Urban farming is challenging. Limited space is one of the biggest barriers to growing fresh food as a city dweller – and it usually translates to limited yield. Yet, one Danish company is addressing the problem with their flatpack urban farm that houses vertical, hydroponically grown gardens. Human Habitat’s Impact Farm is designed to bring communities together by fighting “food deserts” and offering fulfilling employment.
With a production area of just 538 square feet, the Impact Farm can easily squeeze into tight, urban spaces. The flatpack design allows the unit to be shipped virtually anywhere so it can be used for both commercial and community needs. Mikkel Kjaer and Ronnie Markussen, who run Human Habitat, say the farm can be unpacked and installed in 10 days.
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“We wanted to reconnect people to food by giving them a green space that brings nature back into our cities,” says Kjaer to Collectively. By giving people a useful skill to learn and opportunities for employment, the idea of the urban farm addresses the problems of low employment and inaccessibility to fresh food, which tend to go hand in hand in certain urban areas. The duo are targeting the US, hoping to offer one model that can serve small businesses and another to grow food for the community at large.
The Impact Farm is capable of growing greens (and microgreens), vegetables, herbs, and fruiting plants in its two-story frame. The produce is grown hydroponically, which makes city farming a breeze. The pilot farm is taking place in Copenhagen, with hopes to bring it to other large cities and even locations in humanitarian crises. It’s no doubt fresh food should be available to everyone, under every circumstance. Human Habitat is on the path to making this happen.
+ Human Habitat
Via Collectively
Images via Human Habitat
