Welcome everyone to the adventures aboard Valley Forge. When resources are hard to come by we have to be inventive. Imaginative, and very creative in our designs and projects. I would like to thank you all for taking the time to check out the works of Valley Forge within the next 9 blog posts we will embark on an adventure into creating a sustainable and micro sized growing pod.
When I was first tasked with this idea when it came about I decided I needed to learn. Finding out I needed to learn even more then I thought I would have for this project. Every question I had more questions would arise in my findings and how to accommodate everything all into one.
There will be some bonus things in the end as well so make sure to stay around for that.
Let's start by explaining a few parts to my project and then we can grow from there and continue our adventure throughout the rest of the design challenge together.
Now I would like to say there was some goals in mind when starting project Paperinik.
1. It must be able to be made anywhere with easy to acquire materials.
2. It must be able to be portable and compact enough for travel and setup.
3. It must be able to be something anyone at any skill level can start to make.
4. It must be able to be usable in the 4 seasons as well as in space.
5. It must be able to be modified quickly for growth and expansion.
6. It must be able to be put together with minimal tools.
So with taking into fact what is on earth for easy to acquire materials and well what they might have in a spaceship or on the ISS things were coming together for me. Finding the right materials both in space and on earth could accompany and done cheap.
Throughout my blog post we will cover many things from design of the enclosure to the electronics used and plants that will be grown and everything in between. There is so much to cover in so little time as I need to get things setup soon to get planting so we can have a victory salad in the end.
I will be taking into fact how they currently grow in space, and how I think it could be done differently. I want a unit that can be used in space as my ultimate goal and keeping all the factors that might effect the growing in space into account.
Let me tell you there was lots of very limited information on the subject out there. As the questions stack up at times I will leave it to a decision that it may "possibly" work in space factor. Since I am not in space nor can I reproduce the actual environment I will be pulling as much information from documentaries and YouTube videos on the day and life. I spent 2 days looking over the ISS to see if certain materials were visible in video's on YouTube. In that time even more questions came up but my design was already completed and a redesign at the stage I am currently at wouldn't be viable to me in the time game. So near the end of my blogs will be a revision of my design that I know would 100% be build-able within the ISS.
So when it comes to growing I know there is tons of options that can be done but with the space factor in mind expanding on their existing designs and idea's was my main goal. Making it more automated and monitored for the best possible results in the growth having everything contained and secure.
As a non sponsored Canadian in this design challenge I can't wait to see everyone's projects as I have a feeling there is going to be tons of amazing things going on in the community with this design challenge over the next while as everyone get's their kits and their idea's start to flow with the products in front of them. And remember to everyone if you get stuck or need help make sure to ask because as a community we are all here to help as well.
Best of luck and godspeed and lets get making!
All 3d printed parts can be found here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4644039