Gardening++

[mozfest-bot]

[ UUID ] c313d5e3-2d1c-4f02-a8ce-7f5679af62ba

[ Session Name ] Gardening++ [ Primary Space ] Digital Inclusion [ Secondary Space ] Youth Zone

[ Submitter's Name ] Geoffrey McIntyre [ Submitter's Affiliated Organisation ] The Urban Farming Guys [ Submitter's GitHub ] Macgeoffrey

[ Other Facilitator 1's Name ] Daniel Green [ Other Facilitator 1's GitHub ] @dangjavageek

What will happen in your session?

I would like to show how micro-controllers, such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi, can be used to augment gardening by using smart sensors and IoT. I have multiple devices capable of User Interfaces, Remote Monitoring, Internet Connectivity, as well as Google Sheets Databasing. These devices will be setup in various plants for people to view, and it is meant to inspire and inform people about smart gardening. Each of these devices will have an explanation beside it with more information on the project, as well as where to find the open source project files for each one.

What is the goal or outcome of your session?

I want to inspire and educate people. I would like for people to view my open source tech and replicate it in their own gardens. I'd really like to show how science and technology can make gardening easy and more importantly, fun!

If your session requires additional materials or electronic equipment, please outline your needs.

I would need a live plant, maybe a small fern, something that my equipment can monitor. I'd also need access to a wifi network, and power outlets. I can't think of anything else I would need off the top of my head, so that should be it.

Time needed

All weekend, as an installation, exhibit or drop-in session

[chadsansing]

@Macgeoffrey, are there hands-on opportunities for interacting with sensors, the plant, or its data in this session?

[FacioErgoSum]

Yes. Some of the sensors are hands on, and the documentation/materials explaining each thing are meant to be interactive. Here's a video of something I did that I will probably feature in the session: https://youtu.be/BdaTOp6ieVo

That project specifically is more of a fun gimmick, but I also have other things, such as an Arduino mega that records a bunch of data to the web, and I also have a couple other things, such as a raspberry pi zero w that is completely headless and uses Google APIs to record data in real time to a spreadsheet.

On Mon, Jul 30, 2018, 5:37 AM Chad Sansing notifications@github.com wrote:

@Macgeoffrey https://github.com/Macgeoffrey, are there hands-on opportunities for interacting with sensors, the plant, or its data in this session?

— You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/MozillaFestival/mozfest-program-2018/issues/264#issuecomment-408819294, or mute the thread https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AUDIfbLgewpXDDaKQKgy6n_mmCRUD0K4ks5uLuHMgaJpZM4VlPdw .

[chadsansing]

Thanks for the video share and additional information, @Macgeoffrey - great video. Will participants build or code any of the sensors or use the data somehow in activities, or do the interactive parts of the documentation/materials have them doing or making something?

[FacioErgoSum]

I don't currently have any plans for people actually building things themselves. I had a couple ideas for maybe some basic soldering, so people could make their own A.P.E.X. since he's easy to make, but i don't think it would work out since it would require more than one person and then there's soldering involved. Yay, sharp hot metal! I guess what I mean is, it's definitely possible but it wasn't in my original idea

On Tue, Jul 31, 2018, 5:31 AM Chad Sansing notifications@github.com wrote:

Thanks for the video share and additional information, @Macgeoffrey https://github.com/Macgeoffrey. Will participants build or code any of the sensors or use the data somehow in activities, or do the interactive parts of the documentation/materials have them doing or making something?

— You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/MozillaFestival/mozfest-program-2018/issues/264#issuecomment-409174201, or mute the thread https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AUDIfbBgMoaDBgOkub5MqSo_SDnLKJ6pks5uMDH9gaJpZM4VlPdw .

[chadsansing]

@Macgeoffrey, I'd agree that soldering might not be great for the space, but maybe editing some code or something to create different or more responses to moisture levels, etc. "How might the session give participant the feeling of doing some of this work?", is the question, I think.

[FacioErgoSum]

Yes, that's quite possible. I could easily attach some buttons/dials where people could turn them or push them and change how the sensors are reading. I could also have one of the sensors hooked up to a computer for people to view and interact with the code

On Tue, Jul 31, 2018, 7:42 AM Chad Sansing notifications@github.com wrote:

@Macgeoffrey https://github.com/Macgeoffrey, I'd agree that soldering might not be great for the space, but maybe editing some code or something to create different or more responses to moisture levels, etc. "How might the session give participant the feeling of doing some of this work?", is the question, I think.

— You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/MozillaFestival/mozfest-program-2018/issues/264#issuecomment-409207040, or mute the thread https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AUDIfe0PS7t1i2GWURAq1da4q-hEGsJfks5uMFDCgaJpZM4VlPdw .

[chadsansing]

Something like that to link cause & effect with the physical computing parts of the project might really drive home for participants how the code and hardware interact with the real world - gardening seems like a great medium for teaching this.

[FacioErgoSum]

I agree! And definitely, one thing that's possible is people can water the plants and stuff too to see the sensor values change, maybe I could even have different soil moisture levels and they could test each one with the sensors

On Tue, Jul 31, 2018, 7:47 AM Chad Sansing notifications@github.com wrote:

Something like that to link cause & effect with the physical computing parts of the project might really drive home for participants how the code interacts with the real world - gardening seems like a great medium for teaching this.

— You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/MozillaFestival/mozfest-program-2018/issues/264#issuecomment-409208282, or mute the thread https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AUDIfc9eSnO0lsJNuZyYoJ-4FAlGvqc7ks5uMFHEgaJpZM4VlPdw .

[chadsansing]

I appreciate all the thinking about interactions like these.

[FacioErgoSum]

No problem! Thank you for mentioning it, the idea had slipped my mind but I think interaction is such a big part of learning, I definitely need to include it in some way

On Tue, Jul 31, 2018, 7:52 AM Chad Sansing notifications@github.com wrote:

I appreciate all the thinking about interactions like these.

— You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/MozillaFestival/mozfest-program-2018/issues/264#issuecomment-409209807, or mute the thread https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AUDIfZz3ZNCminfjKW1W6HOeQ6tMS0U8ks5uMFMOgaJpZM4VlPdw .

[FacioErgoSum]

Hey there! I'd like to revise some of the information submitted. Jason, the founder of the Urban Farming Guys is hoping to join me on this trip. The Urban Farming Guys are a non-profit based around teaching people how to grow their own food using open source solutions. This non-profit has funded many of my projects that will be on display during this session. UFG has also been sponsored by the Mozilla Gigabit foundation, which went into building an open source aquaponics greenhouse. Jason is hoping for a stipend to cover his plane flight if possible.

[jontutcher]

Hey @Macgeoffrey (and cc @chadsansing). I'm one of the 'space wranglers' for the digital inclusion zone. This looks like a really fun installation! What made you submit to the DI zone? It'd be know a bit about the background for the project and what you think ties it to the digital inclusion theme.

Don't worry about writing loads - i'm aware we all have loads of questions at the moment!

[FacioErgoSum]

No worries, and great question! So to elaborate on why I chose Digital Inclusion. My session is all about plants, and more specifically food. I believe that everyone in the world should have access to food, and one of the best ways to do that is to teach people how to grow their own. My tech is all open source and is low cost. The goal of the technology is to provide smart gardening and green house solutions to people from all social and economic backgrounds. I believe providing open source instructions for these low cost projects is a great way to include everyone in the smart gardening revolution! Hopefully that answers your question :)

On Sun, Aug 5, 2018, 10:47 AM Jon Tutcher notifications@github.com wrote:

Hey @Macgeoffrey https://github.com/Macgeoffrey (and cc @chadsansing https://github.com/chadsansing). I'm one of the 'space wranglers' for the digital inclusion zone. This looks like a really fun installation! What made you submit to the DI zone? It'd be know a bit about the background for the project and what you think ties it to the digital inclusion theme.

Don't worry about writing loads - i'm aware we all have loads of questions at the moment!

— You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/MozillaFestival/mozfest-program-2018/issues/264#issuecomment-410528879, or mute the thread https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AUDIfeyA7rzxhVu_CmJS1fFMJCKaw_Bwks5uNxOvgaJpZM4VlPdw .

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