Living Wall Water Sustainability Project

Prisha Gupta, Lilian Ivlev, Margaryta Gomozova

Objective: We are constructing a living wall that will focus on researching efficiency of water usage in comparison to growth rates.

Part I:

Constructing the living wall; will need to purchase material

• Living wall pockets (or something similar with the black felt pocket walls)

• Pump for water control

• PVC piping

• 2x long pipe

• A gutter, either bought or constructed for ideal size

• Container

Part II:

Data collection through a small range of plants (aiming for edible plants) to find which one is the most efficient to grow with minimal water

• Strawberry

• Tomato

• Lettuce

• Succulents (notoriously low maintenance plant, we have high hopes!!)

• Peace lilies (good air filter)

How can dispersion or spread of water among the plants affect growth vs water used?

• Adjust the living wall so that unused pockets are able to be turned off, therefore minimizing water waste

• The amount of water given to pockets can also be adjusted

• Possibly incorporate visual monitors for flow rate for each columns (optional)

Part III:

Will consist of post primary research goals, like how nutrient sources can be incorporated to minimize water used by helping growth output

Will also begin to consider effects of fertilizer as well, and how that can be used to the most it can

The goal of the living wall is to find where it would be most applicable/feasible to incorporate in the real world

What plants in demand could be sustainably produced through living walls?

Living walls can be easily maintained within the school since they’re a closed garden, and if properly built, can be automated while not being monitored for the time we are out.