Precedents Farming and Bio Remediation

8/2/2019 Precedents Farming and Bio Remediation

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Tory Brewster - February 20, 2012

URBAN FARMING INHAVANA, CUBA

From the time of the Cuban revolution in 1959until the fall of the Soviet Union, Cuba importedmost of its food, agricultural equipment, andother basic necessities from the USSR. In 1989,the Soviets ceased providing Cuba with supplies,causing a devastating crisis in the country. Therewas not enough food to support the population,particularly in Havana where 1/5 of the countryspopulation lived. Individuals, with support fromthe government, began to create urban farms

within the city of Havana in order to support itsinhabitants. Since then the use of urban farmshas grown, and now most of the citys food isproduced within the city limits.

ARC 500 - CONNECTED URBANISMSTORY BREWSTER


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1820 1860 1959 1989 1991 1992 1994

Cuban agriculturedominated by sugarcane production

Cuba becomes worldslargest sugar exporter

RevolutionIntroduction of SocialismAgrarian Reforms: machinisation of theNational Agricultural sector, intensive useof agro-chemical productsHeavy dependence of Cubas food andagriculture industry on imports

100% of wheat, 90% of beans, 57%of all calories consumed

48% of fertilizer, 82% of pesticide97% of animal feeds

Beginning of the agricultural crisisImports dropped by between 50% and 80%

Beginning of the Periodico Especialen Tiempo de Paz - Special Period ina time of peace

After the crisis, Cuba lost more than75% of its import and export capac-ity

An estimated 67% reduction of food avail-ability due to the crisis and US Embargo

US EmbargoWith the stated purpose of maintainingsanctions on the Castro regime so long as itcontinues to refuse to move toward de-mocratizationa dn greater respect for humanrights (Cuban Democracy Act of 1992)

Russian Economic CrisisImports from Russia ceasedDrastic reduction in electric-ity generation, food storage



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Vacant lots like this (above)are turned into urban farmslike the one below

In the neighborhooddirectly to the east of

Havanas Plaza, oneof the densist areasin the city, there are

around ten farms.

Havana

Downtown

Havan

Havana, Cuba

Havana covers 721 km2,0.67% of the total area ofCuba

The city has about 2.2 millioninhabitants, or 20% of the totalpopulation of Cuba

The population density is 3,014persons/km2

From 1990 to 1994 an esti-

mated 25,000 people workedon about 1800 hectares of or-ganoponicos

The total area of Havana is 721km2, of which 299 km2 is usedfor agricultural production(41.5%), in which a very highdiversity of crops is produced

ARC 500 - CONNECTED UTORY BREWSTER


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Organoponicos de Alto Rendimiento

HuertosPopulares

Organoponicos

Autoconsumos Estatales

Huertos Intensivos

Autoconsumos EstatalesSize: 1 hectare or moreLocation: Peri-UrbanFarmers: Voluntary cultivations by workersUse of crops: Feed state workers, support daycarecenters, homes for the elderly, and facilities for newborns, surplus sold to workersYield in 2000: .6 kg/m2 per year

Organoponicos de Alto RendimientoSize: 1 hectare or moreLocation: Government allotted vacant urban sites,

not suitable for direct agriculture use, soiland containers for growing brought in

Farmers: Commercially viable work centers orcooperativesUse of crops: Produce for sale to the population andtourist sectorYield in 2000: 25 square meters per year

OrganoponicosSize: 2000 m2 to 5000m2Location: Vacant urban sites, not suitable for directagriculture use, require imported soil and containersFarmers: Groups of individuals formed into a collec-

tive.Institutional technical support and adviceUse of crops: Produce for trade and small-scaleconsumption by producersYield in 2000: 20 square meters per year

Huertos IntensivosSize: 1000 m2 to 3000 m2Location: Urban or peri-urban state owned or private

landFarmers: One person or family, several families orcooperativeUse of crops: Feed producers and for tradeYield in 2000: 8-12 square meters per year

Huertos Populares/PrivadosSize: Less than 1000 m2Location: Urban or peri-urban vacant lots, unexploited

area within educational or health facilities.State owned or private.Farmers: One person or familyUse of crops: To supply cultivator or familyYield in 2000: 8-12 square meters per year1 hectare

5000 m2

3000 m2

2000 m2

1000 m2



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Huertos Populares/Privados Huertos Populares Intensivos Organoponicos

ARC 500 - CONNECTED URBTORY BREWSTER


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Cassava Sweet Potato Beans

Shades plants below

Provides ground cover

Fixates soil withnitrogen

Common crops grown on urbanfarms in Havana

VegetablesCabbage, Carrot, Celery, Corn, Cucumber, Egg-plant, Garlic, Lettuce, Okra, Onion, Parsley,Pepper, Pumpkin, Red pepper, String bean,Tomato

Fruit cropsAvocado, Frying banana, Chiri Moya, Coconut,Guava, Lemon, Lime, Mamey, Mango, Orange,Papaya, Pineapple, Plantain, Sweetsop, Water-melon

CerealsRice

Herbs, spices and medicinal plantsAloe, Arrowroot, Balm, Basil, Chamomile, Dill,Eucalyptus, Fennel, Ginger, Indigo, Ivy, Jasmine,

LemongrassMacow, Mint, Passion flower, Pepper, Pepper-mint, Periwinkle, Poinsettia, Rue, Sage, Tama-rind, Water Willow Herb

Root cropsCassava, Potato, Sweet potatoes, Taro, Yams

LegumesPeanut, Bean, Pea

OthersSugar cane



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This 1-hectare farm featured rows and rows of raised beds built with recycledconcrete and rocks. The beds are filled with soil and amended with worm-compost that is made on site. The farm grows a wide range of fresh vegetablesyear round, including sweet peppers, tomatoes, greens, medicinal and culinaryherbs, cucumbers, eggplants and more.

Abilities

Relieves food insecurity inurban settingsProvides fresh, healthy food

to urban populations at afraction of the cost of su-permarketsCreates jobs and helps theeconomyEncourages community ac-tivities, creating a safe at-mosphere

Reduces energy and oilusage, pollution, and wasteoutput

Constraints

Scarcity of landScarcity of water

Quality of topsoilPlant disease and pestsTheft of produce

ARC 500 - CONNECTED URTORY BREWSTER


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BIOREMEDIATION

PHYTOREMEDIATION

CONSTRUCTEDWETLANDS


POLLUTION OF LAKE ONONDAGA


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REQUIREMENTS IN SOIL ANDGROUNDWATER

MICROBIAL POPULATION :Suitablekinds of organisms that can biode-grade all of the contaminantsWATER: 50% - 70% of the holding

capacity of the soilTEMPERATURE: Appropriate tem-peratures for microbial growth (0 -40 degrees C)NUTRIENTS: Nitrogen, phosphorus,sulfur, and other nutrients to sup-port good microbial growthOXYGEN : Enough to support aero-bic biodegradation (about 2%oxygen in the gas phase or.4mg/liter in the water)pH: 6.5 to 7.5

IF THESE ARE NOT PRESENT, THEMICROBES WILL GROW TOOSLOWLY, DIE, OR POSSIBLYCREATE MORE HARMFUL CHEMI-CALS


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PHYTOREMEDIATIONPhytoremediation is used for theremediation of metals, radio activesubstances, pesticides, explosives,fuels, volatile organic compounds(VOCs) and semi-volatile organiccompounds (SVOCs)

PHYTOEXTRACTION: Removal ofcontaminants from soils

PHYTODEGRADATION: Plant degra-dation of contaminants afteruptake

PHYTOACCUMULATION: Contami-

nant accumulation in above groundbiomass

RHIZOSPHERE DEGRADATION: en-hancement of rhizosphere micro-bial bioremediation

GROUNDWATER INTERCEPTION:Plants with large water require-ments reduce contaminated

groundwater movement

LIVING CAPS: Reduction of leach-ate in landfills


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PROSCleanCost effectiveNon-environmentally disruptiveCan remediate large areas of soilAesthetically pleasingLow maintenance

CONSOnly works as deep as roots canreachPlants affected by the harmfulchemicals must be properly dis-posed of in order to avoiddamage to the food chainRequires timeWorks best on lower concentra-

tions of contaminantDoes not work through winter

ALFALFA

HYBRID POPLAR

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE DUCKWEED

SUDAN GRASS RYE GRASS

BERMUDA GRASS ALPINE BLUEGRASS

WATER LILIES


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BEDFORD SITE1999 - 2002

Manufactured gas plant site with high con-tamination levels at 3 to 6 feet

Two different treatments are used: hybridpoplar/grass cover, and natural attenuation

Fertilization and irrigation used as needed

Soil from three depths are being analyzedfor contaminant concentration, microbialcharacteristics, and toxicity over the threeyear study

CONTAMINANT ANALYSIS (PAHS)


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CONTAMINANT ANALYSIS (PAHS)BEDFORD GREENHOUSE STUDY


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CONSTRUCTEDWETLANDSFOUR PARTS

Liner: Usually PVCDistribution media: Course rockthat spreads wastewater acrossthe width of the wetlandsPlants: Often cattails, bulrushes,reeds, sedgesUnder-drain system: Pipe at endof drainfield



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PROSEcologically soundEasy to maintainCan tolerate different water levelsAesthetically pleasing and providesa habitat for wildlifeCan work in winter with thicker in-

sulation (extra bed depth or sur-face insulation)

CONSThe long-term effectiveness ofconstructed wetlands is not wellknownExpensiveColder conditions slow the rate atwhich the wetland is able breakdown contaminantsA heavy flow of incoming watercan overload the removal mecha-nisms in a wetland, while a dryspell can damage plants and se-verely limit wetland function



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SYRACUSE FARMS

Outside of the city ofSyracuse there is anabundance of farms thatcan be used to supplyfood to the city

Often the crops are sentacross the country, in-stead of being kept withinthe region they were

grown in

Farms in the Syracusearea often have majorroads into the city nearby

Farm

Other

Grocery

Farmers market


Urban

Farm land

Major road


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SYRACUSE INNERHARBOR EXISTINGCONDITIONS

SOIL TYPEUrban: Dense, high in clay,contains metals, mostlikely petroleum, harmfulchemicals, etc.

WATER QUALITY

Poor: As a result of thecontaminated beds, andpresence of harmful sub-stances such as mercury,the water is still unsafefor human consumption


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Constructed wetlands

Phytoremediation/bioremediation

Cap soil and use immediately

SITE REMEDIATION

Constructed wetlandsalong waters edge cleanthe water as well as the

soil they are planted in

Further inland, plants canbe used for phytoremedia-tion in areas where thesoil contamination has notexceeded the plants root

depth

Plantings can be combinedwith capped areas of land,which can then have newsoil placed on top ofthem, or they can be usedto build on.


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Sources

CPULs - Urban Agriculture in Havana Opportunities for the Future, Jorge Pena Diaz and Prof. Phil Ha

http://www.cityfarmer.org/cuba.html

http://www.cityfarmer.info/category/cuba/

http://www.cityfarmer.info/2009/08/23/200-urban-farms-in-havana/

http://bss.sfsu.edu/raquelrp/pub/2000_aug_pub.html

Chaplowe, Scott G. "Havana's Popular Gardens: Sustainable Prospects for Urban Agriculture." The Enmentalist 18 (1998): 47-57. Print.

Novo, Mario G., and Catherine Murphy. URBAN AGRICULTURE IN THE CITY OF HAVANA: A POPULAR RSPONSE TO A CRISIS. Case Study. 1998. Print.

http://www.pollutionissues.com/A-Bo/Bioremediation.html#b

http://biotechpedia.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/bioremediation/

http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/phytoremediation/

http://www.epa.gov/oem/docs/oil/fss/fss02/schwabpresent.pdf

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/DD7671.html


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Precedents Farming and Bio Remediation