File:Completed Gnometainer

Abstract

The GnomeTainer provides an inexpensive and self sustaining way for families to grow their own food without a plot of land. The garden system encloses soil with connected plastic storage containers and provides a greenhouse environment supported by a PVC frame. A water catchment system is supported by the frame to store rainwater which can be used to water the plants at a later time. The GnomeTainer provides a low maintenance and educational method of growing your own produce.

Background

As a whole, our society is becoming ever more dependent on industrial sources of produce in lieu of simple and sustainable practices that allow for healthier lifestyles. The GnomeTainer, produced for Locally Delicious, creates a convenient and low-maintenance alternative to this trend by providing a way to grow a portion of one's own produce without the need for a plot of land, thereby reducing one's dependence on industrial sources.

Problem Statement and Criteria

Using the following constraints as guidelines, GGC must design an effective greenhouse to educate children about greenhouse gardening and its benifits. The constraints are:

Criteria Weight Description
Safety 1 The project should not cause harm, should not have any sharp edges, and should minimize the usage of power tools during construction and maintenance
Waste Reduction 2 The project should divert a large amount of waste from landfills by either being reused or recycled
Practicality 3 The project should produce food in a variety of climates, environments, and locations
Durability 4 The project should last two years.
Cost 5 The solution should not exceed $200 to construct and implement

Description of Final Project

The GnomeTainer is a simple and effective urban gardening unit that will use materials and rainwater to achieve a small, low maintenance, and easily built garden addition for a family without a plot of land. The plants are housed in four rectangular plastic storage bins (the team used Rubbermaid bins, but any will durable bin will do). A PVC frame “roof” stands around the unit, supporting plastic sheeting, creating a greenhouse-like environment. Any precipitation that falls then, runs to either side of the sheeting, is caught by a gutter system, and directed into one of two rainwater storage jugs. When the plants need water, a spigot connected to the storage jugs can be used to liberate the water through a hose, for use in watering the plants.

Costs

Material Quantity Individual cost Retail cost Our cost
Sterlite Container 4 $0 $13.99 $55.96
10' 1.5" PVC Pipe 4 $0 $6.99 $27.96
10 3/4" PVC Pipe 1 $0 $2.69 $2.69
45 degree PVC Elbow 12 $0 $2.06 $24.72
Quad-Joint PVC 1 $0 $3.65 $3.65
Tri-Joint PVC 3 $0 $1.79 $5.37
Metal Hinges 6 $0 $2.33 $13.98
Greenhouse Sheeting (sq/ft) 49 $0 $0.42 $20.58
5 Gallon water jug 1 $0 $14.99 Donated
Zipties 12 $0 $1.00 Donated
PVC Pipe Cutter 1 $0 $13.49 $13.49
Hose Connectors ? $0 $0 $0
Rubber Grommets ? $0 $0 $0
Hoses ? $0 $0 $0
Tax N/A $13.89
Total $168.40 $182.20

Testing Results

Rigidity: We tested the rigidity of our constructed greenhouse framework. The storage containers are connected together with zip ties and the PVC frame is connected to the containers at 6 points using one stable hinge. We tested the rigity by moving the garden frame around and picking it up. The PVC framework firmly connects the containers and the entire system stays firmly intact.

Water drainage: After a night of rain the storage containers adequately drain water. The holes drilled all over the bottom and bottom sides of the container allow enough space for the water to drain.

How to Build

Step-by-Step Instructions for building the GnomeTainer

The storage bins are lined up in a rectangle and attached to one-another by zip ties, pulled through holes made in the bins. Holes must also be drilled into the sides and bottoms of the bins (9 in the bottom and 4 on each side) to allow drainage. The PVC frame is built over the bins, using six leg pieces, which arc to the center, forming an A-Style “roof”. As an optional step, the frame can be clamped to the bins at each leg, near the top of the bins. The team accomplished this using zinc-plated U-Bends, bolted into the bins. At this point, the bins should be filled with a potting soil of choice. The fame secures a sheet of plastic, which doubles as a shelter and a greenhouse like environment. This sheeting is secured via zip ties at each leg of the frame. The gutters are constructed by wrapping a piece of PVC pipe, roughly the same length as the shelter, and wrapping it in extra plastic sheeting material from the roof construction. These gutters are secured by zip ties to sides of the room at a slight downward slope, one from left to right, the other right to left. These slopes direct precipitation into one of two 5-gallon water jugs, which are secured to the frame, upside down with the bottoms removed. Hoses are attached to the smaller opening of the jugs and separated by a spigot. These hoses may be laid directly on the soil, and used to water the plants once the jugs contain some rainwater.

Discussion and next steps

GGC'S next step would be to implement our design in various regions in order to test the greenhouse design in different climates. Also testing the design with different vegetables will allow GGC to fully test and perfect our water catchment system.

References

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2011 Team: Garden Gnome Coalition

tylermc Tyler Callahan
slm178 Steve Mitchell
sp218 Srihari Peesapati
epaleo Emilio Paleo
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