Prototype 2

Prototype 2 is a 3D design of a modular hydroponic system, but can be adapted in various ways. The pricing of this design is relatively low if you have a 3D printer already, which Grand Valley has available. For a hydroponic system, the water would need to be checked at least once every two weeks. This is an active hydroponic system requiring a pump within each tower allowing for water to be recycled through the system. Now there are various growth medias that could be used in the basket, but we suggest either coco chips or rockwool to hold more moisture and nutrients from the solution. This nutrient enriched solution will need to be replenished as it gets depleted over time. If this design is done indoors then we suggest an area with access to sunlight, otherwise you need to factor in the cost for growth lights.

This system can also be configured into an outdoor space, and can avoid the hydroponic system by hand watering instead. In that case, you would water each individual plant depending of the growth media's water holding capacity, porosity, and cation exchange capacity. You could also keep the hydroponic system and still do it outdoors, making this design very adaptable to what the resources in the area allow.