And Cool, Intelligent Farms, Right Under Our Feet …

Growing Underground aims to produce fresh produce with zero effect on the environment
Growing Underground aims to produce fresh produce with zero effect on the environment

The “world’s first underground urban farm” is set to start selling herbs and salads grown 33 m (108 ft) below the streets of London. Growing Underground is based in disused World War II tunnels. At less than two miles from the city-center, it promises farm-to-fork produce in less than four hours.

The tunnels were previously used as bomb shelters for Londoners during World War II
The tunnels were previously used as bomb shelters for Londoners during World War II

Growing Underground is the brainchild of West Country entrepreneurs Richard Ballard and Steven Dring and has been developed in partnership with Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux Jr. It was conceived as a means of producing local and environmentally-friendly high-quality produce, with the disused tunnels providing the ideal location.

Growing Underground farms in tunnels 33 m (108 ft) below the streets of London
Growing Underground farms in tunnels 33 m (108 ft) below the streets of London

The tunnels are located below London’s Northern Line underground rail link in the Clapham area of the city and were previously used as a bomb shelter for residents. The site currently being used was able to accommodate 8,000 people when needed. Now it provides a steady and controllable environment for Ballard and Dring to grow their crops.

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Growing Underground employs low energy lighting and irrigation systems
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Growing Underground employs a hydroponics system that uses 70 percent less water.

The location allows for all year round urban farming, as it’s unaffected by weather and seasonal changes. It is a pesticide-free environment and the hydroponics system employed is said to use 70 percent less water than traditional open-field farming. Likewise, the lighting and irrigation systems mean the crops can be grown with very little energy. What energy is used is sourced only from green suppliers.

 

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The entire farm was transformed; a fantastic catering van rolled into the yard with chefs preparing delicious food for the long day, our office metamorphosed into a lush pad for the client (Microsoft) and the loading bay became a makeup room slash edit room where they had the faces and shiny heads powdered.

LEARN MORE  Wow! Crops Can Surely Grow On Moon & Mars!

Check out the film below:

 

This feature originally appeared in GizMag.

 

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