Smart community garden
What is a community garden?
A community garden is a garden where a group of people take care of a garden together. A usual set-up is for each person or family to have their own plot they are in charge of. A less common set-up is where the entire group take care of the entire garden. In our project we explore how this "collective" garden could be aided by smart technnology.
Our project
Smart sensors
The concept of smart homes can extend beyond the interior to encompass the surrounding areas and gardens. For those without personal gardens, joining a community garden can serve as an excellent alternative, effectively transforming it into an extension of their living space. To facilitate collaboration in community gardens, we have developed innovative smart sensors. These sensors light up based on the specific needs of the plants. For instance, a blue light will activate when a plant requires watering, a green light will signal a need for nutrition, and a yellow light will indicate any other necessary tasks. This system allows gardeners to quickly assess what needs attention at a glance.
Hub to keep track of the garden
The smart community garden features a central hub that allows you to monitor and manage all your plots effortlessly. You can access detailed information for each plot, including water and nutrient levels, previous plantings, and who planted them. Additionally, the hub provides recommendations based on the sensor light readings and offers a tailored task list for each specific plot. You can also add new tasks or edit existing ones, ensuring that your garden is always well-maintained and thriving.
Task management and suggestions
The hub also automatically generates tasks based on sensor readings. For instance, if water levels are low, it will schedule a watering task within a few days. It can also determine optimal times for thinning out and harvesting based on the planting date. Additionally, the hub offers recommendations for companion planting and suggests suitable crops based on previous plantings to help preserve soil nutrients. You'll find a wealth of information and tips for a wide variety of plants, ensuring your gardening experience is both productive and rewarding.
The process
Pre-study
To learn more about community gardens and the people who are part of them, we sent out a form to around 60 different community gardens in Gothenburg. We asked them which struggles they faced, how they communicated and collaborated, and what their attitude towards technology in the garden were. This helped us in brainstorming and prototyping.
We also did a field study at a collective garden in Högsbo. It was very informative, both to understand their needs and their collaboration, but also to learn more about gardening in general.
Prototyping
We developed the prototype of the sensor by simultaneously working with the electronics with arduino and arduino cloud, and also with 3d printing. Before printing, we made a first draft in kappa board, to make sure the electronics would fit inside. We then 3d-printed two versions with clear filament.
We also iterated multiple times on the figma prototype, refining it each time.
