My Portable WindowFarm

So after some thinking, some scavenging, and a little tinkering, I have completed the portable farm that I had mentioned in my previous post.  I have simplified the design quite a bit, and the proportions have changed some.  It stands a little taller than I had planned, at around four feet.  And the base is substantially smaller, currently at about four inches (I may add a small wooden base to make it a little sturdier).  The other major changes came in the reservoir, and in my suspension system.
When looking through the materials, I quickly realized that the size and construction of these posts from a previous project would work perfectly without modification.  When actually looking at the pipe, four feet seemed like the perfect length to fit a couple bottles with an adequately deep reservoir.  And even better than the size, the construction gave me an easy way to mount the system.
As a previous assembly, I had drilled two holes for a bolt in the top elbow bracket, which I thought was spaced perfectly for a single tower of beer bottles:

Also, the base has a fitting attached that allows it to screw into this mounting bracket:

After a little more scrounging through my cast-aside bottles and materials, I found a few bottles that seemed to fill the height very evenly (1 half length beer bottle, 2 full length beer bottles, and a full length wine bottle):

Once I had all of the major pieces in one place, I started thinking about the construction. Specifically, what would be easiest for transport, use, and explanation, while maintaining a very clean and neat appearance.  And this is what I came up with:

For the sake of explanation of the basic elements of a windowfarm, I used the same pumping mechanism.  It is a little hard to see, but out of the cork there is an inflation needle running into a copper lift tube.  Just below the photo is a check valve:

With a friends' help, I drilled an oblong hole through which I intended to run the lift tube.  It is a snug fit, and has the added bonus of fixing the reservoir bottle to the pipe, preventing excessive swinging of all bottles.  It looks like this:

On the top, I used the only plastic of the whole system in a small three inch piece of airline tubing to make the U bend in the lift tube.  I also drilled a 1/4 inch hole in the elbow to run this tubing through, guiding into the bottle:

The last change in my design came in my suspension system.  Rather than fixedly mounting the bottles in the tower, like my other farms, and previous designs.  I thought to hang the bottles using S hooks, a pair on the bottle, and a pair attached to the suspension ropes.  Around the bottle I tied simple nets that distribute the weight to the neck, but hang from the highest point, maintaining a low center of gravity.  These are easily removed for any reason:

And this includes the reservoir!  Finally I am able to flush the system regularly without hassle.  It is a little tighter, because the way the suspension works, pressure is applied on the ropes by the lift tube pushing down on the bottle, so with a full bottle, it takes some finagling.  But here is a video to show how easily it can be done still:

The final touches for this system will include the purely aesthetic addition of an endcap to cover the open elbow at the top, a potential horizontal carrying case for the bottles, and possibly switching to cheesecloth bags instead of net pots.  We plan to plant possibly mint, stevia, and basil in the system, keeping them all relatively trimmed and small.  Also, I was looking for some thoughts or recommendations on how to pump this system using DC power, like in a battery.  I want this to be as self-contained, and function-anywhere as possible, so any recommendations would be much appreciated!

Some Thoughts

Here at my school, we have a day where we are able to present projects that we have been working on.  People can bring in a trifold and set it up, displaying their work in a gallery style.  It got me thinking about how to miniaturize my system, so that I would be able to bring a model to events where I could promote the great work people have been doing.  Especially after missing an urban agriculture festival in the area.  So, I thought of this yesterday and drafted it out.  It is pretty rough, and the proportions are off, but it gets the job done.

For scale, the large piping will be 2" copper pipe (I have some laying around from an old project).  The bottles will be half length beer bottles.  I will tie it with two pieces of rope attaching to a handcrafted net of sorts around the bottles.  Within the 2"tubing, I will run my standard 1/4" copper lift tube, which will use an equivalent airlift mechanism to my other systems.  And while I drew the arm relatively lengthy, I actually plan on there being almost no distance between the two elbows.  I want the whole system to be under two feet high, be rigidly constructed, and easily transportable (continuing function, no spillage).  

Pardon the epic perspective.

I also want to start to do a little experimentation.  Since I have established a few farms, and have a base line, I want to start attempting alternative options in media, and method of hydration/feeding/aeration.  Whether I do this with an existing farm, or power out a third tower during my class break, I have yet to decide.  My design is that in a similarly constructed modular tower, I will have only one column that is a drip system.  My second column will be DWC.  The third column will be an electric free column; the bottles will be filled with a mixture of expanded clay and sand, and will be hand watered every couple of days (hoping the sand will help retain moisture).  Or, each level may be the various systems (i.e tier 1 DWC, tier 3 drip, etc.).  I'm not sure which to go with, I figure with columns the DWC will make it tilt, and with tiers it's hard to figure out the right configuration.  I plan to have three types of plants, with three of each.  One of each plant will go in each type of system; similar plants will compare the systems' efficacy.  I am thinking one will be lettuce, one a fruiting plant, and the third basil; this way I have a comparison between systems and types of plants.

If I am feeling really scientific (and it is still winter when I do this), I may even put it in a darker area, and put the system completely on controlled lighting in order to expedite consistent growth, so I can really have something to compare.  Just in the planning stages, thought I could put it out, see if anyone has feedback that I may use to guide my design.  I will keep thinking, and keep posting as I progress with everything.

Namaste and Keep Farmin'

Jalapeños and Some Dirty Tomatoes

I promise that this is it of the digital leftovers of my turkey day break, haha.
As I said a couple posts back, the two towers are getting separated out on here due to their upcoming physical separation.  This post is on Tower One, or the tower that I buit for my parents, and that will stay in it's current location (with any luck I can get my parents to actually put up growth updates come January).  And so with the theme of my parents caregiving, I have decided to give a shout-out to my dad's tomatoes which bested my tomato in our Hydro v. Soil competition.
So here they are!:

 Baby Toms!

As far as the WindowFarm, there are some bits of exciting news, but unfortunately due to the lack of sprouted seeds, there is only one new addition, an eggplant that is on the front side which I didn't photograph.  If you want a visual though, the eggplants in Tower Two are exactly the same.  All else gets picture:

Jalapeños!

 The other one, not doing so hot..

 Minty is coming back after being smothered by the tomato.

Basil down below, ready to retire.

 Bell pepper, surviving, but not thriving.

On a developmental note, since all of these changes, we have had some leakage issues.  And because of it my Dad is pushing for more DWC, possibly converting the whole tower by corking each bottle.  My concerns would be weight, and the need for twice as many airstones.