Earth Day Gazebo & Community Gardxden
People are so disconnected from their food since most people get all of it from the grocery store and restaurants. I wanted to offer an interactive and functional art piece allowing the parkgoers to slow down and connect with the earth. With my sculpture they can grow food using a solar-powered rainwater collection and come back to tend to it and eat it inside the gazebo when it is grown, it would be a community garden that all parkgoers can contribute to and benefit from. There is a sense of pride and accomplishment when we grow our own food, there is also a sense of community not just with those contributing but also with the earth itself. This sculpture is Designed to be installed at Pyrimid Hill Sculpture Park for their Earth Day Event.
Logistics
I have chosen to use solar power, collect rainwater, and use reclaimed wood to lessen the impact of this sculpture on the environment. This sculpture won't use and waste excess water or power, it will only use what naturally comes from the earth. I would build a base out of wood or concrete and then attach the support pillars. Then use thinner planks to create the roof, and make and attach wooden gutters. I would need to spray the wood with a water treatment so it can withstand being outside, and spray the wooden gutters with a water-repelling coating or insert tubing. The next thing would be to make planters and set them beside the gazebo, and purchase items for a water filtration system--aluminum barrels, piping, a pump, and hoses. The pump would go inside of the barrels on a timer or sensor, and the hosing would attach to barrel and then put on top of planted beds. The hoses should have small holes along the side--big enough to let water out but not too big to maintain pressure. when beds are being planted or if plants are not there wind up the hose and place it on top of the barrel and disable the pump. I would also like to install a tap onto one of the barrels to was fresh picked food
Water filtration systems range from $2,000 to $5,000 so the cost to make one ourselves would be similar, plus the miscellaneous materials like the spray coatings and nails, plus the wood (which is preferably salvaged or from Pyramid Hill) solar panels are about $100 each but they are bigger than the ones I have shown so I will only need one for each side ~ $600-$1800, plus the labor for everyone involved(5 people taking a week $15/hr. = $2,700)
$5,000 +$1,800 +$2,700 = $9,500 + misc. costs and tax = $10,000