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- Dragonfly Vertical FarmModeled after the wings of a dragonfly, this incredible urban farm concept for <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/02/16/dystopian-farm-by-eric-vergne/">New York City</a>'s Roosevelt Island intends to ease the problems of food mileage and shortage, and reconnect consumers with producers. <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/11/amazing-skyscraper-farm-for-vancouver/">Urban farming</a> is a growing trend amongst savvy city dwellers today, but in a densely packed borough like Manhattan, growth must come vertically. Spanning 132 floors and 600 vertical meters, the <a href="http://vincent.callebaut.org/page1-img-dragonfly.html">Dragonfly</a> can accommodate 28 different agricultural fields for the production of fruit, vegetables, grains, meat and dairy. A combination of <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/category/solar-power/">solar</a> and <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/category/wind/">wind</a> power make Belgian architect <a href="http://vincent.callebaut.org/">Vincent Callebaut</a>'s Dragonfly concept 100% self sufficient.1
- Dragonfly Vertical FarmIn this <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/13/a-utopian-vision-for-food-city-dubai/">utopian superstructure</a> offices, research labs, housing, and communal areas are interspersed between orchards, farms, and production rooms.2
- Dragonfly Vertical FarmPlant and animal farming is arranged throughout the Dragonfly's steel and glass set of wings so as to maintain proper soil nutrient levels and reuse of <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/02/03/oslo-buses-to-run-on-poo-power/">biowaste</a>.3
- Dragonfly Vertical FarmThe spaces between the wings are designed to take advantage of solar energy by accumulating warm air in the exo-structure during winter. Cooling in the summer will be facilitated through <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/02/11/mode-gakuen-spiral-towers-by-nikken-sekkei/">natural ventilation</a> and evapo-perspiration from the plants.4
- Dragonfly Vertical FarmExterior <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/15/national-heart-center-in-singapore-by-broadway-malyan/">vertical gardens</a> filter rain water which is then mixed with domestic liquid waste. Together they are treated organically before being recirculated for farm use, preserving and distributing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.5
- Dragonfly Vertical FarmThis <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/11/amazing-skyscraper-farm-for-vancouver/">urban farm</a>, perhaps more appropriate for <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/13/a-utopian-vision-for-food-city-dubai/">Dubai</a> than New York, is intended to be cultivated by its own inhabitants, thus closing the loop of self-sustenance.6