Building our window farm

Building Our Window Farm

Our window farm was first built right at the beginning of the project. We had a very good idea and design. Unfortunately and mysteriously it went missing while at school. The worst part was loosing the pump which was bought new and cost a lot of money.

We hoped it would turn up, but it never did and so on the very last day we had to start again. In a way this was good, because we had already done it once so we could improve the design in certain aspects. Still, I would rather have gone surfing, as Sunday is the only day I can do this.

What we used:

• We used 3 x 2 litre bottles. My father bought three soda water bottles, which we decanted into smaller bottles so we didnt waste the contents. First, we had to wash all the soda stream bottles and caps.
• Some string to connect the various pots.
• Cable ties - both small and medium sized.
• A submersible water pump.
• A 3 metre length of 8mm pipe.
• Recycled Coir, which is used in hanging baskets.
• Some fine plastic mesh as a second filter system.
• Brain power to think it all up. 

How we built it:

• We drew a line on the bottles to help with cutting so we cut straight.
• Once we had cut all three bottles, we punched holes in them with a normal punch. We attached small, thin cable ties to these holes. These became the hooks that we attached the strings too. The strings attached the bottles, so the water drains from the top bottle into the bottom one.
• We made sure that it was all level, by adjusting the strings and having 4 points to attach the string on each bottle.
• We cut round bits of Coir, cut three slits in them and inserted these into the bottom of the bottles so they would act like filters.
• We also added a second filtration using fine mesh to the bottoms of each bottle.
• After we had constructed the window farm, we checked that it would drain and filter and all lined up. Then we filled it with soil.
• Then we added plants.
• First we added watercress to the middle bottle.
• Then we added mint bottom bottle.
• Then we added spinach to the top bottle.

1.drawing the cutting line

2.cutting the bottle

3. cutting another bottle

4. all three bottles cut

5. all the equipment on the worktable

6. this is the soil  with added water

7. these are some plants 

8. this testing if the water will pass through the filter.

9. this is cutting more filters

10. this is a bottle with a filter and some mesh 

11. view of the bottle from the bottom with filter and mesh

12. mixing the soil in the bag

13. testing the finished window farm

14.the finished window farm

15. testing the widow farm  with a pump.

16. adding soil to the window farm

17. adding more soil to the window farm

18. adding soil to the widowfarm

19. finished soil in bottle 

20. adding  watercress seeds to the window farm

21. planting mint in the window farm

22. planting spinach in the window farm