Sprout: Regenerative Garden
In July 2023, DesignWith hosted a 2 week design competition with multidisciplinary OCADU students. The challenge was to utilize expired Air Canada children lifejackets to transform them into an innovative product that tackles social impact. Emilia, William, and I, deeply moved by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, felt compelled to develop solutions that were lightweight, cost-effective, and capable of mass production to make a substantial difference. With materials generously provided by Viking Materials, we set out to create a transformative concept: a flat-packable portable garden was born. "Sprout" was envisioned as a versatile solution for emergency situations, including natural disasters, conflicts, and potential apocalyptic scenarios. By repurposing the lifejackets, we aimed to address both the immediate need for sustenance and the long-term goal of fostering resilience in affected communities.
Sprout includes vegetable seeds, 8 substrate pockets, and essential supplies like a first aid kit or tetra packed food. It empowers individuals to grow quick crops for nutrition, with microgreens ready in 6-8 days, packed with rich nutrients. Its compact, modular design allows for easy assembly in diverse environments, fostering self-reliance and agency amidst adversity through skill sharing and education.
Our project showcased the potency of design thinking in addressing intricate social issues. Through innovative material repurposing and a focus on practicality and scalability, we aimed to significantly impact global humanitarian endeavors while offering a regenerative educational tool.
Sprout was awarded the social innovation award by the public at the DesignWith Renew Reuse Exhibit located at the CF Eaton Centre.
The design philosophy behind Sprout was centered on simplicity, accessibility, and education, with a focus on fostering integrity within communities. Sprout was meticulously equipped with features to support this mission:
Simplicity: Sprout was designed to be user-friendly, ensuring that individuals could quickly grasp the basics of gardening and food cultivation. The inclusion of seeds, growing substrate pockets, and essential supplies like a first aid kit or tetra packed food simplified the process of starting a garden and provided immediate resources for nurturing plants.
Accessibility: Sprout was designed with accessibility in mind, both in terms of ease of use and affordability. Its inclusive design made it accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of prior gardening experience or resources available. This accessibility was crucial for empowering communities to take ownership of their food production and nutritional needs.
Education: Sprout served as an educational tool, empowering individuals and communities with the knowledge and skills to grow their own food sustainably. Through skill-sharing and education, Sprout encouraged the adoption of sustainable practices and empowered people to take control of their food sources, ultimately promoting food security and empowerment in the face of adversity.
By prioritizing education and integrity within communities, Sprout not only provided immediate nourishment but also fostered long-term resilience and self-reliance.
Process Work
Did you know?
Microgreens thrive in any season and require minimal maintenance, yet they boast incredible nutrient density. Cultivating microgreens at home is not only eco-friendly but also a regenerative practice, offering control over the growing process and reducing carbon emissions associated with transportation and packaging.
Home Self-Watering Sprout'd Introducing Sprout'd, the latest addition to the Sprout line. Sprout'd revolutionizes the way you grow microgreens with its innovative, self-watering terracotta pot, handcrafted for optimal growth and sustainability. Unlike ready-to-eat microgreens that wilt within a week and come in plastic packaging, Sprout'd offers an eco-friendly solution with infinite shelf life.
Our packaging is made with:
100% recyclable seed paper, which can be planted with soil to grow a variety of microgreens when you run out of the seed pack.
Regenerative terracotta derived from natural clay and minerals.
Organic variety pack of seeds.
Willem Tauveron (left) Lotus Tsang (middle), Emilia Nahdee (right)