Kijani Grows : Urban Garden Systems

Internet of food: Arduino-based, urban aquaponics in Oakland The land in West Oakland where Eric Maundu is trying to farm is covered with freeways, roads, light rail and parking lots so there’s not much arable land and the soil is contaminated. So Maundu doesn’t use soil. Instead he’s growing plants using fish and circulating water. Farming fish and plants together It’s called aquaponics- a gardening system that combines hydroponics (water-based planting) and aquaculture (fish farming). Aquaponics has become popular in recent years among urban gardeners and DIY tinkerers, but Maundu- who is trained in industrial robotics- has taken the agricultural craft one step further and made his gardens smart. Smart aquaponics Maundu himself ran from agriculture in his native Kenya- where he saw it as a struggle for land, water and resources. “I feel knowledge of electronics and software programming makes me a better farmer than just having a hoe. Future of farming