Adan
 Garcia‐Bugarin






The
 exploration
 of


{Human
(Human
*
Artifact) }
relationships;


Addressing
 present
 day 
dilemmas
 in
 the 
realm 
of:

Permaculture,
conservation,
urbanity,
business,
identity, 
resource
 management,

entrepreneurial
ship,
 and community.



Thesis Statement:

In trying to define a suitable space for design practice and permaculture I have found my interest within the development of artifacts and environments that promote conservation and optimal utilization of resources and energy in urban crop growing.
I aim to construct a set of planters that incorporate elements such as irrigation, containment, temperature sensors, extraordinary materials, modularity and assembly, and in the long range, the development of an application (software) that complements the artifacts.

I hypothesize that if average users are given a modular design that contains features for caring and growing crops, that average users would find it more appealing. I am targeting users in urban environments where space limitations might be a factor, along with lifestyle and the desire to complement a healthy diet.
In my explorations I will utilize a green house space for experimentation and assembly, I will also prototype different container units for optimal crop variety according to a range of crops that is compatible with northern California weather and climate conditions. The wide range of micro-climates in the bay area provides a great opportunity to test sensors and adaptability.
The challenges are rooted in finding the best possible combination of product design materials. I want a design that incorporates minimal cost and that takes advantage of natural sources of energy such as gravity, solar, and wind.
Ultimately, I would like to develop a product that inspires users to grow a percentage of their food within their urban environments whether at home or in the public(non-profit) sector.

Mission Statement:

Designing permaculture systems that foster the best possible connection between people and the environment.







Works Cited

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Fleming, Charles. Secret Stairs: East Bay: a Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Berkeley and Oakland. Solana Beach, CA: Santa Monica, 2011. Print.

Fuller, R. Buckminster, and Jaime Snyder. Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth. Baden, Switzerland: Lars Müller, 2008. Print.

Fuller, R. Buckminster. Critical Path. New York: St. Martin's, 1981. Print.

Hofmann, Armin, and D. Q. Stephenson. Graphic Design Manual: Principles and Practice. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1965. Print.

Koberg, Don, and Jim Bagnall. The Universal Traveler. Los Altos, Ca.: Wm. Kaufmann, 1976. Print.

Landa, Robin. Graphic Design Solutions. Second ed. [South Africa]: OnWord, 2001. Print.

Leopold, Aldo, and Charles Walsh. Schwartz. A Sand County Almanac, and Sketches Here and There. New York: Oxford UP, 1987. Print.

Steingraber, Sandra. Living Downstream: an Ecologist Looks at Cancer and the Environment. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1997. Print.

Tocqueville, Alexis De, and J. P. Mayer. Democracy in America. New York: HarperPerennial Modern Classics, 2006. Print.

"The Vancouver Statement. On the Globalization and Industrialization of Agriculture." Genetically Engineered Food - Safety Problems. Web. 30 Aug. 2011. .

Wolf, Robin, and Tom Wolf. Rockridge. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub., 2007. Print.