Everything Grows works towards achieving food security for urban communities by creating a self-sustaining modular food production system.

Everything Grows is an innovative project aimed at addressing the challenges of food security, urban food production, waste management, and cultural integration. NurtureStructure’s prototype of a self-sustaining modular food-production system is designed to be easily integrated into any estate or urban community with limited space.

By transforming building waste, household food waste, and rainwater into valuable resources, Everything Grows empowers individuals and communities to reimagine their surroundings and work together to improve their lives. The project is funded by a grant from the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) to teach green skills to the next generation and improve food security and quality of life for under-served communities.

Below are four ways in which Everything Grows can revolutionize urban food production and effectively work towards achieving sustainable food security for under-served communities.

1. Space-Saving and Sustainable Design

One of the most significant factors in food security and obstacles to urban food production is limited space and restrictions on land use. Everything Grows addresses this issue by utilizing a vertical garden design installed on stakes, eliminating the need for drilling into walls or digging into shared spaces. This space-saving approach enables communities to grow their own food even in densely populated areas where traditional horizontal gardening might not be feasible.

2. Waste Management and Resource Efficiency

The Everything Grows project focuses on turning waste into valuable resources, empowering communities to see their existing assets in a new light. Building waste is repurposed for the construction of the modular garden, while household food waste is converted into nutrient-rich compost to feed the plants. Rainwater is collected and used as a sustainable watering source, reducing the need for external water supplies. By utilizing waste materials and natural resources, Everything Grows fosters a closed-loop system that minimizes environmental impact and promotes a circular economy.

3. Community Empowerment and Skill Development

Partnering with a housing estate situated in a rapidly gentrifying area at risk of becoming a food desert, Everything Grows aims to provide the community with the means to grow their own culturally specific food. This empowers residents to take control of their food security while also fostering the development of new skills. Through workshops and hands-on learning experiences, community members of all ages will learn how to use food waste, available spaces, materials, and natural resources in creative ways to enhance their lives.

4. Fostering Cultural Exchange and Understanding

The Everything Grows project emphasizes the importance of growing food used in traditional cultural dishes. This focus not only addresses food security concerns but also serves as a catalyst for sharing and understanding different cultures through the universal language of food. By bringing together members of a multicultural, multigenerational community, the project encourages cultural exchange and fosters a sense of unity through shared experiences in gardening and cooking.

Everything Grows is a pioneering project with the potential to revolutionize urban food production and waste management while fostering community engagement, skill development, and cultural understanding. By adopting a permaculture-based design approach and transforming waste into valuable resources, this self-sustaining modular food-production system empowers urban communities to overcome perceived limitations and create a more sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant future.

Want to increase food security in your community by reusing existing assets in a sustainable way?

Everything Grows is enabled by a RSA Catalyst Grant to teach green skills to the next generation and improve food security and quality of life for under-served communities.

Research References

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