposed on food products with a higher embedded water content in order to encourage consumers to conserve water. This plan would also include some sort of labeling system similar to our Nutritional Information labels.

In a world where over population is becoming and increasing problem, and most of this population is concentrated in large cities, considering the embedded water content of the products we consume and produce could be a useful tool for dealing with water shortages around the globe.

Sources:
World Changing Team, "The Consequences of Embedded Water," last updated 08/08, http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/008530.html (02/10/6:00 pm)

Frontier Economics, "The concept of 'virtual water' - a critical review", http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DPI/nrenfa.nsf/LinkView/A1F945CE4D56F40ACA257412002310642B72296A5108C4FFCA25734F0009F96F/$file/Virtual%20Water%20-%20for%20release%20-%20STC%2008-03-07.pdf (02/10/ 8:00 pm)

-Claire Kurtin

'Keyhole Gardens' by Alex Bodkin

Developed by the Send a Cow organization for citizens in Lesotho, Africa, keyhole gardens provide a great space for growing vegetables in such an unfavourable climate. They are circular in shape with a notch cut in, and are raised up to waist-height in order to allow the sick and elderly to tend to the crops without bending over. Manure and compost from the kitchen are placed in a basket of sticks and straw that rests in the middle. Rusty cans and ash are also placed within the soil, to give it iron and potassium, respectively. When water is poured in to the basket, nutrients are delivered to the plants.



1. Keyhole Garden in Lesotho

The soil in Lesotho has had all of the nutrients sucked out of it by massive farming operations, and droughts are not unheard of. The land is also very high above sea level, which adds even more frustration to the process of growing crops. Keyhole gardens ensure that the soil stays nutrient-rich, which allows crops to grow even when there is a water shortage.

One thing that I think is important to note is that the garden does not require purified water. Greywater is recommended because, although it has already been used once, it still is valuable. Greywater is wastewater that comes from activities such as washing the dishes, doing the laundry, and bathing.



2. Graph showing the breakdown of wastewater.

I assume that this pie chart is using statistics from a Westernized society, but it still shows the general idea that a majority of the water we use becomes greywater. This is actually good, because greywater is much easier to clean than blackwater. Some of the impurities in greywater also end up becoming food for the plants in a keyhole garden.

Clearly, the keyhole gardens are great for reusing the old to produce something new. This brings me to how it relates to the economy. The BBC did an article touching on these keyhole gardens in 2008, and interviewed Mahaha Mphou, a local citizen. They saw that, although she had nine other members in her family, she was able to produce excess food from her garden. The extra vegetables were sold to other citizens, and brought in a bit of an income to the previously poor family. The whole family helped tend it, and therefore they all saw the benefits.

Check out the videos below to see real footage and an animation on how one is built.



1. Making a Keyhole Garden


Image Sources:
1. "Keyhole Gardens," African Gardens, 2007. http://www.cowfiles.com/african-gardens/keyhole-gardens (accessed November 1, 2009).

2. "What it is, How to treat it, How to use it," Greywater, 2000. http://www.greywater.com/ (accessed November 2, 2009).


Video Sources:
1. "Lesotho - Make a Keyhole Garden," Making a Keyhole Garden, December 13 2007. http://www.sendacow.org.uk/makingakeyholegarden (accessed November 1, 2009).


Information Sources:
Rethabile. "What's a keyhole garden?," Black Looks, June 4, 2008. http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/06/whats_a_keyhole_garden.html (accessed November 1, 2009).

"Lesotho gardens relieve food crisis," BBC News, June 3, 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7432972.stm (accessed November 1, 2009).

"Keyhole Gardens," AfriGadget, July 5, 2008. http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/07/05/keyhole-gardens/ (accessed November 1, 2009).

"What it is, How to treat it, How to use it," Greywater, 2000. http://www.greywater.com/ (accessed November 2, 2009).

-Alex Bodkin

'Park Wastewater Treatments' by Wendy Xu

1. Park Wastewater Treatment

We all know that a sustainable design requires meticulous research and planning because it will minimize costly maintenance and upgrade fees. Opened in August 2009, this water treatment in Ireland was designed as to not require upgrade over the next 25 years.

View Larger Map
2. Parks, Londonderry, Northern Ireland

It currently serves a population of 800 people with the capacity to potentially serve a population of 1087. Research was conducted to establish an expected customer base. I think considering for a growing population is crucial in creating any water supply system. Studies of various water usages -- agricultural, commercial, and industrial-- is also key. Each sector will have different needs.

3. County Londonderry

By surveying the conditions of the surrounding area and the history of the location we can build on the existing infrastructures.



4. rotating biological contactor

Since the pumping station is situated on a siphon on the side of the River Faughan, water flows through without pumping but with hydrostatic pressure. If we can utilize our surrounding like this wastewater plant, we can minimize the cost in transporting the water. By building treatment works in lower elevations the water will push through the filtration systems.


5. schematic diagram

As a secondary treatment rotating biological contactors (RBC) which consists of a series of rotating discs that expose the microorganisms to air and water to purify its organic compounds.

Another Project:
Desalination Project, San Diego. It will incorporate a 50 000ft solar power generation rooftop.

Image Sources

1. N.a.,"Park Wastewater Treatment Works," Water-Technology, 2009. http://www.water-technology.net/projects/Park_Wastewater_Trea/Park_Wastewater_Trea1.html, (accessed October 31, 2009, 10pm).

2. Tele Atlas, "Parks, Londonderry, Northern Ireland," Google Maps, 2009. http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Park+Wastewater+Treatment+Works,+Londonderry,+Northern+Ireland&sll=54.820265,-7.471596&sspn=0.549101,0.693512&ie=UTF8&hq=Park+Wastewater+Treatment+Works,&hnear=Londonderry,+UK&ll=54.829172,-7.472076&spn=0.276864,0.583649&z=10, (accessed October 31, 2009, 11pm).

3. N.a., "County Londonderry," Trip Advisor, 2009. http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Tourism-g186481-County_Londonderry_Northern_Ireland-Vacations.html, (accessed October 31, 2009, 11pm).


4. N.a.,"rotating biological contactor," Water-Technology, 2009. http://www.water-technology.net/projects/Park_Wastewater_Trea/Park_Wastewater_Trea5.html, (accessed October 31, 2009, 10pm).

5. Taylor Kelley, "schematic diagram," MMA.Spring2009,WaterandEnergy, 2009. https://reich-chemistry.wikispaces.com/Taylor.Kelley.MMA.Spring2009.EnergyandWater, (accessed October 31, 2009, 11pm).

Information Source

N.a.,"Park Wastewater Treatment Works," Water-Technology, 2009. http://www.water-technology.net/projects/Park_Wastewater_Trea/, (accessed October 31, 2009, 11pm).

- Wendy Xu