1.The designs must consider and incorporate the following criteria based on permaculture principles:

a.Catch and Store Energy: Design a system to efficiently capture and direct water, nutrients, and sunlight so they are available when and where they are needed. As the earth’s resources diminish, it is incumbent on us to develop systems that naturally cycle water and nutrients to produce healthy crops.Self-watering systems have particular challenges because of the “wash out” of nutrients with heavy rain events or overwatering.

b.Creatively Use and Respond to Change:Develop a modular design that adjusts to the needs of the grower, space constraints, and requirements of different crops. Tight growing spaces, limited sunlight and degraded soils can undermine the urban gardener’s efforts along with climate change and a shorter growing season.

c.Obtain a Yield: Design your system to deliver multiple yields.For example, your design will be used for food production, but it can also improve soil health, provide an inviting habitat for beneficial insects and extend the growing season.The modular system may be multi-level to shade early season crops, or enrich soils with mushroom production.

2.Additional criteria will be considered:

a.Experimental approaches.

b.Aesthetically pleasing.

c.Accessibility for harvest.

d.Use of recycled or repurposed materials to build and shape the growing system.

e.Incorporation of plant guilds. A guild is a community of plants selected to enhance overall plant heath. The three sister’s polyculture of corn, beans and squash is an example. Guilds may also include pest repellent plants such as marigolds, nasturtium or oregano and pollinator plants such as wildflowers and herbs.

f.Performing Multiple Functions.Your system should perform more than one function. For example, a trellis system may support vines as well as collect and disperse water.

g. Moderating the impact of climate change: We see the impacts of rapid swings in moisture and temperature levels. This year we had a late spring, a cool, dry summer, and sporadic, heavy rainfall. These conditions cause plant stress and affect productivity.

For more information regarding Permaculture design principles, we recommend David Holmgren’s book:Permaculture:Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability. (Holmgren Design Services, Victoria, AU: 2002)

Construction Criteria

1. Assembly: Designs must be practical and easily built by the participants and gardeners not versed in construction.Allow for easy disassembly.
2. Durability: The structures should be designed to last at least 15 years outside in cold climates.
3. Size: The design footprints should be 40 sq ft or less.
4. Pricing: Material costs should be less than $300.

Design Submission Guidelines

All Submissions must include:

1.Presentation Board: 2’ wide x 3’ tall, including title, story, and annotated drawing of the model. The story of your submission should explain:

a. How your design evolved

b. What problems you were trying to solve

c. Permaculture principles you were experimenting with (from section 1)

d. Design features you incorporated (from section 2)

2.Model:3”=1’ scale

3. Construction Budget (listing all materials and prices)

4. Biography of the team member(s)

The top designs will be selected for display at an Exhibition and Awards Reception where the winner will be announced. The winning design will be awarded $500 toward materials and implementation of the growing system at Gale Woods Farm Park, part of the Three Rivers Park District, and a one-year membership in PRI. In addition, PRI will work with the designers to create opportunities for selling their designs. PRI reserves the right to display the models and presentation boards for up to 6 months after the exhibition.
Fees & Registration

Click HERE to Register!

In order to register in the competition, please submit the registration form along with a $10.00 registration fee payable to PRI Cold Climate by Friday, January 6, 2012. Registrations can be purchased online or mailed to:

PRI Cold Climate
@ Intermedia Arts
2822 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408

 

For Additional Information
If you have additional questions, please contact Karen Graham at 763.551.9572 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .