| CPC A01G 31/06 (2013.01) | 16 Claims |
|
1. A vertical farming system, comprising:
a vertical column comprising a plurality of growth modules that are stacked over and connected to each other in a vertical direction and configured to grow plants in the vertical direction;
a base positioned below the vertical column and configured to receive a reservoir comprising an agricultural medium and a pump, wherein the pump is fluidly connected to a top of the vertical column and is configured to circulate the agricultural medium from the reservoir to the top of the vertical column;
a perforated hose extending from the base to the vertical column in the vertical direction and configured as a conduit for the agricultural medium to flow upward and cascade over roots of the plants; and
an outer support structure surrounding the vertical farming system;
wherein:
each growth module comprises a plastic pocket with a hole,
at least one portion of the plastic pocket comprises a membrane permeable to water vapor and impermeable to liquid water, and
the membrane consists of an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein the outer layer consists of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and the inner layer consists of collagen or a silica sol gel wherein the outer layer faces away from the vertical column and the inner layer faces towards the vertical column, wherein the inner layer is adjacent the outer layer and the inner layer being a continuous layer having a thickness of 50-250 μm,
wherein the outer layer and the inner layer are configured for a plant root to grow through the inner layer and pores of the outer layer and extend outside the membrane for air exposure.
|