Irvine Going Green
- Feb 11, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 19, 2021
Following on from our presentation last Friday 5th of Feb, we are currently exploring the possibility of creating a shared community horticultural space within our site that is run on clean renewable energy and recycled materials. As our team name suggests, the area it encompasses is only around 1 acre and therefore this limited amount of space is a real factor in deciding which is the best strategy to implement.
First we'll take a look at the regions past…
Beginning in the late 1950s Irvine and the surrounding area has been heavily involved in manufacturing, mainly textiles and munitions. After a severe downturn in both industries around the late 1970s until today, most of these factories which once offered very large-scale employment for the local township have now closed [1],[2]. This has a knock-on effect even for smaller businesses in the area which tend to stagnate instead of growing as household income is cut. The area then becomes less attractive for incoming residents and potential start-ups leading to a dearth in spending, less opportunities and a high proportion of the community without work.
This combined with low public health and education statistics has led to the area being ranked very low on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation survey. Our focus must therefore be aimed towards helping the local community as much as possible, while retaining a commitment to biodiversity and ecology.
So what can we do?
One way to tick both boxes would be to build a community greenhouse...
It has been shown through numerous studies including [Impact of Community Greening…(2008) Western Sydney], that gardening can positively influence peoples mental health [3], and strengthen interpersonal relationships which are formed while participating with community members. It can also help build a sense of pride within the community while increasing positive behaviours such as motivation [4]. The process of planting, nurturing and harvesting plants on an individual level not only increases access, but more importantly consumption of more fruits/vegetables for those involved.
Evidence also suggests that community gardeners feel more concerned for their immediate surroundings and exhibit a more positive outlook regarding conservation issues.
In a 2018 study conducted within a suburb of NSW in Australia [5], researchers gathered approximately 100 volunteers from a socially deprived area (along with staff who provided support), to help grow a variety of plants over a 12 month period, asking them to periodically complete questionnaires throughout the experience. Each individual had a chance to be involved in growing produce from start to finish or just use the space for recreation. Over 85% of the participants said that the program had a positive effect on their physical and mental health, with a further 91% claiming it helped their community.
The difference between this particular study and our proposal is the method in which we will grow the plants. Unfortunately the climate of western Scotland is not favourable for growing produce all year round, nevermind engaging in outdoor pursuits which may involve the aged or infirm!
A greenhouse provides the perfect solution to this problem of inclement weather, bringing everything indoors where the environment is a lot more predictable (and thankfully warmer). As previously stated, the site is not very large and would have even less space available for any structure when taking parking and accessibility into account so starting a community farm may not sound like the best option...
But don't fear!
There is a solution to this problem too, and one which is used throughout the world especially in Western Europe, to produce all kinds of food and other things on a commercial scale when factors such as light, temperature, space or legality is restricted.
What is Hydroponics?
For plants to grow they need four things; light for their leaves, water for their roots, air for their lungs? and food for their stomachs? (we do not currently have a botanist on our team).
Conventionally they would get these by extracting light from the sun and water/nutrients from the soil. In a hydroponic system these four elements are delivered in a slightly different way, namely through a constantly flowing nutrient solution which is delivered via the pipes or trays used to support their roots, air from the surrounding atmosphere and artificial lights when there is a scarcity of natural sunlight.
This method allows growers the maximum amount of space to be utilised within any structure through clever design techniques.
Plants are suspended in a growing medium (usually a kind of gravel or stone) which is scattered throughout the plastic pipes, planted as close together as possible to deliver maximum efficiency. The pipes can be arranged in a variety of different ways such as a low height or pattern to aid harvesting and maintenance, or even stacked vertically since there is no pesky soil to worry about.
We propose to use scrap poly-ethylene pipes which are no longer in use by SGN, to fill and construct this kind of system. This would not be hard to implement as P.E. pipes have been used in this way since the 1980’s [6]. It has even been shown than replacing organic substrates with polyethylene chippings as a growing medium can increase yield in some cases [7].
There is even an integrated vertical farm currently operational and located in Aberdeenshire [8].
The key thing to note regarding this proposal is that the technology involved is not new or developmental, but actually used throughout the world today, having been proven and perfected over the course of many years. Renewable power sources such as solar and wind can also be easily integrated, to provide the site with 100% clean energy. This means the greenhouse can be heated and artificial lights used to help the plants grow not just in the summer, but continuously all year round. Most of the resulting produce can then be distributed amongst volunteers and the local community, whilst retaining a portion for seed.
The project could then run indefinitely, providing a very big return from such a small investment for the people of Irvine.
For more information on the benefits of social and therapeutic horticulture please see the below references or visit this website: https://www.thrive.org.uk/
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