Makes the case for a plant-based diet which is good for our bodies, good…
Truck Farm
- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
From the co-creators of KING CORN and BIG RIVER, TRUCK FARM tells the story of a new generation of American farmers. Using green roof technology and heirloom seeds, filmmaker Ian Cheney plants a vegetable garden on the only land he's got: his Granddad's old pickup. Once the mobile garden begins to sprout, viewers are trucked across New York to see the city's funkiest urban farms, and to find out if America's largest city can learn to feed itself.
Blending serious exposition with serious silliness, TRUCK FARM entreats viewers to ponder the future of urban farming, and to consider whether sustainability needs a dose of whimsy to be truly sustainable. Featuring nutritionist Marion Nestle, chef Dan Barber, explorer Henry Hudson and a very lonely seagull.
'Alternately giddy and pragmatic, Truck Farm makes the best sales pitch for grow-your-own I've ever seen. A must-see for anyone interested in agricultural empowerment and diversity.' Dr. Warren Belasco, Professor, American Studies, University of Maryland, Author, Food: The Key Concepts, Editor, Food, Culture and Society
''All power to the imagination'--a slogan of those who took to the streets in Paris, France in May 1968--is an apt description of Truck Farm. By showing us the possibilities of where and how we can grow food in the city--from truck beds, to windows, to roof tops, to abandoned baseball fields--we can begin to imagine and envision a very different connection to food grown near where we live. It is the ultimate local food argument, but through a distinctive urban edge and food justice lens. All power to the Truck Farms!' Robert Gottlieb, Director, Urban and Environmental Policy Institute, Occidental College, Co-Author of Food Justice
'Truck Farm is hilariously fun. Some people will do anything to farm--and that is a beautiful thing. Ian demonstrates the variety of places and ways you can grow your own food, and in an age when nearly two-thirds of the fruits and vegetables we eat in the U.S. are imported, we have to grow more of what we eat. Ian's truck is as good a place as any to start; however, that acre of topsoil-rich farmland Ian and Curt own in Iowa can fully feed 20 families--Maybe that will be the next project.' Kate Mendenhall, Executive Director, Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York
'Truck Farm tells the story, in miniature, of the struggles all urban farmers face, including: land access difficulties, polluted soils, and petty theft of valued produce. Seeing foodie farmers and thinkers of New York City like Marion Nestle, Ben Flanner, and Dan Barber react to the miraculous food-producing truck is priceless.' Novella Carpenter, Author of Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer
'Truck Farm illustrates a rebirth of interest among young people in agriculture. With passion and ingenuity, you can find a way to farm anywhere.' Dr. Joseph Heckman, Professor, Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University
'This film is so mind altering, you will never look at an empty space the same way again, no matter how small!' Laurie David, Author, The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect with Your Kids, One Meal at a Time, Producer, An Inconvenient Truth
'Invites the imagination to run free...Given its combination of humor and seriousness, the film makes a good resource for community gardening programs with youth or classes that are studying food systems.' Children, Youth and Environments Journal
'Playfully urges city residents to start growing healthy food wherever they can. Of most interest to teens and adults in New York City but also in other locations where residents are concerned about sustainability and food security.' Library Journal
'Uplifting, clever...After watching the video, I felt just like my students and wanted to build a truck farm and my guess is that you will feel the same way.' Science Books and Film
'Offering an interesting look at the world of DIY urban-guerilla gardening, this is recommended.' Video Librarian
'Eye-opening...An amazing tour of positive efforts toward sustainability, Truck Farm is as much fun to watch as it is educational and highly recommended.' The Midwest Book Review
'Especially valuable in creating models for under-served urban populations who lack access to farmers markets and other affordable organic-produce outlets...creative and inspirational...I recommend it for classes, families, or general entertainment.' Dr. Sally Kneidel, Veggie Revolution Blog
'Amusingly narrated while addressing the larger theme of sustainable agriculture...Well-paced..Is both entertaining and informative.' Linda Frederiksen, Washington State University, Educational Media Reviews Online
'Takes sustainable gardening to a new level...Quirky and fun...Will have viewers contemplating their own garden spots.' Booklist
'A quirky and inspirational look at the ways people have found to grow their own food without a yard or balcony. I hope the message gets out to all of those city-dwellers with an unused rooftop or broken down pickup truck that there is more than one way to turn your property into a prosperous garden.' Urban Sustainable Living
Citation
Main credits
Cheney, Ian (film director)
Cheney, Ian (film producer)
Cheney, Ian (screenwriter)
Ellis, Curt (film producer)
Beins, Simon (screenwriter)
Other credits
Animations by Sharon Shattuck; cinematography by Taylor Gentry and Artem Agafonov; edited by Frederick Shanahan; music by The Fishermen Three and Colin Cheney.
Distributor subjects
Agriculture; American Studies; Anthropology; Community; Environment; Food And Nutrition; Gardening; Geography; Humor; Local Economies; Sociology; Sustainability; Sustainable Agriculture; Urban Studies; Urban and Regional PlanningKeywords
urban farming, King Corn, Big River, green roofs, heirloom seeds, vegetable garden New York, sustainability, Marion Nestle, Dan Barber, Victoria Foraker, Paul Mankiewicz, Brooklyn, Dan Larson, Ben Flanner, Water Pod barge, Carissa Carman, window farming, Britta Riley, Bill Hilgendorf, Ashley Quillen, Ryan Sotirakis, Denver Urban Truck Farm,"Truck Farm",Bullfrog Films
WEBVTT
00:00:01.400 --> 00:00:07.400
[light acoustic guitar music]
00:00:12.067 --> 00:00:15.332
[siren wailing]
00:00:15.333 --> 00:00:18.666
- [singing]
I was living in the city
00:00:18.667 --> 00:00:22.766
In the year 2009
00:00:22.767 --> 00:00:26.299
I was tryin\' to find a way
00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:30.232
Not to lose my lonely mind
00:00:30.233 --> 00:00:34.199
The recession was upon me
00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:37.566
My health was slippin\' away
00:00:37.567 --> 00:00:41.999
I decided what I needed
00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:45.399
Was more vegetables every day
00:00:45.400 --> 00:00:49.266
I did not own the land
00:00:49.267 --> 00:00:53.332
And I was feeling out of luck
00:00:53.333 --> 00:00:57.132
All I had to grow my own food
00:00:57.133 --> 00:01:02.466
Was my old gray pickup truck
00:01:02.467 --> 00:01:08.467
[guitar music continues]
00:01:09.767 --> 00:01:12.133
[seagull squawking]
00:01:15.633 --> 00:01:17.299
- One, two, three, four.
00:01:17.300 --> 00:01:20.366
- [both singing]
Truck farm, truck farm
00:01:20.367 --> 00:01:23.499
Don\'t you think I need
a truck farm?
00:01:23.500 --> 00:01:26.532
Truck farm, truck farm
00:01:26.533 --> 00:01:29.466
Don\'t you think it\'s time
to plant a truck farm?
00:01:29.467 --> 00:01:32.366
Truck farm, truck farm
00:01:32.367 --> 00:01:35.999
Time to figure out
how to build a truck farm
00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:39.266
Truck farm, truck farm
00:01:39.267 --> 00:01:43.367
It\'s time to drill some holes
in my pickup truck
00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:04.300
- I kind of hope I\'m not
drilling into the gas tank, huh?
00:02:15.200 --> 00:02:19.099
- [both singing]
She was only a half-ton pickup
00:02:19.100 --> 00:02:22.766
Not the strongest one around
00:02:22.767 --> 00:02:26.399
I knew the soil
would get too heavy
00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:30.532
When the rain came pouring down
00:02:30.533 --> 00:02:34.132
So I went to see a lady
00:02:34.133 --> 00:02:38.132
Who had a rainwater
management system
00:02:38.133 --> 00:02:42.099
She used it all over town
00:02:42.100 --> 00:02:45.399
And it seemed like
a pretty good system
00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:50.032
Ooh...
00:02:50.033 --> 00:02:53.099
Ooh...
00:02:53.100 --> 00:02:54.999
- That right there
that I handed you
00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:58.366
is a root barrier, which is
about a few millimeters thick,
00:02:58.367 --> 00:03:00.766
and it really just prevents
the roots
00:03:00.767 --> 00:03:04.432
from ever penetrating
your truck bed
00:03:04.433 --> 00:03:05.766
or your roof.
00:03:05.767 --> 00:03:07.466
[laughs]
00:03:07.467 --> 00:03:10.666
Your roof\'s waterproof membrane,
in most applications.
00:03:10.667 --> 00:03:18.066
In here is the erosion...
Erosion blanket
00:03:18.067 --> 00:03:21.566
and the drainage mat,
which will capture water.
00:03:21.567 --> 00:03:26.366
The cups will hold water
to maintain roof moisture,
00:03:26.367 --> 00:03:29.399
and then the holes will allow
the excess water
00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:32.066
to run off your roof
as it normally would
00:03:32.067 --> 00:03:34.532
or run off your truck bed
as it normally would.
00:03:34.533 --> 00:03:36.599
So there\'ll never be
a significant amount
00:03:36.600 --> 00:03:41.666
of standing water
on your roof or truck.
00:03:41.667 --> 00:03:43.699
- Do you get a lot
of truck requests?
00:03:43.700 --> 00:03:45.266
- [laughs]
00:03:45.267 --> 00:03:48.532
Uh, once in a blue moon.
00:03:48.533 --> 00:03:52.232
- [singing] Thank you,
thank you, thank you
00:03:52.233 --> 00:03:54.666
You helped us on our quest
00:03:54.667 --> 00:03:58.299
This green roof
management system
00:03:58.300 --> 00:04:01.600
Would be the key to our success
00:04:15.667 --> 00:04:19.132
- Now, this stuff is, amazingly,
00:04:19.133 --> 00:04:21.766
something that functions
quite a bit like soil.
00:04:21.767 --> 00:04:27.332
It\'s basically styrofoam...
Expanded polystyrene...
00:04:27.333 --> 00:04:31.232
Plus a gel
plus a couple percent clay
00:04:31.233 --> 00:04:34.699
plus about 20% organics,
which makes it look dirty.
00:04:34.700 --> 00:04:37.632
Six inches of soil in here
will hold two inches of water.
00:04:37.633 --> 00:04:39.399
And that\'s the trick.
00:04:39.400 --> 00:04:43.232
Soil is sand, silt, and clay.
00:04:43.233 --> 00:04:48.232
Sand and silt are basically
glass... silica dioxide...
00:04:48.233 --> 00:04:50.432
No nutrient value.
00:04:50.433 --> 00:04:52.699
Basically makes
the capillary structure
00:04:52.700 --> 00:04:57.232
that allows the films of water
to stand between the grains,
00:04:57.233 --> 00:04:59.999
so to speak,
in the humic matter.
00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:01.666
- What is this?
00:05:01.667 --> 00:05:03.132
- It\'s a lightweight soil.
00:05:03.133 --> 00:05:04.432
- Oh, for planting.
00:05:04.433 --> 00:05:05.532
- Yep, yep, yep.
00:05:05.533 --> 00:05:07.633
- What country are you from?
00:05:10.733 --> 00:05:14.499
- [singing] Making a truck farm
is really rather simple
00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:18.532
It doesn\'t take a genius to do
00:05:18.533 --> 00:05:22.732
You borrow a technology
that others have invented
00:05:22.733 --> 00:05:27.199
For growing plants upon a roof
00:05:27.200 --> 00:05:31.399
Truck farm, it\'s like a roof
00:05:31.400 --> 00:05:35.032
Truck farm, it\'s like a roof
00:05:35.033 --> 00:05:40.132
But this is no ordinary roof
00:05:40.133 --> 00:05:43.499
First goes a barrier
called a root barrier
00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:47.999
That keeps the roots
out of your brain
00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:51.732
Second goes a mat
called a drainage mat
00:05:51.733 --> 00:05:56.232
That helps the water to drain
00:05:56.233 --> 00:06:00.199
Then you have a blanket,
an erosion blanket
00:06:00.200 --> 00:06:04.332
That keeps us all
from washing away
00:06:04.333 --> 00:06:08.399
And then you have some special,
special lightweight soil
00:06:08.400 --> 00:06:13.032
That gives the roots
a place to play
00:06:13.033 --> 00:06:17.199
Truck farm, it\'s like a roof
00:06:17.200 --> 00:06:21.032
Truck farm, it\'s like a roof
00:06:21.033 --> 00:06:25.366
But this is no ordinary roof
00:06:25.367 --> 00:06:29.266
On top of that special, special
lightweight soil
00:06:29.267 --> 00:06:33.532
Goes a layer
of good old-fashioned dirt
00:06:33.533 --> 00:06:37.432
But you can\'t use good
old-fashioned Brooklyn dirt
00:06:37.433 --> 00:06:41.532
\'Cause it\'s dirty, dirty, dirty,
dirty dirt
00:06:41.533 --> 00:06:46.166
It\'s got lead and oil
and neurotoxins
00:06:46.167 --> 00:06:49.666
And PCBs and DDT
00:06:49.667 --> 00:06:54.266
It\'s got the KGB and the CIA
00:06:54.267 --> 00:06:58.732
And that\'s no place
to plant a seed
00:06:58.733 --> 00:07:02.766
Truck farm, it\'s like a roof
00:07:02.767 --> 00:07:06.566
Truck farm, it\'s like a roof
00:07:06.567 --> 00:07:10.733
But you can\'t drive around
in a roof
00:07:35.633 --> 00:07:37.266
- Two.
00:07:37.267 --> 00:07:39.466
Three.
00:07:39.467 --> 00:07:41.666
Two, three.
00:07:41.667 --> 00:07:43.566
Four?
00:07:43.567 --> 00:07:45.133
I think that\'s pretty good.
00:07:47.033 --> 00:07:50.400
This\'ll be our marker
for the arugula.
00:07:53.667 --> 00:07:55.533
A dirty old straw.
00:07:59.267 --> 00:08:04.267
[acoustic guitar music]
00:08:07.700 --> 00:08:10.732
- [singing]
A long, long time ago
00:08:10.733 --> 00:08:13.399
All over Brooklyn Town
00:08:13.400 --> 00:08:17.099
When winter cast off her cloak
00:08:17.100 --> 00:08:19.532
And springtime rolled around
00:08:19.533 --> 00:08:22.766
Every Brooklyn man, woman,
and child
00:08:22.767 --> 00:08:26.266
Would begin to sweat and toil
00:08:26.267 --> 00:08:32.166
And start to sow their seeds
in that deep, dark Brooklyn soil
00:08:32.167 --> 00:08:36.099
How I long to be
with those farmers
00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:38.632
Way, way back in time
00:08:38.633 --> 00:08:42.432
So I asked a physicist friend
of mine
00:08:42.433 --> 00:08:45.999
To send me back in time
00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:48.632
Oh, oh, oh
00:08:48.633 --> 00:08:51.132
To send me back in time
00:08:51.133 --> 00:08:53.099
- A time machine.
00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:56.432
- [singing] When we failed
to conquer time
00:08:56.433 --> 00:09:00.499
We decided to destroy the sun
00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:02.699
When that plan did not work
00:09:02.700 --> 00:09:06.366
We developed another one
00:09:06.367 --> 00:09:09.032
He built me a machine
00:09:09.033 --> 00:09:12.399
That could harness solar power
00:09:12.400 --> 00:09:15.766
And allow me to take 12 pictures
00:09:15.767 --> 00:09:18.666
Of the truck farm every hour
00:09:18.667 --> 00:09:21.733
- Got to get this thing starting
to take pictures.
00:09:26.767 --> 00:09:29.232
[shutter snaps]
00:09:29.233 --> 00:09:35.233
[lively country music]
00:11:00.733 --> 00:11:03.632
Today we\'re making
our first delivery
00:11:03.633 --> 00:11:08.432
of truck farm produce
to nutritionist Marion Nestle,
00:11:08.433 --> 00:11:09.999
who has paid $20
00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:13.733
for a subscription
to the summer truck farm.
00:11:15.033 --> 00:11:18.232
- So it\'s very casual,
00:11:18.233 --> 00:11:20.199
and I don\'t fuss much with it,
00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:23.532
and I kind of let things do
what they do.
00:11:23.533 --> 00:11:26.032
But it has some
interesting food.
00:11:26.033 --> 00:11:29.732
It has... for example,
it has blueberries.
00:11:29.733 --> 00:11:33.133
There\'s your truck farm,
12 flights down.
00:11:35.767 --> 00:11:37.666
Okay.
00:11:37.667 --> 00:11:39.599
Oh, look at that.
It\'s gorgeous.
00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:41.666
Oh, it\'s so pretty!
00:11:41.667 --> 00:11:44.399
I brought my camera.
00:11:44.400 --> 00:11:45.633
- [laughs]
00:11:46.767 --> 00:11:49.133
FreshDirect.
00:11:52.267 --> 00:11:55.400
- What are you guys drinking
is what I want to know.
00:11:57.533 --> 00:11:59.132
Oh, I\'m getting broccoli?
00:11:59.133 --> 00:12:00.999
- Well, you\'re getting
this piece of broccoli.
00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:02.232
It\'s a garnish.
00:12:02.233 --> 00:12:04.066
- Am I getting parsley too?
00:12:04.067 --> 00:12:05.599
- Sure.
00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:08.732
- [singing] Under
the truck farm CSA plan
00:12:08.733 --> 00:12:12.132
You can own a little piece
of the land
00:12:12.133 --> 00:12:14.999
For only 20 bucks
00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:18.499
You can eat whatever grows
in this truck
00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:21.999
And the arugula grows,
and the basil grows
00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:23.532
The parsley grows
00:12:23.533 --> 00:12:25.166
The tomatoes grow
00:12:25.167 --> 00:12:26.399
The broccoli grows
00:12:26.400 --> 00:12:28.366
The lavender grows
00:12:28.367 --> 00:12:31.699
The peppers grow,
and the sweet peas grow
00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:36.667
Oh, sweet, sweet truck farm,
grow
00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:40.000
- [laughs]
00:12:40.001 --> 00:12:43.266
I once talked
to a produce manager
00:12:43.267 --> 00:12:46.332
for one of the big food chains
in California
00:12:46.333 --> 00:12:49.732
about how long it took
to get California produce
00:12:49.733 --> 00:12:53.266
from a vegetable farm in Salinas
00:12:53.267 --> 00:12:55.266
to, you know,
one of the grocery stores
00:12:55.267 --> 00:12:56.599
in this neighborhood.
00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:58.132
And he explained
the whole thing.
00:12:58.133 --> 00:12:59.732
It was about two weeks.
00:12:59.733 --> 00:13:03.499
So if you pick this and put it
in your refrigerator
00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:05.666
and keep it in your refrigerator
a week,
00:13:05.667 --> 00:13:07.132
you can still eat it.
00:13:07.133 --> 00:13:09.032
It\'ll be fine.
00:13:09.033 --> 00:13:11.099
You can\'t keep produce
from California
00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:12.599
in your refrigerator for a week.
00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:15.766
It\'ll be mushy
because it\'s much, much older.
00:13:15.767 --> 00:13:19.666
And the nutritional quality
will have deteriorated.
00:13:19.667 --> 00:13:21.399
The taste is gone.
00:13:21.400 --> 00:13:22.732
Broccoli from California
00:13:22.733 --> 00:13:26.766
doesn\'t taste anything like
that adorable creature
00:13:26.767 --> 00:13:28.999
is going to taste.
00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:30.000
Oh, thank you.
00:13:30.001 --> 00:13:31.132
This is... this is wonderful.
00:13:31.133 --> 00:13:32.666
It looks delicious.
00:13:32.667 --> 00:13:34.132
Um...
00:13:34.133 --> 00:13:37.067
you don\'t think I can...
00:13:39.567 --> 00:13:42.467
Ooh, it\'s good.
00:13:57.100 --> 00:14:01.666
- [singing] When Henry Hudson
sailed the Hudson
00:14:01.667 --> 00:14:05.632
In the year 1609
00:14:05.633 --> 00:14:09.666
He stumbled upon an island
00:14:09.667 --> 00:14:13.999
That blew his little mind
00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:17.699
There were nuts,
and there were berries
00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:22.132
And there were lots
of wild meats
00:14:22.133 --> 00:14:25.999
Hudson couldn\'t swing a dead cat
00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:29.999
Without hitting something to eat
00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:34.099
But now the city is a city
00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:38.266
And there isn\'t a lot of space
00:14:38.267 --> 00:14:42.132
If you want to grow fresh food
00:14:42.133 --> 00:14:46.699
You have to find a special place
00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:50.132
Hudson, Hudson, Hudson
00:14:50.133 --> 00:14:52.700
Hungry Hudson
00:14:58.767 --> 00:15:00.466
- Wow, this is nice.
00:15:00.467 --> 00:15:02.266
Look at those tomatoes.
Wow.
00:15:02.267 --> 00:15:04.400
Have you been sampling them?
00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:09.466
Mmm.
Great.
00:15:09.467 --> 00:15:11.566
- Good?
- Mm-hmm.
00:15:11.567 --> 00:15:13.132
Do you guys want some plants?
00:15:13.133 --> 00:15:15.633
- Sure.
00:15:19.433 --> 00:15:23.299
- Welcome to the office.
00:15:23.300 --> 00:15:26.999
[music plays softly]
00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:31.467
Uh, yeah, that\'s my stash
of seeds.
00:15:40.567 --> 00:15:45.666
So here it is, the rooftop farm.
00:15:45.667 --> 00:15:47.632
Um...
00:15:47.633 --> 00:15:50.632
there\'s just a couple zinnias
here.
00:15:50.633 --> 00:15:52.132
Salad mixes.
00:15:52.133 --> 00:15:53.499
Peas, carrots.
00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:56.266
Onions, kale, chard.
00:15:56.267 --> 00:15:58.632
Go ahead and give that a try.
00:15:58.633 --> 00:16:00.099
I still haven\'t sold
anything yet
00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:01.666
that I didn\'t pick that morning.
00:16:01.667 --> 00:16:04.399
So that\'s part of the beauty
of the project, I think.
00:16:04.400 --> 00:16:07.366
We started the farm
on April 24th.
00:16:07.367 --> 00:16:10.566
That was the day the green roof
installation company
00:16:10.567 --> 00:16:12.532
handed the piece over to us.
00:16:12.533 --> 00:16:14.132
Goode Green hired the crane,
00:16:14.133 --> 00:16:16.066
and we blocked off the street
right out here,
00:16:16.067 --> 00:16:21.299
and 62 sacks that weighed
almost two tons each
00:16:21.300 --> 00:16:23.666
came up of the soil.
00:16:23.667 --> 00:16:24.766
There\'s six inches of soil
00:16:24.767 --> 00:16:28.500
covering the whole
framed-in area.
00:16:30.400 --> 00:16:32.732
It\'d be cool to scale this up
a little bit.
00:16:32.733 --> 00:16:34.666
So I\'m constantly thinking
about, like, you know,
00:16:34.667 --> 00:16:36.599
how to make it as efficient
as possible
00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:38.999
if I got a second roof.
00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:41.232
You know, ideally, you\'re not
standing here with the hose,
00:16:41.233 --> 00:16:42.266
watering stuff.
00:16:42.267 --> 00:16:43.999
Farmers don\'t really do that.
00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:46.200
This is more of
a gardening practice.
00:16:49.467 --> 00:16:53.199
I\'m an engineer by background,
00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:54.632
and it\'s come in really handy
00:16:54.633 --> 00:16:57.466
with laying out
the crop rotations.
00:16:57.467 --> 00:17:00.066
And I think the range of produce
00:17:00.067 --> 00:17:02.432
is somewhere going to be between
3,000 and 6,000 pounds,
00:17:02.433 --> 00:17:04.199
but I\'m really keeping
good records,
00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:07.632
and it\'s kind of the unknown
of the project.
00:17:07.633 --> 00:17:11.000
I can\'t wait, actually, to see
what the actual output is.
00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:17.266
- [singing] It\'s time to get
out your calculators
00:17:17.267 --> 00:17:20.499
Your abacus or your phone
00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:24.266
It\'s time for a game of numbers
00:17:24.267 --> 00:17:27.999
So it helps if you\'re all alone
00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:35.099
Our question is a question
about how many seeds can be sown
00:17:35.100 --> 00:17:39.066
On the rooftops of the city
00:17:39.067 --> 00:17:42.399
How much food can be grown
00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:46.299
Do you want to know the answer
00:17:46.300 --> 00:17:50.199
Have you ever been in love
00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:57.266
How much food can be grown
upon the rooftops up above
00:17:57.267 --> 00:18:01.266
Think of all the lonely rooftops
00:18:01.267 --> 00:18:05.099
And multiply that by ten
00:18:05.100 --> 00:18:08.699
Think of all the times
you loved someone
00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:13.366
Do you want to feel that again
00:18:13.367 --> 00:18:15.266
Oh, oh-oh
00:18:15.267 --> 00:18:17.199
Oh, oh, oh
00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:20.532
Oh, oh-oh-oh
00:18:20.533 --> 00:18:24.099
The rooftops of the city
00:18:24.100 --> 00:18:27.666
Are waiting to fall in love
00:18:27.667 --> 00:18:29.566
Give them water
00:18:29.567 --> 00:18:31.666
Give them sunshine
00:18:31.667 --> 00:18:37.366
Make a paradise above
00:18:37.367 --> 00:18:41.999
If you fall in love
with a rooftop
00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:45.566
You should never let it go
00:18:45.567 --> 00:18:51.399
Just think
of all the lonely rooftops
00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:57.266
That never get to grow
00:18:57.267 --> 00:19:00.266
- I\'ve been working at ETrade
for three years,
00:19:00.267 --> 00:19:01.566
and it was a good job,
00:19:01.567 --> 00:19:04.332
but I also realized
that I was ready to move on
00:19:04.333 --> 00:19:06.066
probably a good
year and a half ago.
00:19:06.067 --> 00:19:07.132
But I was very patient.
00:19:07.133 --> 00:19:08.432
You know, I was keeping
my eyes open
00:19:08.433 --> 00:19:09.532
for my next endeavor.
00:19:09.533 --> 00:19:11.099
I knew it\'d be involving food
somehow,
00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:12.532
but I wasn\'t sure how.
00:19:12.533 --> 00:19:14.199
A couple people tried
to talk me out of it,
00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:17.532
just like, \"This is just
some silly summer job.\"
00:19:17.533 --> 00:19:20.266
You know, \"What are you doing?\"
00:19:20.267 --> 00:19:21.366
I figure I can always go back
00:19:21.367 --> 00:19:23.066
to something
a little more stable,
00:19:23.067 --> 00:19:25.266
but I\'d like
to make this stable.
00:19:25.267 --> 00:19:27.466
That\'s the whole goal.
00:19:27.467 --> 00:19:28.999
- [singing]
When you\'re hungry...
00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:30.166
- Here comes your Swiss chard.
00:19:30.167 --> 00:19:32.099
- [singing] And you\'re lonely
00:19:32.100 --> 00:19:36.632
And you feel yourself
getting down
00:19:36.633 --> 00:19:41.132
Just remember
all the lonely rooftops
00:19:41.133 --> 00:19:47.066
On the buildings of this town
00:19:47.067 --> 00:19:49.299
Oh, oh-oh
00:19:49.300 --> 00:19:51.266
Oh, oh, oh
00:19:51.267 --> 00:19:55.166
Oh, oh-oh-oh
00:19:55.167 --> 00:19:57.099
Oh, oh-oh
00:19:57.100 --> 00:19:58.766
Oh, oh, oh
00:19:58.767 --> 00:20:02.566
Oh, oh-oh-oh
00:20:02.567 --> 00:20:04.667
- Nice.
00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:27.466
- We are at the community farm,
00:20:27.467 --> 00:20:29.299
which used to be
a baseball field,
00:20:29.300 --> 00:20:32.532
which is built up on soil.
00:20:32.533 --> 00:20:35.732
And I\'m standing by a truck
00:20:35.733 --> 00:20:38.566
in front of my favorite
vegetable, parsley.
00:20:38.567 --> 00:20:41.132
Don\'t mind if I take a bite.
00:20:41.133 --> 00:20:43.432
So yeah.
00:20:43.433 --> 00:20:45.132
And behind me is the farm,
00:20:45.133 --> 00:20:47.666
where there\'s a lot
of fruits and vegetables.
00:20:47.667 --> 00:20:50.599
[siren wailing]
00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:54.299
There\'s a lot of bus companies
around here.
00:20:54.300 --> 00:20:58.999
Behind all our fruits
and vegetables is Ikea,
00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.599
which is taking up
most of our electricity,
00:21:00.600 --> 00:21:03.732
but, you know,
we all got to shop somewhere.
00:21:03.733 --> 00:21:07.299
There\'s a lot of farmers
and volunteers that help.
00:21:07.300 --> 00:21:11.666
We really care about our work
and the way we do it.
00:21:11.667 --> 00:21:14.332
- I think these are peppers.
00:21:14.333 --> 00:21:15.466
What else?
00:21:15.467 --> 00:21:18.432
I think these look like
tomato plants to me.
00:21:18.433 --> 00:21:20.699
Yeah, these are tomatoes.
00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:23.532
We do a lot of planting in here,
and then we let them grow.
00:21:23.533 --> 00:21:27.132
And then when we get space,
we put them in the field itself.
00:21:27.133 --> 00:21:29.166
So yeah, basically just
to hold the plants
00:21:29.167 --> 00:21:31.166
that we seeded so they can grow
00:21:31.167 --> 00:21:34.432
till we transplant them
in there, into the field.
00:21:34.433 --> 00:21:35.766
- Do you have
any recommendations
00:21:35.767 --> 00:21:38.399
for what we should plant
in our truck for peppers?
00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:44.332
- This one is \"pepper,
sweet gourmet balls\"?
00:21:44.333 --> 00:21:45.699
Bell?
Gourmet bell, there we go.
00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:47.266
- Let\'s do it.
00:21:47.267 --> 00:21:48.667
- Like this.
00:21:51.300 --> 00:21:52.999
Oh, this is so cute.
00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:55.299
You even got animals and snakes.
00:21:55.300 --> 00:21:58.300
I\'ve never seen something
like this before.
00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:03.032
Some things, I understand.
00:22:03.033 --> 00:22:06.332
But then there are some things
that I don\'t quite know yet.
00:22:06.333 --> 00:22:07.666
But after being here, I will.
00:22:07.667 --> 00:22:09.032
It\'s my second year,
00:22:09.033 --> 00:22:11.199
so I\'ll learn more and more
every year.
00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:13.766
Like, I know how to plant things
and everything.
00:22:13.767 --> 00:22:17.699
I don\'t really remember
the names of everything I plant.
00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:19.199
I\'m transplanting, guys.
00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.999
- Yeah.
- Nice.
00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:22.199
- See, I love this farm so much,
00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:25.000
I\'m transplanting
through my lunch break.
00:22:37.300 --> 00:22:42.032
- The farmers\' market is a place
where families come
00:22:42.033 --> 00:22:45.032
to get their freshly grown
vegetables
00:22:45.033 --> 00:22:50.066
instead of going to places
like Fairway, Fine Fare, C-Town.
00:22:50.067 --> 00:22:52.532
So you don\'t have to go through
the whole process
00:22:52.533 --> 00:22:57.166
of warehouses, trucks,
your vegetables get bruised.
00:22:57.167 --> 00:22:59.232
But here, you just harvest \'em.
00:22:59.233 --> 00:23:01.766
- Does it change the way
you eat, working on the farm?
00:23:01.767 --> 00:23:03.132
- Yeah, it does.
It really does.
00:23:03.133 --> 00:23:05.467
I eat healthy on the farm.
00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:10.332
That\'s some good parsley.
00:23:10.333 --> 00:23:14.599
- [singing] Some people
might think it\'s crazy
00:23:14.600 --> 00:23:18.266
To do a baseball field any harm
00:23:18.267 --> 00:23:22.599
To take
the great American pastime
00:23:22.600 --> 00:23:26.132
And turn it into a farm
00:23:26.133 --> 00:23:28.999
But now you can buy
fresh vegetables
00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:32.299
Where the dugouts used to be
00:23:32.300 --> 00:23:35.266
Where there used to be
a cursing manager
00:23:35.267 --> 00:23:38.166
There\'s carrots
and collard greens
00:23:38.167 --> 00:23:41.099
And the food
isn\'t very expensive
00:23:41.100 --> 00:23:44.399
It costs less
than the store would charge
00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:47.432
The kids get paid a real salary
00:23:47.433 --> 00:23:50.332
And they don\'t have to work
on a barge
00:23:50.333 --> 00:23:52.633
[seagulls squawking]
00:23:54.233 --> 00:23:58.632
[singing] Now when people look
at this ball field
00:23:58.633 --> 00:24:02.366
They say it makes a lot of sense
00:24:02.367 --> 00:24:06.266
That another
great American pastime
00:24:06.267 --> 00:24:11.633
Is growing
healthy dollars and sense
00:24:35.100 --> 00:24:36.632
- I\'m Carissa Carman.
00:24:36.633 --> 00:24:40.066
I\'m the Living Systems Director
of the Waterpod.
00:24:40.067 --> 00:24:41.232
And the Waterpod
00:24:41.233 --> 00:24:44.266
is a sustainable, floating,
autonomous barge
00:24:44.267 --> 00:24:47.399
that\'s been created
for four people to live on
00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:49.132
for a period of six months
00:24:49.133 --> 00:24:51.466
that travels to five locations
throughout New York City.
00:24:51.467 --> 00:24:56.299
It\'s currently here
in Staten Island.
00:24:56.300 --> 00:24:59.132
This is one of the largest beds
that\'s in the back.
00:24:59.133 --> 00:25:03.099
It has a tremendous variety
of plants.
00:25:03.100 --> 00:25:05.266
Don\'t have my scissors.
00:25:05.267 --> 00:25:08.532
This is a pretty fine, nice
eggplant.
00:25:08.533 --> 00:25:11.599
All of the necessities
are included on this barge:
00:25:11.600 --> 00:25:15.332
your food, your shelter,
your water, your showering,
00:25:15.333 --> 00:25:17.099
your work.
00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:18.666
First we had to do the math
00:25:18.667 --> 00:25:23.366
to figure out one single
human footprint times four
00:25:23.367 --> 00:25:27.499
times the location and weather
and climate of New York City
00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:30.332
and what elements we would be
dealing with and depending on.
00:25:30.333 --> 00:25:33.466
So these are torch flowers,
torch sunflowers.
00:25:33.467 --> 00:25:36.232
As you can see, there\'s actually
a butterfly and a bee
00:25:36.233 --> 00:25:37.532
just right over here.
00:25:37.533 --> 00:25:40.432
They\'re some of the most active
pollinators here.
00:25:40.433 --> 00:25:43.066
The idea would be to attempt
00:25:43.067 --> 00:25:47.066
for you to not have to leave
the barge to continue living.
00:25:47.067 --> 00:25:52.132
People see it as
a really avant-garde approach
00:25:52.133 --> 00:25:53.466
to an oasis.
00:25:53.467 --> 00:25:54.999
Like, \"Wow,
this is really taking it
00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:56.167
to a whole nother level.\"
00:26:02.767 --> 00:26:04.432
- [singing] If there are
8 million people
00:26:04.433 --> 00:26:08.532
In New York City
eating 2,000 calories a day
00:26:08.533 --> 00:26:11.732
There are 365 days in the year
00:26:11.733 --> 00:26:15.132
That\'s a lot of food,
you might say.
00:26:15.133 --> 00:26:18.166
How much food do we really need
00:26:18.167 --> 00:26:21.366
And how much food can we grow
00:26:21.367 --> 00:26:24.166
Let\'s get down to the facts,
my friends
00:26:24.167 --> 00:26:27.033
This is something
we\'d all like to know
00:26:28.667 --> 00:26:31.666
There are 32 teeth
in the human mouth
00:26:31.667 --> 00:26:34.732
And 28 feet of intestines
00:26:34.733 --> 00:26:40.666
And water in Niagara Falls flows
150,000 gallons per second
00:26:40.667 --> 00:26:43.532
The largest dinosaur
weighed 200 tons
00:26:43.533 --> 00:26:46.632
But only 75 on Mars
00:26:46.633 --> 00:26:49.632
Not every man grows a mustache
00:26:49.633 --> 00:26:52.666
But people like the smell
of new cars
00:26:52.667 --> 00:26:55.599
Let\'s get down to the facts,
my friends
00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:58.699
This is something
we\'d all like to know
00:26:58.700 --> 00:27:01.599
The answer is,
we need a lot of food
00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:04.733
We should grow it
every place it can grow
00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:25.199
[water gurgling]
00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:29.032
- The Windowfarm Project
is all about making it possible
00:27:29.033 --> 00:27:31.499
for New Yorkers
and any urban dwellers
00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:34.299
to grow food in their apartment
year round.
00:27:34.300 --> 00:27:37.066
I remember looking
at the interior courtyard
00:27:37.067 --> 00:27:38.199
of my building...
00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:41.466
A six-story, multifamily
building that had...
00:27:41.467 --> 00:27:43.266
You know, it\'s just
this central area
00:27:43.267 --> 00:27:45.499
where you leave
all of your garbage.
00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:48.999
And the whole area
is just covered with windows
00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:50.266
going all the way up.
00:27:50.267 --> 00:27:52.399
I remember taking a picture
of it and thinking,
00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:54.999
\"What if we were all
just growing food
00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:57.999
inside of this kind of
unused space?\"
00:27:58.000 --> 00:28:01.566
After that, it was just, like,
a series of experiments.
00:28:01.567 --> 00:28:03.266
The way that the system works
00:28:03.267 --> 00:28:05.999
is that this is basically
a liquid circuit.
00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:08.666
Down at the bottom,
we have one reservoir
00:28:08.667 --> 00:28:11.132
that\'s made out of sewer pipe.
00:28:11.133 --> 00:28:13.266
This sewer pipe
is connected to a pump,
00:28:13.267 --> 00:28:16.732
and it sucks all of the water
out of this bottom tube,
00:28:16.733 --> 00:28:21.032
sends it up this tube
to the top reservoir,
00:28:21.033 --> 00:28:22.532
which is identical.
00:28:22.533 --> 00:28:26.332
Then we have little valves
with, you know,
00:28:26.333 --> 00:28:29.599
basically a little hole
with a tube coming out of it
00:28:29.600 --> 00:28:32.699
trickling down into each one
of these columns.
00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:34.366
And these columns are made
00:28:34.367 --> 00:28:39.432
simply out of 1.5-liter
eco-shaped water bottles.
00:28:39.433 --> 00:28:42.232
The water is actually
a little bit brown,
00:28:42.233 --> 00:28:47.766
\'cause it has dissolved into it
bird guano and bat guano
00:28:47.767 --> 00:28:50.599
and some liquefied compost.
00:28:50.600 --> 00:28:53.332
Apparently,
plants just really love it.
00:28:53.333 --> 00:28:57.199
We just launched,
about three weeks ago,
00:28:57.200 --> 00:29:00.266
our website,
where we have how-tos
00:29:00.267 --> 00:29:03.232
that we\'ve all collaboratively
made together,
00:29:03.233 --> 00:29:06.232
and we put those out
to the world.
00:29:06.233 --> 00:29:09.532
There\'s some NGO
in South Africa,
00:29:09.533 --> 00:29:11.332
and they basically want
to teach people
00:29:11.333 --> 00:29:14.399
in these kind of shantytowns
how to build window farms
00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:16.232
so that they can grow
some of their own food,
00:29:16.233 --> 00:29:17.566
because it\'s a food desert
there.
00:29:17.567 --> 00:29:19.399
And so having them to be able
to grow
00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:22.232
at least a little bit of
their own greens of some kind,
00:29:22.233 --> 00:29:23.766
maybe some cherry tomatoes,
00:29:23.767 --> 00:29:28.032
it would enable them
to get much better nutrition.
00:29:28.033 --> 00:29:34.532
The plant itself is sitting
in a hydroponic medium.
00:29:34.533 --> 00:29:37.666
You\'re basically delivering
all of the water and nutrients
00:29:37.667 --> 00:29:40.432
directly to the plant\'s root.
00:29:40.433 --> 00:29:45.199
It costs right now, for a system
that fills up your whole window,
00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:47.699
about $100 to $125.
00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:51.732
And you can grow about 25 plants
in a system like that,
00:29:51.733 --> 00:29:55.533
and that can put out
about a salad a week.
00:30:00.667 --> 00:30:02.666
I don\'t want to ever make
the claim
00:30:02.667 --> 00:30:06.332
that we\'re saving the world
and ending hunger
00:30:06.333 --> 00:30:09.399
or anything like that,
but it is making it possible
00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:13.432
for at least people to learn
much more about how plants work
00:30:13.433 --> 00:30:15.499
and how to grow their own food
00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:19.432
and kind of just building up
our own confidence, basically,
00:30:19.433 --> 00:30:23.367
about our ability to survive
on our own.
00:30:24.433 --> 00:30:26.766
So you can have a huge plant...
00:30:26.767 --> 00:30:28.732
We found that putting it
actually in the...
00:30:28.733 --> 00:30:30.399
That\'s where the pump is...
00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:33.400
[people talking]
00:31:31.667 --> 00:31:34.566
- Basically, this is the idea
00:31:34.567 --> 00:31:36.732
of how it\'s going to look
on the truck.
00:31:36.733 --> 00:31:38.766
Um...
00:31:38.767 --> 00:31:41.999
we\'re going to have
these side windows.
00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:45.366
The frames will be on hinges
so that they can flip up
00:31:45.367 --> 00:31:49.099
so you can get access
to the planting.
00:31:49.100 --> 00:31:50.632
I don\'t have it drawn here,
00:31:50.633 --> 00:31:52.432
but we\'re going to build
the wood frames
00:31:52.433 --> 00:31:55.699
to just fit right inside
these... the metal frames.
00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:57.732
And then we\'ll wrap the plastic
around and staple it,
00:31:57.733 --> 00:31:59.199
and then we\'ll insert them,
00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:02.432
and then we can caulk the edges
for a really tight seal.
00:32:02.433 --> 00:32:06.499
So it should be pretty airtight
when it\'s done.
00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:12.500
[acoustic guitar music]
00:33:15.267 --> 00:33:17.532
- [singing]
When the air gets cold
00:33:17.533 --> 00:33:19.499
And the leaves start to fall
00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:23.199
You need a greenhouse
00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:27.099
When the bird flies south
and your beard gets long
00:33:27.100 --> 00:33:30.766
You need a greenhouse
00:33:30.767 --> 00:33:33.266
When the sun comes down
and the soil gets warm
00:33:33.267 --> 00:33:36.399
And the air gets warm
and the heat stays put
00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:38.299
The plants don\'t die
and the bird comes back
00:33:38.300 --> 00:33:39.499
And the leaves turn green
00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.999
That\'s a nice mustache
00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:42.132
Have you ever been to France
00:33:42.133 --> 00:33:43.299
Henry Hudson likes France
00:33:43.300 --> 00:33:46.366
It\'s a long way to Mars
even if you take a barge
00:33:46.367 --> 00:33:47.666
[horn bellows]
00:33:47.667 --> 00:33:49.499
When the air gets cold
00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:51.399
And the leaves start to fall
00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:54.267
You need a greenhouse
00:33:55.367 --> 00:33:58.400
You need a greenhouse
00:34:17.133 --> 00:34:18.766
- Hey, how you doing?
- Hi, how you doing?
00:34:18.767 --> 00:34:19.999
- Good.
00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:21.766
- I\'m Ian Cheney.
How are you?
00:34:21.767 --> 00:34:23.499
- This is Michael.
He\'s the sous chef here.
00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:25.032
- Hey, Michael.
What\'s up? Ian.
00:34:25.033 --> 00:34:26.466
Ian.
How are you guys?
00:34:26.467 --> 00:34:27.499
Yeah, well, step on up.
00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:29.099
Have a taste of anything.
00:34:29.100 --> 00:34:33.266
Try our... it\'s all...
It\'s all truck fresh here.
00:34:33.267 --> 00:34:34.267
- Okay.
00:34:34.268 --> 00:34:36.132
- Whole lot of sage, basil.
00:34:36.133 --> 00:34:37.732
- Chives.
- Yeah, we got chives.
00:34:37.733 --> 00:34:39.732
- Hey, man, how are you?
00:34:39.733 --> 00:34:41.099
Nice to see you.
How you doing?
00:34:41.100 --> 00:34:42.199
- Good.
How you been?
00:34:42.200 --> 00:34:43.466
Yeah, we\'re having a tasting
here.
00:34:43.467 --> 00:34:44.632
- Yeah?
Okay.
00:34:44.633 --> 00:34:47.199
- Got some little
serrano peppers here.
00:34:47.200 --> 00:34:49.433
- How are those chives?
You taste the chives over there?
00:34:50.767 --> 00:34:52.999
Really good.
00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:54.000
Can we buy some of this?
00:34:54.001 --> 00:34:55.066
- Yeah, absolutely.
00:34:55.067 --> 00:34:56.332
- Fair market?
That\'s beautiful.
00:34:56.333 --> 00:34:57.666
- Yeah, fair market price, yeah.
00:34:57.667 --> 00:34:59.432
- I mean, we should take
some of this basil.
00:34:59.433 --> 00:35:00.466
It\'s beautiful.
00:35:00.467 --> 00:35:02.266
- Rosemary?
Okay.
00:35:02.267 --> 00:35:05.000
- Oh, yeah.
- We\'ll go inside and weigh it.
00:35:19.733 --> 00:35:21.766
Two peppers.
00:35:21.767 --> 00:35:23.199
So 20 grams.
Perfect.
00:35:23.200 --> 00:35:24.499
- All right.
00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:26.367
- Some sage.
00:35:27.367 --> 00:35:28.399
Oregano.
00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:30.766
Three grams, rosemary.
00:35:30.767 --> 00:35:33.466
Why don\'t we just call it $3?
00:35:33.467 --> 00:35:35.399
- $3?
- $3.
00:35:35.400 --> 00:35:38.032
- $3 it is.
- Perfect.
00:35:38.033 --> 00:35:39.666
- There you are, sir.
- Thank you very much.
00:35:39.667 --> 00:35:42.099
Truck farm $3 richer.
00:35:42.100 --> 00:35:45.766
- My feelings
about urban agriculture
00:35:45.767 --> 00:35:48.132
are mainly positive
00:35:48.133 --> 00:35:50.532
in the sense
that there\'s some spaces
00:35:50.533 --> 00:35:54.499
that have been used
especially well in the city,
00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:57.366
empty vacant lots
that have been converted
00:35:57.367 --> 00:35:59.066
into very productive farms.
00:35:59.067 --> 00:36:00.299
You know, we buy from them.
00:36:00.300 --> 00:36:05.132
But is this the answer
to the global issue,
00:36:05.133 --> 00:36:08.699
real global issue of where
our food\'s coming from?
00:36:08.700 --> 00:36:12.599
And my answer to that is,
I\'m a little bit more skeptical.
00:36:12.600 --> 00:36:14.399
Though I find the technology
00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:17.732
and I find the passion
behind solving some problems
00:36:17.733 --> 00:36:21.099
interesting and illustrative,
in many ways,
00:36:21.100 --> 00:36:24.299
you still get the sense that,
like, it\'s probably
00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:30.600
the way-too-simplistic answer
to a very complex problem.
00:36:39.700 --> 00:36:41.432
[echoing]
A very complex problem...
00:36:41.433 --> 00:36:44.999
problem... problem... problem...
problem... problem...
00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:47.632
I\'m a little bit more
skeptical... skeptical...
00:36:47.633 --> 00:36:50.000
skeptical... skeptical...
00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:13.599
- So, yeah, it\'s right here.
00:37:13.600 --> 00:37:17.766
Yesterday there was
a beautiful lavender plant.
00:37:17.767 --> 00:37:19.599
It was about to flower.
00:37:19.600 --> 00:37:24.066
And then a couple hours ago
when I came out,
00:37:24.067 --> 00:37:26.332
and all this subsoil,
all this GaiaSoil
00:37:26.333 --> 00:37:28.766
was strewn about.
00:37:28.767 --> 00:37:31.199
They just dug it right up.
00:37:31.200 --> 00:37:34.467
And everything\'s a mess.
00:37:45.667 --> 00:37:49.133
So this thing
has been clicking away.
00:37:52.267 --> 00:37:55.299
If they came in and out
within the span of five minutes
00:37:55.300 --> 00:37:58.366
and the camera didn\'t happen
to catch them,
00:37:58.367 --> 00:38:01.200
then we\'re out of luck.
00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:14.232
You can see the lavender plant
right there.
00:38:14.233 --> 00:38:17.199
Big, beautiful lavender plant.
00:38:17.200 --> 00:38:19.532
The lights are coming on
in the neighborhood.
00:38:19.533 --> 00:38:22.166
People are out,
having a good time.
00:38:22.167 --> 00:38:23.167
Cars whizzing by.
00:38:23.168 --> 00:38:24.767
Lavender\'s still there.
00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:30.532
It\'s real dark now.
00:38:30.533 --> 00:38:33.266
Still there.
00:38:33.267 --> 00:38:35.399
Still there.
00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:37.499
There.
00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:41.632
You see that?
00:38:41.633 --> 00:38:45.066
It\'s gone.
00:38:45.067 --> 00:38:49.066
These two people
are right there,
00:38:49.067 --> 00:38:51.199
and it\'s gone.
00:38:51.200 --> 00:38:57.099
Are these two passersby,
or are these our suspects?
00:38:57.100 --> 00:39:01.233
So you can see... yeah,
it\'s definitely gone.
00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:30.999
- [singing] Have you ever had
something taken
00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:35.599
Like a diamond
or a piece of bacon
00:39:35.600 --> 00:39:39.266
Did it make you want
to scream and holler
00:39:39.267 --> 00:39:42.767
Or did you give up
00:39:44.600 --> 00:39:48.399
My truck farm
didn\'t grow nothin\'
00:39:48.400 --> 00:39:52.632
In the city,
all you grow is nothin\'
00:39:52.633 --> 00:39:55.399
There\'s a million billion people
00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:58.133
And we\'re growing nothin\'
00:40:01.300 --> 00:40:05.199
Growing food in the city
00:40:05.200 --> 00:40:09.132
Wasn\'t meant for me
00:40:09.133 --> 00:40:13.032
Growing food in the city
00:40:13.033 --> 00:40:16.000
Wasn\'t meant to be
00:40:32.067 --> 00:40:36.132
When I thought my troubles
were done
00:40:36.133 --> 00:40:40.632
I got swiped by a hit-and-run
00:40:40.633 --> 00:40:44.999
Maybe the idea of a truck farm
00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:48.732
Is really dumb
00:40:48.733 --> 00:40:52.532
Growing food in the city
00:40:52.533 --> 00:40:56.432
Wasn\'t meant for me
00:40:56.433 --> 00:40:59.567
Growing food in the city
00:41:12.500 --> 00:41:13.532
beep!
00:41:13.533 --> 00:41:16.132
- Hi, Ian,
this is Ashleigh Quillen.
00:41:16.133 --> 00:41:17.666
I\'m a graduate student
in Denver.
00:41:17.667 --> 00:41:19.532
I saw your truck farm
in a magazine,
00:41:19.533 --> 00:41:21.332
and I wanted to give you a call,
00:41:21.333 --> 00:41:23.266
because I\'m thinking
of starting one out here.
00:41:23.267 --> 00:41:25.467
Beep!
00:41:28.500 --> 00:41:33.200
[lively guitar music]
00:41:52.767 --> 00:41:54.132
- Oh, yeah!
00:41:54.133 --> 00:41:55.999
- There\'s the truck.
00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:58.466
- Look at this beauty.
00:41:58.467 --> 00:42:00.399
Oh, my heavens.
00:42:00.400 --> 00:42:03.266
- [laughs]
00:42:03.267 --> 00:42:05.732
- Look at this.
00:42:05.733 --> 00:42:08.032
This is incredible.
00:42:08.033 --> 00:42:10.099
- My name is Ashleigh Quillen.
00:42:10.100 --> 00:42:11.999
- I\'m Ryan Sotirakis.
00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:16.699
- And we are students in the
landscape architecture program
00:42:16.700 --> 00:42:18.666
at the University of Colorado
at Denver,
00:42:18.667 --> 00:42:22.999
and this is our summer project.
00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:25.766
- Denver urban truck farm.
00:42:25.767 --> 00:42:31.166
- Well, the truck
is a 1966 Ford F-250.
00:42:31.167 --> 00:42:33.132
Goes about 50 miles an hour.
00:42:33.133 --> 00:42:35.666
We actually saw an article
in \"Landscape Architecture\"
00:42:35.667 --> 00:42:36.699
on your truck farm,
00:42:36.700 --> 00:42:39.032
and I remember we were
in studio,
00:42:39.033 --> 00:42:41.032
and we were like,
\"This is so cool.\"
00:42:41.033 --> 00:42:42.732
And we sit
across from each other,
00:42:42.733 --> 00:42:46.099
and we just chatted about it
for, like, the whole studio.
00:42:46.100 --> 00:42:48.032
We were just like,
\"Let\'s do it.\"
00:42:48.033 --> 00:42:49.532
It was like the liner one day
00:42:49.533 --> 00:42:51.666
and then, like,
everything else the next day.
00:42:51.667 --> 00:42:53.399
- We built everything
in one solid day,
00:42:53.400 --> 00:42:55.132
the day before the first
farmers\' market.
00:42:55.133 --> 00:42:56.399
- Yeah.
00:42:56.400 --> 00:42:59.432
- The main principle was just
a demonstration project.
00:42:59.433 --> 00:43:01.399
As you go into the suburbs
farther,
00:43:01.400 --> 00:43:05.099
you see less and less
of the people growing food.
00:43:05.100 --> 00:43:08.399
Denver has miles and miles
of suburbs that...
00:43:08.400 --> 00:43:09.632
- Big suburbs.
00:43:09.633 --> 00:43:11.699
- You know, with a lot of
kind of wasted land.
00:43:11.700 --> 00:43:14.632
So I think, you know, the
movement started in the center
00:43:14.633 --> 00:43:16.633
and will start
to work its way out.
00:43:18.500 --> 00:43:21.167
[engine flutters and turns over]
00:43:35.633 --> 00:43:37.999
- This is unbelievable.
00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:41.599
- [singing] Truck farm
has a family now
00:43:41.600 --> 00:43:45.666
A family of unusual farms
00:43:45.667 --> 00:43:50.099
Trucks and windows
and barges and rooftops
00:43:50.100 --> 00:43:53.767
A family of unusual farms
00:43:58.733 --> 00:44:01.399
- Oh, my goodness, what is that?
00:44:01.400 --> 00:44:03.132
What is this?
00:44:03.133 --> 00:44:04.166
It\'s a truck farm?
00:44:04.167 --> 00:44:06.200
Well, it looks terrific.
00:44:07.233 --> 00:44:08.666
And you can just grab ahold
here.
00:44:08.667 --> 00:44:10.366
Does this give you any ideas
00:44:10.367 --> 00:44:11.999
of where you could plant
gardens?
00:44:12.000 --> 00:44:13.099
- Yeah.
00:44:13.100 --> 00:44:15.199
- [singing] Has a family now
00:44:15.200 --> 00:44:19.466
A family of unusual farms
00:44:19.467 --> 00:44:23.666
Lunch pails and tennis balls
and printers and boots
00:44:23.667 --> 00:44:27.666
A family of unusual farms
00:44:27.667 --> 00:44:32.532
Truck farm has a family now
00:44:32.533 --> 00:44:37.266
In the year 2010
00:44:37.267 --> 00:44:39.732
My loneliness is gone
00:44:39.733 --> 00:44:42.599
And the vegetables are here
00:44:42.600 --> 00:44:47.067
And soon we\'ll be planting again
00:45:02.533 --> 00:45:07.533
[upbeat country music]
