cactus pilars

Hey karla i was just thinking mike make lots out of metal and could maybe make some free standing cactus columns?

Vindolier Budget:

200 Vines @ $15 $3000

green house rental, 3 mos $3000

containment, 100 long $1500

dirt $ 300

irrigation $2000

structural engineer $1000

lighting $1000

attachment system (wire?) $ 200

delivery: set up / take down $ 300

subtotal $12,300

Sub Total plus 10% fees $13,530

Cactus columns condom (per column cost): systems (could be used on 1^st floor).

Structural Engineer $1000

grow lights $1500

Structural fabric:20 sf per side, 80 sf,

4’ x 1’ modules, 5 pieces per side,

80 pieces per column $2000

Attachment system, all thread bolts $600

Cacti, 3 plants per s.f., 250 $1000

Soil $200

Collection/waterproofing system $300

Delivery charges: set up and take down: $300

Subtotal per prototype column $6900

Sub Total plus 10% fees $7590

Every column thereafter $6590

biennale of americas meeting notes

Concept and budget meeting:

Euro biennales—scaffolding more important. How the frame work is set up, how things are put together is more important that what the plants are. We need an interesting form. The green screen thing is not really that interesting.

Is there some material that comes from buildings that we could use? Check out

Habitat for Humanity, Resource 2000

Limited light and water resources.

We should choose first or 3^rd floor, which has the most light. Marks likes the 3^rd fl, where the site is close to the bathroom so we have some access to water and more natural light- better if contingencies. Bad part about 3^rd floor is access, which is limited. Small elevator. Open stairway.

First floor- access is better

But what is main objective? As Growwest is representing this, we want to not limit ourselves to one site in the building.

Possible plant material: Cacti, ferns and vines.

We can’t touch the building because of historic status. How to attach to building? What are the other questions we need to ask?

Schedule- proposal due this week- Feb 26^th. Finalize idea during march-may. Installation June. Opening July 1^st- 30^th.

Nominate Karla to be point person.

Cactus columns in 1^st floor. We need to work out program elements and then choose plants. Cacti are different from any green wall out there. Native and drought tolerant plants. Maybe a partial combination of vines and cactus. Vine are more viable for an indoor environment.

3^rd floor- something dropping from the ceiling- planters on steel grids planted with vines. Jungle feeling. We could do cactus columns also on the third. Maybe do something that folds and curves.

Alternatives not included in budget: Fog Hog- use it- Or dry ice installed on a daily basis. Or Mee system, commonly used in greenhouses, put on a timer.

Use module systems so easy to install.

This material including budget is for Growwest members only.

Ideas:

1. Vine-do-lier or Vine-do-labra. Only 3^rd floor. Enclose space so it is dark, the opposite of a light. And then you emerge into the light and see the cacti columns. From a permaculture perspective, vines are the quickest way to get shade on a building. This project is the inverse of light; it is about shade, cooling, and improved air quality.

Planter boxes that rest on dropped ceiling grid. Tied down. Long plastic, 8” deep. Or concrete trough (this could be reused or sold elsewhere). We could use black plastic pots (#1 or #5) and put them on plywood.

Structure that resembles a chandelier to spread vines out and they drape to the floor.

Lighting installed in dropped ceiling or down lighting

Vines: Andy will look into greenhouses. Ivy, Ficus repens, Hoya, Peas, Chinese lace vine, Silver lace vine. Bouganvilla, Ask for DBG horticulturalist for help.

2. Cactus columns condom (per column cost): systems (could be used on 1^st floor).

Use grow lights , each column will have the rough dimensions of 20 sf per side, 80 sf, fabric structure; 4’ x 1’ modules, 5 pieces per side of column, 80 pieces per column

Attachment system, all thread bolts welded to steel structural posts and attach to fabric with grommets and caribiners.

Plant material is cacti, native or climate appropriate, with little soil in pocket like system.

There will be a Collection/waterproofing system for the little water that will accumulate after 2 watering per month.

Budgets (based on material costs only. No mark up for installation, labor)

vertical garden images and ideas

hi

so will this be a permanent installation? who will be maintaining it? how big is the art component? what size are the spaces approximately?

Two things/ ideas/ concepts for the base- premise come to mind.. (as now being in a city that is flooded with vertical systems.. very few look good over time....)

my suggestion since it is inside would be a hydroponic system or woolly pocket, or epiphyte/ tillandsia attached to some artsy piece as they actually grow this way and only need misting so you avoid a watering system .

hydroponics: for this space.. both below could provide light and a water resivour

I have two ideas for this.... a friend in Boulder who would be great to collaborate with on the working components for the hydroponic system.. he used to work for aero grow and has a very effective and trust worthy system down.... I will connect you through email ( depending on size i would imagine components being between $1200- $4000... i am also working with the inka guys linked below on an upcoming project and they have a great system( they will custom build anything) as well their prebuilt self contained can run from $4000- $9000( with win generator and solar panel) ... they also in march with have 3 20" foot tall rotating hydroponic towers they will be wanting to sell/ display after the flower and garden show in march which we could get access to... i will research cost, get pictures on those and we could plant ourselves...( the interior piece is tricky and they have lighting, water etc worked out as it is a whole other ball game)

Woolly pockets: i know this isn't rocket science but they work, they look beautiful and there are many creative ways to arrange these on interesting backgrounds.. these are all about the plants you put in them.. but long term these seem to perform the best. plants are growing how the want to...they are $25-$50 per pocket depending on size.. with plants and soil I would say $75- $150 per piece as you would want nice plants.. great with bromeliads,philodendrons etc..

you could use a drip system to water if the installation was high... would need a resivour with a pump

air plants, epihphytes etc...: this concept which flora and many others are so hot about .. does make alot of sense as these plans perform many of the desired air purifying traits and naturally grow with no soil and minimal water and are used to growing vertically.

each tilllandsia/ bromeliad runs between $3.00-$15.00 a piece wholesale... $6.00-$30.00 retail... you could construct the back panel out of what ever you like( recycled wood, metal) hang them from wire, drape them etc...

i also have one of my light boxes from Live light we could use too? 2 of them are in SF in AIA show... but i have one in denver and one more in steamboat.. 0range and a pink one..i can fill with plants.. see pics below

this has the most flexibilty and is still alive

i think there is a lot of ways to be creative here and also create something beautiful and educational!

below are some images to get ideas and juices flowing!

talk soon

http://inka.fm/

http://www.woollypocket.com/

website update

I think it would be best to do this in 2 phases to save $. Please add to list.

Phase 1 :

• Update 5 speakers when confirmed
• Get a contact button ( to who or how to manage is the question)
• Change Fusco's contact company
• Press release (we can list this on the blog instead) as well as dbg site
• a quick rundown on last years event (speakers, content, reaction?, other ideas?)

Phase 2:

• Final schedule
• any other updates
• sponsors and level

Legislative Briefing Follow Up

Here are the handouts. The material on the other blog is what we passed along to Senator Chris Romer. We are trying to set up a meeting with him next week to talk further about possibilities.

marketing and outreach

Mark and I are going to the Sustainable Business Legislative Briefing tomorrow morning. At the last minute I am putting together a "cheat sheet" for Growwest. In doing so I have discovered that there is no way of contacting us (anyone at Growwest). I think we should remedy this somehow on the website or blog. Maybe I am just missing something. Anyway here is the cheat sheet:



GROWWEST GREEN ROOFS FOR THE WEST


MISSION:
GROWWEST fosters regional dialogue for encouraging green roof policy; forwarding the design, construction and performance of green roofs in Colorado; and brings together parties united for the green roof cause.

As a grass roots organization, it is Growwest’s goal to convince the public and politicians that government policies favoring green roofs are good for the environment and the bottom line.

Green roofs are an integral component of sustainable development in the arid West.


PUBLIC BENEFITS

Aesthetic Improvements
Waste Diversion
Storm Water Management
Reduction of Heat Island Effect
Improved Air Quality
New Amenity Space
Local Job Creation
Increased Ecological Biodiversity
Improved health and well-being
Education opportunities

PRIVATE BENEFITS

Energy Efficiency
Increased Membrane Durability And Longevity
Storm Water Management
Reduction of Heat Island Effect
Improved Air Quality
New Amenity Space
Local Job Creation
Urban Agriculture


WWW.GROWWEST.ORG