Saturday, June 12, 2010

Wooly Pockets Vertical Garden System

by Paul McGinniss

I've been feeling a bit guilty about the lack of posts recently. Between my monthly columns at New York House, several book and media projects and, well, life in general, I've had a hard time this past month getting more posts out on this blog. So in lieu of an article, I found a great video on the McGraw Hill Construction Video Library. It's about a company called Woolly Pockets Garden Company which partnered with The New York Restoration Project to construct a planted wall in Manhattan's Union Square.

The temporary garden wall was done to celebrate the recent 40th anniversary of Earth Day. This living wall is gone already, but I thought anyone loving New York City or wanting to grow a garden might want to see how the recent installation was done. The Wooly Pockets growing system is a clever way to create vertical urban gardens. I can imagine them in country settings too - where they'd be great "walls" on the side of a yard or patio area. The Wooly Pockets are made out of recycled PET plastic so they're green in more ways than one. Check out the video below.

4 comments:

  1. The Wooley Pockets system looks great, and plants are a welcome addition to most living spaces. However, as with any ecosystem there are elements which are beneficial to some, while possibly detrimental to others. Fungus and bacteria in the soils are essential for root systems and healthy plant growth. But soils not tended properly may become a reservoir for molds and bacteria (and viruses)which may be unhealthy for those having accute sensitivities to aeroallergens or who are immuno-compromised. Also, large quantities of soils in enclosed environments, such as sealed apartments may result in mold spores, plant pollens, fungus fragments, and bacteria being drawn into HVAC systems, leading to aeroallergen infestation of ductwork and humidifying equipment. Selecting the appropriate plants which are nontoxic to children & pets is also something to consider. Finally, keep an eye on your potting soils, as there are other critters in the food web who may be happy to be there, but not make you happy to know they are there. However, this shouldn't discourage the use of plant growing systems such as Wooley Pockets, just make sure you understand all of the characteristics of your "urban jungle" and tend your garden appropriately.

    Brian

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  2. Hi Brian!
    Thanks so much for the excellent advice. There's a cliche that says "It's Easy Being Green" but in reality nothing thoughtful and worth pursuing is easy without effort and good planning. I like the Wooly Pockets even for outdoor "walls" where all the complications of indoor growing are less problematic. I love your thought of us all "tending our gardens approprately"!. Words of wisdom indeed.
    Paul

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  3. the use of this "news item " as a marketing tool is way too blatant to have any value to even watch. shame on them for charging for recycled plastic bags 39 buck s each as a minimum.

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  4. Hi Docz

    I am sorry you feel this way. This post was not done as a marketing tool for the product but to show people one of many possible ways to grow plants in a vertical garden. Wooly Pockets are made from recycled Plastic Bottles. Granted, they might be a tad on the expensive side but with clever DIY thinking one might come up with a more affordable solution by seeing this product as well as all the other alternatives coming to market.
    Paul

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