A Community-Centered Food Ecosystem

A CommunityCentered Food Ecosystem

WUR Student Challenge Urban Greenhouse

Chrysalis

Fostering community spirit through an adaptive, self-sustaining urban farm that ensures local food security and economic viability, infrastructure longevity and meaningful public space.

Guided by our vision, we propose a holistic concept design. It incorporates the social, organizational, agricultural, economic, and spatial elements needed to establish an innovative, self-sustaining urban farm that improves food access and social cohesion of Ward 7, DC.

The AMS Caterpillars aim to trigger a Butterfly Effect. Our proposal is the single flap of a wing of a butterfly, which sets in motion a chain of events. The concept implemented by the community establishes a flourishing urban farm and educational hub for Ward 7. The building outlines a butterfly, and we want to let the community fill in its vibrant colors. Our community-centered design draws from AMS Institute’s Living Lab approach (fig. 1) that brings research into society-wide implementation through incorporating co-creation of different disciplines and stakeholders.

The AMS Caterpillars consider these five topics to be our unique differentiators, which integrate community needs & challenge outcomes with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (fig. 2).

Finally, we draw on inspiration from urban farms in the US and state-of-the-art innovations developed in Amsterdam. Our proposed combination of SDG alignment, interdisciplinary high-tech proposals, and global inspirations increases access to fresh produce, meaningful public space, and economic opportunity, contributing to improving the quality of life.

Our concept embodies the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to butterfly, and the core of our mission is to preserve and support community spirit. We hope to provide the cocoon from which Ward 7’s butterflies can blossom.

OHW

WHERE WHY

context noitaerc-oc

learning

diceis o n power d e v e tnempol u-p-pk

innovation noitareti

↑ Fig. 1. Living Lab approach

↓ Fig. 2. Unique differentiatiors

Living Lab approach

TAHW

Connecting education, research, food production and economic functionalities.

urban sust a ytilibani

Year-round food production

Polyculture crops, outdoor and indoor growing for culturally appropriate & climate sensitive crops, and living-lab greenhouse dedicated to research.

Circularity and sustainable design Circular food waste to energy cycle for powering the greenhouse and building. Other innovations are timber construction, efficient HVAC like geothermal heat pumps, passive design, anaerobic digestion, and on-site renewables.

Organizational structure & economic plan

501(c)(3) non-profit, unique partnerships for revenue generation, funding start-ups.

Internal Integrated Design Framework (IDF) A design process that bridges socio-technical disciplines.

Artist Impressions

↑ Indoor perspective of the community wing

↑ View of the community garden and butterfly building

Spatial Concept

We’re proposing a master site plan with three main components: an extensive landscaping plan for outdoor farming, the Buttery Building community center and the main outdoor Greenhouse.

Our architectural and landscaping design philosophy is to spatially support and enhance the socio-economic goals. These are: maximizing food production, encouraging community engagement and providing spaces for economic activity like a marketplace, co-working rooms and outdoor community plots.

Overall Site Plan

The entire site is being revitalized and maximized for agricultural, community and business activities. We are also accommodating existing features like the water pond, variwous open soil areas, and natural incline of the landscape to create terracing and enhance the value of the current site. Going clockwise in the main site floorplan on the right, each spatial function is outlined below:

1) Hillside Terraces: This southside of the site is 32944sqft and has a natural incline, we’re taking advantage of this by terracing the slope and incorporating different grow techniques for seasonal crops. All crop beds are visualized in the site plan. Further, raised beds are used to prevent direct pollution from the urban soil, which current site owners have identified as suboptimal for growth.

2) Northside Plains: A similar crop approach is taken for the northside production area at 20434sqft; this section is not on an incline and is near the outdoor Greenhouse. With future expansions as the Urban Farm succeeds, this section can be transformed into more Greenhouses. To start given the current budget and initial phase, we’re proposing outdoor growing in this parcel of land.

3) Greenhouse: This is the primary indoor growing structure, and features various grow sections between raised beds, a mushroom wall and high-tech hydroponics. The total area of this greenhouse is 5670sqft. An artist impression of the indoor food production area is shown on the right page.

4) Butterfly Building: The central butterfly building is our landmark community center which will host many social and economic functions. It features everything from our marketplace where we sell and distribute affordable local produce, to co-working spaces and a start-up cocoon. The building stands at 5616sqft.

5) Pupa Pond: This is at the entrance of our site, and is an existing water collection pond at 5227sqft. We are preserving this pond and adding landscaping to serve a sustainable purpose of water retention and an attractive entrance feature.

5

6) Recreative Road: This is the main road to the east of the site and walking along this road, pedestrians will have a view of the community gardens, Pupa Pond and the facade of the Butterfly Building.

7) Kaleidoscope Gardens: This is our main community garden, and we hope just like a kaleidoscope of butterflies, a plurality of members from the community can come together and cultivate the land to best suit their desires. The kaleidoscope gardens occupies 6840sqft of the site.

8) Wingspan Playground & BBQ: Our Wingspan playground and bbq area will provide open public space for children and families in Ward 7, adding to the recreational value of our site. This takes 7658sqft of space on the site.

Spatial Concept

1)

3)

Symposium wing

2)

4)

3)

5)

Co-working space

4)

9 11 12 13

5)

Co-working space

Nodal walkaway

9)

CONTINUITY OF SPACES INTERACTION

Programmatically, the left wing, known as the Symposium Wing is allocated for work and administration. And the right wing - Community Wing, is for social and economic programs. Finally, the Symposium and Community wings are connected by the nodal walkway, which will serve both as the entrance to the building, and the location of our Monarch Market where subsidized produce from the market can be

11)

10)

Cold room

LL greenhouse & aquaponics

Cold room

First oor 1

First oor 7

Apex terrace B First oor

LL

Start-up cocoon 8 10

First ßoor

Start-up cocoon 2 3 4 5 6

Start-up cocoon

Our community center is designed to mimic the wingspan of butterflies, to symbolize the vibrant spirit of Ward 7 and new beginnings for a thriving urban farm in the heart of the city.

Going clockwise from the Symposium Wing to nodal walkway and the Community Wing, some room functions are highlighted below:

1) Administration: Office space for farm managers, foundation board members and other full-time employees who keep the farm operational. 550sqft.

2) Lactation room: Private space for parents who need to breastfeed or tend for their children, while spending time engaging in various activities at the farm. 108sqft.

5) Co-working space: This is a space for local entrepreneurs, students and other community members who want a productive workspace to work on their endeavors and engage with other members of Ward 7. 1280sqft.

6) & 13)Apex Terraces A & B: Like the apex tip of butterfly wings, people are able to traverse the outlines of the butterfly and take in views of the whole site. 1800sqft.

7) Monarch Market: Main marketplace for produce from the farm and other pick-up and engagement activities at the entrance lobby of the building. 250sqft

9) Kitchen & food lab: A space for cooks and local chefs to cater to the community, while incorporating produce from the site. Will also serve as a workshop space for cooking classes and chef residencies as needed. 442sqft.

11) Cold room: We are accounting for added storage needed to store extra produce from the farm, especially in the winter months. And any extra refrigeration of micro-greens and other crops needed in between pick-up and delivery schedules. 95sqft

12) Living Lab greenhouse & aquaponics: The Living Lab greenhouse is primarily an education space with green walls and a small-scale low-tech aquaponics system. This area will be optimal for workshops to demonstrate waste and nutrient cycles and get the community excited about urban agriculture. 710sqft.

14) Start-up cocoon: This is our business and start-up incubator space, where expert sessions can be held for local entrepreneurs to help launch their ideas. 453sqft.

We are also paying attention to structural analysis, refer to annex c. The building is designed using technology known as “light timber frame”. It is a construction system based on glued laminated wood profiles. This structure consists of panels framed by wooden profiles. As seen in the cross section of the green roof and exterior wall, we are incorporating sustainable insulation boards, cross laminated timber and other aspects.

Technical section

Soil Gravel Gutter Waterproof membrane Cross laminated timber Insulation board

Exterior cladding Insulation Timber OSB board Gypsum board

Food Production System

Our food production system aims to nurture the community of Ward 7, create job opportunities, address social equality, food apartheid and education. The established design encompasses agroecology, regenerative, and biointensive (square foot method) farming. By using these principles the system honors the historical techniques that black farming cultures persisted in5. Sustaining the community of Ward 7 is the fundamental goal of the food production systems at our site, the farm must be by the community and therefore for the community.

Agroecology consists of two main pillars, the enhancement of soil quality and the diversification of crops3. The first pillar can be reached by addition of organic matter in various ways, water conservation and efficient use of nutrients. Crop diversification can be reached by temporal crop rotations, intercropping and over-yielding.Lastly, we thoroughly studied aquaponics viability and consulted various agricultural experts; we concluded it to be unrealistic for a site this size to rely only on aquaponics. While it is an innovative system, it can prove to be technically challenging to maintain and cannot guarantee large-scale production of a variety of hearty crops. But we do recognize its educational value for waste and nutrient cycles, therefore we’re proposing a small-scale educational aquaponics in the Living-Lab Greenhouse. In figure 3, all the crops in their respective grow areas are visualized.The share of each crop relative to total production is presented in the stacked bar charts. We can observe here that the diversity of the production is again dominant.

Hillside Terraces

The hillside production area is south of the site, and consists of three separate terraces. The top terrace will function as a “3 sister” system with raised beds measuring 4ftx4ft. This results in two sets of the three sisters intercropping system alternating over the beds on the terrace. The lower and middle terrace will accommodate larger beds measuring 4ftx12ft, here a fivesome of crops per terrace will be interspersed through the seasons. In the empty spaces in and around the beds a selection of marigolds, borage, onion, garlic, lupines, nasturtiums, and cosmos will be planted for pest control and soil remediation purposes. Up the hill, rain collection will take place in multiple rain saucer barrels. During the winter months the beds will be sown with a cover crop to add organic matter and nutrients back into the soil.

Northside Plains

This production area consists of 6 rows of raised beds, each containing 35 beds, measuring 4ftx10ft. To promote soil remediation and soil health, one of the rows will grow fallow with for example mustard and then buckwheat while the other rows will grow crops. Throughout the year the production will change with the seasons and turn out a variety of vegetables. By using low tunnels during winter the production will slow down throughout but will never come to a halt as produce is protected from frost in early spring to late fall.

Lastly, the farm will also be home to chickens which can be used for their eggs and meat for the community. They will either be in a coop near the Kaleidoscope Garden or in the mobile tractors between the rows of hillside and northside.

Using dual breeds for ethical and sustainability reasons they can function as pest control and natural fertilizers when they wander through the crops. The eggs and chicken meat can be used for sale, as the entire population will be slaughtered by end of fall, and new chicks to be introduced by spring of next year. And in figure 2, all the produced crops are visualized showing their planting, growing and harvesting period.

Outdoor Greenhouse

The dedicated outdoor greenhouse consists of four production regions. The main production area in the top left corner of the greenhouse (fig. 1). The total vegetable production area inside the greenhouse is 7020sqft, with 20 x 10-ft hanging gutters to grow lettuce/greens year-round and these rows are planned for handicap accessibility. The second production area will be for starter plants, work tables and storage. Here, starters will be produced for the farm itself but also the community plots and general market sales. The third production section is assigned specifically for the mushroom production, where shiitake and oyster mushrooms will be grown. Oak logs that are produced on the farm or provided by the municipality of Washington DC will be used for approximately 6 years as growing tabs of the mushrooms. Finally, the greenhouse also has 1/5th of its area (861 sqft) for revenue-generating high-efficiency hydroponics like a GROWx module to fund the rest of the farm’s activities. Such a system can produce high-end microgreens to be sold to restaurants.

Next, to bring food production even closer to the people, an indoor greenhouse is created. In the butterfly building a section is reserved for green walls and aquaponics. Both serve educational and food production purposes for small herbs that the community can pick or use in the kitchen. Finally food safety aspects are considered with everything from air circulation in kitchen and common areas, separating compost, incorporating separate spatial functions, and ensuring food safety training and certification for farm and kitchen employees.

↓ Fig. 1. Greenhouse layout

Mush-room Raised beds

Hi-tech hydroponics

Nursery Main production area

Sustainability

The Butterfly Metamorphosis

We incorporated passive design elements in the butterfly building and greenhouse to maximize the potential from the environment. The greenhouse is strategically placed with the main facade and roof facing the south side for optimal sun irradiance. For the building, glass on the south facade is minimized to reduce thermal load on the cooling system. The site is designed with the complete resource lifecycle in mind and ensures that the energy, water and waste flows are circular.

Timber

The Butterfly Building will make use of low-impact construction materials. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) will be used for the structure and timber is proposed for the frame due to its strong structural properties. Timber acts as a natural carbon sink, storing the CO2 that’s taken from the air by the trees that are made into the material.1

(Recycled) Aluminum cladding

For the facade of the Butterfly Building aluminum cladding will be used. This material is lightweight and non-combustible. This material is specially durable due to its weather resistant characteristics and can be completely recycled at the end of the building's life cycle making it a sustainable choice.2

XPS & wool insulation

XPS is an noteable moisture resistant insulation material, even in extreme weather conditions. In addition, the material is insensitive to rot and fungus, making it durable and safe. And the combination of wool, an organic insulator, increases its thermal effiency.

Local biodiversity & crop protection

A variety of native plants are planted all over the site to promote local pollinators and to restore habitat for local wildlife. Flowers like Marigolds, Borage, Nasturtium, Cosmos and sunflowers are planted outside the production bed for

BIODIVERSITY ENHANCERS

GREENHOUSE BUTTERFLY BUILDING

Catfish

Lettuce/greens Thyme

OTHER LANDSCAPE

Rhododendron Sunflower Hare’s foot clover

Mint Basil Coriander Cilantro Rosemary Parsley

Poplar Willow Buffalo grass India grass

AROUND PRODUCTION GARDENS

Marigolds Borage Onion

Garlic Sunflowers Lupines Nasturtium Cosmos

KIDS AREA (BUTTERFLY GARDEN)

Common yarrow Oriental salsify Common self-heal Lavender

BY CHICKENS

Chamomile Calendula Lavender

Chamomile Cornflower Viper ’s bugloss Ragwort Sunflower Buddleja davidii

Black cohosh

soil remediation and to recarbonize urban soil. Sunflowers in particular have remediating qualities against tar components. Lupines are planted around the production beds and next to the playground to attract butterflies. Other plants and herbs with beneficial properties like coriental Salsify, common Self-heal, Ragwort, Lavender and Cornflower are planted around the playground area to promote biodiversity. Willow’s and Poplar are planted around the site for the remediation of heavy metals in the soil. Hare’s foot clover, India grass and Buffalo grass are also planted all over the area for their additional benefits for biodiversity. Finally, crop protection is also considered. Pests are kept at bay by planting companion plants to attract natural predators and repel pests. Weeds are addressed through mulching and canopies to prevent weed growth. Airflow through wide paths is also incorporated to prevent fungal infection and soil disease is mitigated by crop rotation. And notably, raised beds are proposed to prevent possible toxins in the urban soil from polluting the crops.

Resource regeneration Energy generation Water circulation

5, 9

29, 2 65, 7

23, 2

lbs/y Restaurant Building Outdoor production Biowater Community

N 518 14,6 Ton/Y

42, 5 13 1 51, 1

Solar Bio digester Grid

Buidling

Greenhouse

Outside Aquaphonics

Rue Mugwort Callaloo 134 P

6, 5

3, 5

kGal/y Ton/Y kWh/y 14, 6

11 0 190 206 190 +24

10 5

Butterfly building Greenhouse Green house

Outside production Butterfly building

135 Tapwater Vertical farm

340

495

245 16

Sunbathing Butterfly - Powered by the sun

Solar panels are placed on the top of the greenhouse where no glass roof is needed to provide the site with renewable energy. The greenhouse has an ideal south facing angle for optimal solar efficiency. These solar panels will provide about 33% of the site’s yearly electricity needs. The other 2/3 is provided by anaerobic digesters that convert organic waste into biogas which can then be converted to electricity. Finally during the summer, the panels can provide more than half of the site’s electricity needs.3

Cocoon’s climate control - Using the earth

A ground source heat pump (GSHP) system with a horizontal closed loop will be installed under the building and greenhouse. This system consists of two heat pumps: one waterto-water heat pump for HVAC and domestic hot water for the butterfly building, and a water-to-air heat pump for the greenhouse. The Butterfly Building will be heated and cooled with climate ceilings. The greenhouse will be heated by warm circulating air from the air-water heat pump. Electricity from the solar panels will be used to power the heat pumps, and the design brings the site closer towards a fossil-fuelfree future.4

Wings in the Wind - Harnessing wind

Ventilation for the Butterfly Building is provided by an electric rooftop direct outdoor air handling unit (DOAS) with heat recovery and is connected to a ductwork ventilation system that leads to every room. The greenhouse is passively ventilated by vent panels and actively ventilated by hanging fans which are also used to cool down the greenhouse in the summer. For the greenhouse passive ventilation, the structure's position and windflow is strategically used to prioritize energy savings.4

One man’s trash is another man’s CompostWaste Management

Organic waste from the site and external parties (restaurants and the community) is handled by an anaerobic digester. This way the farm can also serve as a waste processing drop-off point for Ward 7. In the digester, biowaste can be fermented and during this process, biogas and digestate (fertilizer) are produced. The biogas can be converted to electricity which can then be used on site, and the excess heat is used to warm the greenhouse. The fertilizer can be used for the greenhouse and outside production. The biodigester consumes about 100 kg of organic waste per day and we’re proposing a 200kg/day capacity biodigestor to allow for growing needs of the urban farm in the future.5

Waterpillars - Making use of the rain

Rainwater and snow is collected from the roof of the butterfly building and the outdoor greenhouse, which is stored in tanks next to the greenhouse. This gray water can be used for the drip irrigation of the greenhouse and outside farming. To further close resource cycles, the greenhouse has a closed-loop irrigation system where water is filtered and re-circulated back to the crops, saving up to 40% of water. Finally, the front of the site also features a water retention pond to maximize water collection.6

Caterpillar Diet - Let nothing go to waste

The anaerobic digester produces digestate in addition to biogas, which is rich in organic nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which can be used for the outside production to fertilize crops and improve soil quality. The greenhouse recirculation system ensures that 45% of the nutrients added to the water are re-circled back to the crops. 6,7

Business Model

Organizational Structure

We propose a 501(c)(3) non-profit structure, a structure often used by community organizations, as it provides the benefits of a partnership and a corporation, as well as tax benefits. We are confident that our educational, scientific and environmental contributions will allow us to get the 501(c) (3) status. Such a structure is the most organized way to manage the many different activities. A 501(c)(3) also offers an opportunity for a board of directors from the local community. This way the urban farm is truly owned by the community and the activities to support the community will be at the heart of the farm. It also offers the same protection as an LLC structure of the assets (site, indoor-structure and goods) for the board members while preventing future board members from taking money out of the community. Moreover all different activities can be (legally) separated (i.e. if the cafeteria goes bankrupt the rest will not be affected) and are able to turn a profit as long as this is reinvested in the urban farm. This makes it possible to support the social programmes with more economic oriented activities and allow for experimentation with other endeavors. This will allow the East Capitol Urban Farm to operate independently from the University of the District of Columbia.

Business Model

There are several activities meant to support the farm financially, create jobs and stimulate the economy of Ward 7 (fig. 1). The Cafeteria will make a social impact by introducing a new sit-down option for healthy meals or grabbing a coffee with a friend. Besides, it will provide opportunities for, among others, young people to gain work experience and local cooks to showcase their talents. The co-workspaces will allow 42 local entrepreneurs to work closer to home, which especially suits the needs of single parents, and help build a network of entrepreneurs. By experimenting, testing ideas or even selling products, a perfect symbiosis can be created with the farm. This way the farm can be an enabler for a strong local and green economy according to the vision of the residents1. Furthermore, at the farm we will make use of high-tech hydroponics systems for producing

high quality micro-greens, herbs and leafy greens, similar to GROWx. This endeavor is predominantly a commercial activity since the produce is sold to high-end restaurants. However due to their innovative technology, the cell that will be placed requires only 861 ft^2 space, 13% of the entire greenhouse, and thus will not be at the expense of the community. Moreover it will provide 5 full-time jobs, ranging from high skilled to manual jobs, and bring in $237,500 annually based on information provided to us by GROWx. We not only want to fill the community’s stomachs with butterflies, but also with fresh vegetables. Therefore, we will focus on making the sale of produce available to everyone in the community. Thanks to polyculture, the community will also have access to a variety of nutrient-dense, seasonal produce that will be offered in mixed bags by the pound. The bags will also contain a recipe and the prices will be benchmarked against Lidl prices. Through food stamps and food tier discounts the produce for the community will be affordable, mostly focused on recouping the production costs and not turning a profit. The farm is also a great location to host public or private events, next to the organized community events. Public events can be cook-offs or holiday celebrations and private events could range from company parties or weddings. Since the farm is a place for the community, the aim is not to turn a huge profit on these events. We will apply the same rate as the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation which is $50/hour2. Venues for private events which also include catering from the restaurant, will be priced at a minimum of $20 an hour per person based on the prices of around $75 in the D.C. downtown area3.

BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS

PARTNERS CUSTOMER SEGMENTS

- Deanwood Citizens Association

- Local Residents

- Universities - Local schools - Farmers markets

- GROWx - Local entrepeneurs

COST

- Production: Polyculture

- Facilitating educational activities

- Local residents - Local business

CHANNELS RESOURCES

- Social media - Word of Mouth

- Partner restaurants - Church - Educational institutions

- Seeds or crops - Farming knowledge

- Marketing: Low cost, flyering, word of mouth and social media

- Monthly expenses: Water, Electricity, Gas (transport), salaries, production (seeds, equipments)

- GROWx salaries

CUSTOMER RELATION ACTIVITIES

- Volunteer & Interships

- Daily: outdoor volunteer farm

- Monthly: Workshops

- Weekly: Farmers market - Daily: Entrepreneur hub

REVENUE

- Income out of workshops - Selling produce - Cafetaria - Share of GROWx - Event hosting - Co-working spaces

- Education & Workshops - Cafeteria

- Workspaces

- Selling produce on-site - Farmers market

- Event space - Rent of community plots

VALUE PROPOSITION

- Cheaper and healthy food

- Jobs

- Educate community on healthy diet

- Create lively community

- Recreation

- Entrepreneur hub

TARGET MARKET

GROWx Analysis

There are more than 20 restaurants in the service area of the urban farm. This includes restaurants that have aligned values such as healthy, sustainable and locally sourced food. Moreover, there are several restaurants that serve plant based meals which expands the market.

Co-workspaces Analysis

The target market consists mainly of freelancers and independent self-employed entrepreneurs. However, it could also be a solution for (single) parents that want a productive work environment.

Cafeteria Analysis

In combination with the co-workspaces, the cafeteria should be particularly attractive to students and young entrepreneurs. But also should be able to attract families on a day out in combination with the outside garden and farm. As a lot of the customers in Ward 7 would be young families.

ESTIMATED REVENUE

GROWx Analysis

Based on the average wholesale price of $100/kg and a production of 8250 kg/year the revenue will amount to $825,000/year. GROWx will be responsible for the initial investment, salaries and maintenance of the cell. We will get 50% of the profits, which will amount to $237,500 annually.

Co-workspaces Analysis

Based on these findings we determined that an appropriate rent for the co-workspaces would be $200/month and $15/day. We have incorporated all the amenities into the design of the building as well.

Cafeteria Analysis

~25000 per month based on: average ticket size x # of daily covers x number of days in the month] + [monthly catering or merch revenue] = total monthly revenue.

Validation Stories

1. GROWx

GROWx is a proposed partner for our design. During our visit at their production facility in Amsterdam we were shown around their high-tech hydroponics . The owner told us about the social and sustainable goals of the company, which they call ‘food as a service’ and their contribution towards a circular food system. Technology is used efficiently, with sensors keeping track of the growth, nutrients and water needs.

2. Mediamatic

At mediamatic we mainly learned how to operate an aquaponics system and develop education around it. The owners told us about the nutrient cycle, the differences between coupled and decoupled systems and about the pitfalls of operating an aquaponics system. They also operate a restaurant from the same premises where they use the food that is produced with the aquaponics system.

COMPETITION

GROWx Analysis

Six competitors have been identified in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region. Two of which already supply a few restaurants on our list.

Co-workspaces Analysis

Currently there exist no (co-)working spaces in Ward 7. The average minimum price of the workspaces in the DC area is: $300/month and $20,50/day (SOURCE).

Cafeteria Analysis

Currently, there is a lack of sit down restaurants in both Ward 7 and the neighboring Ward 8. Most of the restaurants in the area are fast food and take out only. Meanwhile, according to newspaper articles and blogs, there is a demand for sit down restaurants.

BARRIERS TO ENTER

GROWx Analysis

33 different microgreens, herbs and leafy greens have been found on the menu of the identified restaurant. This is already 59% of the 56 varieties assortment of GROWx. Two local companies have been identified which would be able to return the organic ‘waste’ which is required as input for a new harvest cycle: CompostCab and CompostCrew.

Co-workspaces Analysis

The amenities that were deemed necessary to be able to offer the same service level are: coffee and tea, free wifi, keycard access (24/7 optional), at least one meeting room, printing and a on-site support/caretaker (during office hours only).

Cafeteria Analysis

In order to run a restaurant of this size. One full-time chef and one full-time host are necessary. In addition to that several part-time staff members for the kitchen and some servers are required to smoothly run the operation.

3. De Kas

During our visit to the restaurant De Kas, the owner provided us insights into their own greenhouse and suburban production farm. Here we learned that he needs 1 full time employee and 2 part time employees to maintain the 18300 sq. ft. farm and 11840 sq. ft. greenhouse. This is important information for us to estimate how many people we need. The owner also shared about their seasonal production cycle and how they adjust their menu based on this.

4. MijnStadstuin

This urban farm offers gardens for food production for rent and houses 8 entrepreneurs that focus on small-scale sustainable agriculture. We learned about their business model, the pitfalls of an urban farm, how to create a sense of community and how to facilitate sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship. This inspired our rent-tier system that is not focussed on making a profit but to reach as many different residents in the community as possible.

Social Butterflies

Urban Living Lab

The aim of our plans for East Capitol Urban Farm is to actively involve the community of Ward 7. We hope to trigger a butterfly effect that will give the citizens all the tools to drive their own future and that of Ward 7. A good fit with the local context is a must for our plans to succeed. We argue however that it is simply too ambitious to think we can solve all of the issues Ward 7 and its inhabitants are facing. We truly believe our ideas can flourish, like a butterfly, however the ideas are most likely to be shaped and altered throughout constant interaction between its users and its visitors. We therefore envision the East Capitol Urban Farm as a Urban Living Lab, a laboratory that is alive. The Urban Living Lab consists of different elements that will be improved over time. Through initiatives, partnerships and action research we think the iterative process of building and sustaining the Urban Farm can result in a magical place.

New Type of Food Economy

One proposal to improve food access in Ward 7 is by establishing a new food economy, one that makes fresh produce more accessible to residents. The farm consists of many areas as seen in the map. One cornerstone is the community garden where 103 garden plots are available for the community. There are four tiers through which residents can engage with the community garden plots, as depicted in figure__. The goal of the farm is to first provide residents with fresh produce and a sense of community. By providing a variety of ways for engagement with the farm, we argue that a sustainable and strong community structure can be realized. The goal here is to find the right balance between active volunteers, local families in need of fresh produce and people with enough resources to afford their own community garden and with that help out those most in need. By doing so we aim to foster social equity since we strive for a system that can be sustained whilst enabling and empowering those involved.

Job and Knowledge Creation

The ultimate goal is to alleviate food apartheid in Ward 7. We hope that by providing access to fresh produce in a variety of ways we can ensure this in a sustainable way. In addition to the community garden plots, a large plot of land and a greenhouse is dedicated to just producing food for the community. Its high production output will provide fresh, varied and nutritious food year-round. Besides that, the production site and greenhouse will employ 15 residents from the community. This will provide a steady income whilst enriching the community knowledge about urban farming. All this is sustained through different initiatives, based on the idea that resources, produce or knowledge, is shared.

The Urban Farm will furthermore become a place to meet other people and learn about healthy, delicious and fun food options. By means of seasonal community events we aim to attract residents from all over Washington D.C. Examples of such events are farmers markets, food trucks and seasonal festivals. The events will also provide a stage to other local food initiatives while engaging residents with different types

of produce. The events are also a way to generate income for local entrepreneurs and farmers. With these events, access and affordability to fresh food for the local residents is always a priority.

Furthermore, the Urban Farm also aims to be a start-up cocoon for local entrepreneurs. With the startup booster program and allocated spaces for three local entrepreneurs, the farm hopes to foster an entrepreneurial spirit that will bring about meaningful outcomes.

As mentioned earlier, food education is a strong component of our Urban Farm. By means of educational programs organized throughout the year, we aim to provide residents with ongoing possibilities to learn more about the food they eat. Our community gardens, greenhouse, production fields and the aquaponics systems are great hands-on learning grounds for anyone interested. The focus will initially be to set up partnerships with local schools and universities, but also with organizations such as Coding for Girls, organizations for minorities and women in STEM, HBCU institutions, and the Culinary Institute of America. By setting up partnerships and providing a place to learn we aim to foster education whilst also really adding towards the curriculum of local kids and students. This can also allow for academic credits to be earned whilst taking part in a series of educational workshops. Also, throughout the year a variety of internship positions will become available, ranging from working at the hydroponics system and learning about high-tech food solutions to gaining working experience in hospitality.

Social Impact

Pursuing all these activities, the Urban Farm should encourage a strong sense of community centered around healthy food. Learning, educating, meeting and eating with others. By providing a variety of ways to engage with the Urban Farm we hope to ensure a resilient concept that can alter its course of action along the way if deemed necessary. Many of the pressing issues at hand will take time to solve. Our goal is to provide a Living Lab aimed to do just that. Providing affordable food options to those in need, educating students and families and generating income for the inhabitants also contribute to this. The ultimate goal is to have a self-sustained Urban Farm, which can set the example for similar initiatives across other communities; as learning from best practices is the best way to flourish and ensure the butterfly effect.

COOL CAULIFLOWERS

Anyone who values fresh and local produce can take part in our program by renting a garden plot.

In return they will receive nutritious fruits and vegetables. The income generated here is used to sustain various jobs on our site. Furthermore, a quarter of the harvested produce on the Cool Cauliflower plots goes to our general shared food supply.

CARING CARROTS

Besides gaining access to fresh produce, the act of growing your own crops can be very enriching.

The Caring Carrots subscription is meant for those who want to gain access to fresh produce whilst also taking care of the crops themselves. Again, a quarter of the total amount of produce harvested goes to the general shared food supply.

ENERGETIC EGGPLANTS

Being part of the community comes in many forms. We want to give people the chance to learn about agriculture and to improve their lifestyle even though they might not have sufficient disposable income. In return for their voluntary work they are granted access to discounts for events, fresh produce or food boxes, therefore becoming part of the community.

LOCAL LETTUCE

Some residents in the community work two or more jobs at the same time.

Many of them are not able to volunteer at the site, let alone have sufficient disposable income to rent a garden plot. We believe that it is a priority to ensure that those in need are granted access to fresh and nutritious produce through the general shared food supply, discounts and food stamps.

c. Structural analysis of the Butterfly Building

The structure consists of structural panels formed by a framework of wooden profiles and joined by self-drilling screws. In particular:

• The vertical uprights are rectangular type profiles that are arranged following a maximum center distance of 1200 mm. They can be single or double as needed.

• Said uprights are joined at the bottom and top by means of a rail consisting of a “rectangular” type section, forming a closed structural panel.

• The horizontal lintels, for making openings for doors and windows, are made up of 3 rectangular profiles, assembled together to form a more robust section. The lintels are joined to the vertical uprights by means of the same rectangular rails.

• The bracing against horizontal forces will be done through class 3 OSB panels and they will work together with rectangular section blockers arranged at half the height of the panel.

• In this way, by assembling uprights, rails, lintels and bracing of different lengths, the structural panels are formed that constitute, at the same time, the resistant structure and the enclosures and divisions of the building.

• The uprights and rails to be used in this project are generally a rectangular section with a 450mm edge and 10mm width for exterior walls, and a 100mm edge and 45mm width for interior walls.

• The horizontal lintels, for the realization of openings, will be formed by three rectangular profiles assembled together forming a more robust section. Depending on the width of the lintel and the loads to which it is subjected, the lintel can be made up of 200mm deep and 45mm wide profiles.

• The roof of the building is made using CLT mix with a 300 mm edge and 1,200 mm width, with a maximum center distance of 1,200 mm and supported on the vertical uprights by rectangular-type profiles.

• All the metal joints of the structure will be made using self-drilling screws as indicated, while the joining of the structure to the foundation will be executed using pre-drilled anchors.

• The wood used will be laminated glued homogeneous GL32H. The quality of the wood used is guaranteed by its corresponding CE marking.

• yM = 1.25 p> for cross-section strength verification (tensile verification)

• As it is a building with one floor above ground without reaching 15 meters in height, the resistance of the structural elements of the house must be R 90.

For the calculation of the structure, the Cype calculation program has been used, specifically the concrete and wood module.

b. d.

l.

Food production system

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Sustainability

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Business model

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2. Eventective, https://www.eventective.com/washington-dc/party-event-venues/

3. Government of the district of Columbia (2022), “Mayor Bowser Breaks Ground on DC’s First Lidl Food Market in Ward 7”, https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-breaks-ground-dc%E2%80%99s-first-lidl-food-market-ward-7

Annex

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5. Damme, K. (2015, Februari). Economics of Dual-Purpose Breeds. Retrieved from Lohmann Breeders: https://lohmann-breeders.com/lohmanninfo/economics-of-dual-purpose-breeds/

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tives

8. Indeed. (2022, May 11). Gardener salary in Washington, DC. Retrieved from Indeed: https://www.indeed.com/career/gardener/salaries/Washington--DC?from=top_sb

9. Indeed. (2022, May 16). Office Manager salary in Washington, DC. Retrieved from Indeed: https://www.indeed.com/career/office-manager/salaries/Washington--DC?from=top_sb

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16. Office of General Service New York. (2017). Kompan Pricelist. Retrieved from Office of General Service New York: https://online.ogs.ny.gov/purchase/spg/ pdfdocs/3021122896PL_Kompan.pdf

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25. Sage. (n.d.). How much does it cost to open a restaurant ? Retrieved from Sage: https://www.sage.com/en-us/accounting-software/startup-costs/restaurant/

Acknowledgements

Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS) Alexander Laarman, WUR & AMS Institute

Juan Espinoza – UDC Causes Eric Harris – UDC Causes

Ing. Fabian Henric Gavrilescu - Gamma Graph Architektur Visuallisierung - Liepzing

Dieter Ludwig Archvis- Gamma Graph Architektur Visuallisierung – Liepzing

Antoni Casas Freixas - Arquitecte | Consultor d’Estructures

Alejandro Ramos - Arquitecte | Consultor d’Estructures

Jesse Schoenmakers Videography

Ivy Leaf Farms, Houston Texas - Founder Ivy Walls Oko Farms - Yemi Amu

Mothers Finest Farms - Samantha Foxx Rise and Root Farm - Karen Washington Soul Fire Farm

Deanwood Citizens Association WUR UGC Webinar Series GROWx Mediamatic MijnStadstuin

De Kas Karin Peters, WUR Auke Westerterp, WUR Carla Oonk, WUR

Our team

Gayathri Angou - Sustainable Engineering, Urban Planning

Stijn van den Berg - Agriculture, Natural Systems

Matias Cardoso - Architecture, Urban Design

Simon Drolsbach - Urban Planning, Human Geography

Mees Deknatel - Urban Planning, Human Geography

Kyra Koning - Sustainable Engineering, Energy systems

Beatrice Agnese Molteni - Urbanism, Social Planning

Jennifer Moore - Agriculture, Natural Systems

Sofia Valentini - Landscape Design, Architecture

Gabriel Aranda Morales - Architecture, Spatial Planning

Ludo van Muilekom - Industrial Design & Engineering

Julie Noorman - Urban Planning, Human Geography Jan-Joris van der Plas - Economics, Business Development Michiel van Selm - Economics, Business Development Wouter Stout - Spatial Planning, Sustainable Design

Ruben Smolders - Future Planning Studies

Roel Sipkema - Agriculture, Natural Systems