Abstract
I love self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, Hawaii in this day and age is not known particularly for being self-sufficient when it comes to food. My goal is to start the change of how Hawaii gets its food, by means of hydroponics and my knowledge involving gardening. My project also helps fight rat lungworm, a prominent problem on the big island of Hawaii.
Milestones
Problem Statement (SEPT 10)
The population of the Big Island want fresh produce and cheap food, without having to deal with the many pressures/issues associated, such as shipping costs, rat lungworm, inflated prices, etc. Along with these problems, it’s been understood from studies that Hawaii does not grow enough food on it’s own to last more than a few weeks, under the condition that shipments of food come to a halt. In the modern world, it’s entirely possible to buy the right materials and supplies to grow a personal garden or setup to become self-sufficient (self-reliant), yet many people choose not to do it. This is becoming a big problem as of recently for many reasons, such as food transport costs. For one, the world population is increasing, causing a higher demand for food and water. More specifically, many countries and places right now are in droughts, a problem which should be considered very serious. For many tourists in Hawaii, buying food is not a problem, as most people on vacation are not worried about spending too much money. For the residents of Hawaii however, increasing prices are very tough, especially considering how expensive it is to live here. To add insult to injury, buying healthy vegetables or other produce, such as lettuce, has the risk of containing snail slime, which can cause rat lungworm, a deadly disease which occurs in the brain of humans. Considering all these problems/variables, I’m focused on creating a solution which is sustainable, cheap, and safe.
Pitch (SEPT 29)
Formal Proposal (OCT 21)
The goal of my project is to serve as a stepping stone for others who want to make their lives more self-sufficient. By proving that a 17 year old in high school is capable of building something than allows him to provide for himself and his family, others my age can pursue similar interests without being discouraged. To preface my ideas, I must explain the many problems associated with growing food in Hawaii. Besides lacking the basic knowledge regarding gardening and growing food, residents of Hawaii are faced with the problem of rat lungworm. Buying food from the store as well has problems. Since most processed foods are not made within the islands, that means most packaged foods are shipped in from the mainland, typically by ship or plane, which also requires lots of natural resources and time. However, with proper knowledge, spare wood, and some hydroponic-related electronics, anyone can be able to grow food of their own choice without having to pay hefty taxes, fees, etc. As I build my “Hydropod”, a 6 by 3 hydroponic setup on wheels, I have to keep in mind that this won’t feed my entire community. Instead, this will focus on something that, in my opinion, is even more important. As my friends and individuals in my community see the work I’ve done, they’ll begin to understand the benefits and key aspects of hydroponics as a whole. Hydroponics, beyond just being a cool futuristic method of farming, has many benefits when compared side-by-side with traditional farming methods. For example, plants which are grown through hydroponics have higher yields, faster growing times, and have the precise amount of nutrients. Beyond just the plants themselves, hydroponic farming only uses 5% of the typical amount of water used in traditional farming, making it useful for parts of the world outside of my small Hawaii community who may be going through droughts. Since I already built my Hydropod, my primary task at this moment is to watch the plants growing in my project and make sure they’re taken care of and that they’re receiving the proper amount of nutrients. Currently, I’m growing 4 different types of lettuce in 18 hydroponic spaces (3 by 6), and at the rate of growth that typically occurs using hydroponics, I should have fully grown lettuce in 6-7 weeks. Since I already have leftover pumps, wood, and other materials, my entire project, including the frame, hydroponic technology, and plants in total were below $500. Although this may be a lot of money for someone in my community who just wants to grow some food on their own, there are many factors that make it more reasonable. For one, not every setup has to be worth hundreds of dollars. One of the reason my Hydropod was so expensive is because I purchased special weather-proof PVC to hold the frame together and prevent weathering of my project. The same build could be made out of leftover wood scraps, or any other material. For two, the amount of food which is able to be harvested only takes a couple months to equal the amount of money initially invested into the project, and hydroponics doesn’t break down easily, so after you pass the initial amount invested by the amount of food grown and harvested, everything harvested after that can either be sold to make a profit, or still used to eat. As I stated previously, my product is not supposed to entirely replace the ways in which Hawaiian residents receive their food, but instead it should serve as guidance and inspiration for others in my community who wish to think effectively and do the same.
Demo/Prototype (NOV 23)
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Semester 1 Presentation (Exam Block)
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Product Creation (MAR 9)
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Showcase (APR 25-29)
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Legacy (APR 29)
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