Floating Greenhouses and Produce Distribution Points

Boat-based floating market in Venice

We’ve heard of transitionary gardens; that is, farms that utilize vacant lots until developers come up with the funds to follow through with their projects. And we’ve heard of mobile markets–Delridge Produce Co-op set up a fresh produce stand at various sites along the Delridge corridor in West Seattle last summer, and earlier this month I had the pleasure of watching floating markets in Venice that sold produce straight from the canal. Now, what if we combined those ideas into a floating farm?? Ferries with large windows would be a choice place to grow vegetables as they can collect lots of light. Furthermore, the mobile aspect of the boat allows for a built-in distribution method.

This was one idea that was explored at the University of Washington’s design charrette last spring. A business–called Boatanic– in Amsterdam would like to make it a reality and is aiming to debut the project next year. Here’s some more information about the project from the design blog, Core77:

As Damien O’Sullivan, a designer in Rotterdam, walked the waterways in Amsterdam, he noticed that the typical tourist boats would make fantastic greenhouses—they are ideally suited to gathering heat and light with their large glass windows. If tourists were replaced with vegetables, and if the boat was retrofitted with some farming and energy harvesting equipment, these little ships could make excellent, small-sized, mobile urban farms.

This is the backbone of Boatanic, O’Sullivan’s new proposal for a distributed urban farm set to debut in 2011. Boatanic will offer fresh, year-round seasonal produce, sold directly from the quay and by subscription. Bike delivery services will be available to local restaurants buying wholesale. The system also proposes a return to commerce in inner-city canals, which have become less popular as citizens favor roadway transportation.

Related posts:

1. Gardens Under Glass: Transforming Malls Into Greenhouses
2. How Much Food Do Community Gardens Produce?
3. Public Produce Writer to Speak

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