Feb. 24, 2015 | By Kira

Today marks the launch of the Food Rising Mini-Farm Grow Box, a non-electric, open-source food production system that will be distributed to 250 elementary schools across America, with the potential to revolutionize how we grow and consume fresh produce.

Created by Texas-based inventor Mike Adams, a consumer health advocate and activist also known as the ‘Health Ranger,’ the Mini-Farm Grow Box can grow highly nutritious yet low-cost food in a self-watering system that doesn’t use any electricity. It’s a technological and ecological breakthrough, especially for a nation that is notorious for highly processed, chemically treated fast food and an epidemic of obesity among both children and adults.

The Mini-Farm Grow Box includes the following features:

  • 100% EMP-proof, using no circuit boards
  • 100% non-electric
  • Key parts for the system can be easily scavenged almost anywhere (including first-world nations, post-disaster scenarios or survival situations)
  • Eliminates weeding
  • Contains no complex moving parts such as motors, pumps or gears
  • Grows food in less than half the space of soil agriculture
  • Uses about 1/20 the water of conventional soil agriculture
  • Produces highly nutritious food with higher mineral density
  • Can grow vegetables, fruits, herbs and even root vegetables (with an adaptation to be released later)

You’d think that such a revolutionary product would require a great amount of technical skill or expensive materials to mass produce and sell to the mainstream market, however one of the greatest aspects of the Food Rising boxes is that they are almost entirely constructed common tools and parts, and inexpensive 3D printing technology.

In fact, the key component of the system, the automatic water-leveling float valve, was 3D designed and printed and makes use of common objects you probably already have lying around the house, include a pencil eraser, a paper clip, a garden hose washer and a common vitamin bottle.

The 3D parts engineering was powered by SolidWorks software and the parts themselves were designed to be printed on FlashForge 3D printers, however they can be printed on almost any 3D printer that is compatible with “t-glase,” a filament made partially out of recycled water bottles and milk jugs (bonus points for using recycled materials and contributing to further sustainability.) In addition, because the Health Ranger designed this project to be completely open-source, all 3D models will be released for free on the Food Rising website so that anyone interested can modify and print one at home. The website also features free DIY videos to teach users how to build their own systems from scratch.

Type A Machines Series 1 3D printer with a 20-lb. production spool of t-glase clear filament on top

an Ultimaker 2, churning out parts for the upcoming donations

Currently, the Health Ranger is raising funds to donate 250 of these grow systems to schools across America in order to teach children in a hands-on and effective way about the ecological and health-related benefits of growing sustainable, natural, non-processed food. Funds have already been acquired for 231 of these systems, thanks to major sponsors Living Fuel, who has pledged funding to support 100 grow boxes, and Boku Superfood, who has pledged 20% of all of its online sales through the end of February, 2015. Additional sponsors include Organic Lifestyle Magazine, LuvByNature, and several independent donators.

In addition to coming up with this breakthrough concept, Adams is the founder and editor of NaturalNews and has created CounterThink, FoodInvestigations, and several other natural health-related websites. Clearly, he is passionate about improving the quality of life for people around the world by not only teaching them how to eat healthier, more natural foods, but to do so in a sustainable, earth-friendly manner.

the Health Ranger showing a collection of 3D printed parts

Green beans sprouting in the middle of February in Texas. More photos are available at NaturalNews or FoodRising.org

To contribute to the cause and help the Health Ranger reach his goal of donating grow systems to 250 schools, you can either purchase products from Boku Superfood, or make a direct donation to the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center.

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Applicatons

 

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fawaz wrote at 8/5/2015 12:17:23 AM:

I would like to say thanks for making the 3D printed floating valve available, at least you started to think out of the box. The rest of the world? go lined up to order whatever exist in the market!

Codemite wrote at 2/25/2015 7:08:59 AM:

Really? EMP proof? Is there some kind of new threat where EMP resistance is now a primary marketing ploy? Revolutionary? This is just as frigging float valve and hydroponics in Rubbermaid containers. It's Feel good about yourself by making the world a better place drivel.

PinkAsso wrote at 2/25/2015 12:26:46 AM:

he should have made molds and just vacuum form formed them from sheets.



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