The VERT Garden

A new vertical garden design by Ontario College of Art and Design graduate Michael Tampilic is a perfect gardening design for those with small yards or growing spaces.

VERT is described as a rain terrace: a rainwater harvesting facility and a vertical garden.

In addition, it’s got some amazing things going for it.

• The VERT Garden supports good water conservation practices by harvesting rainwater.
• It creates a vertical, green, living wall in a backyard or patio.
• It expands space for gardening in small yards.
• It uses and beautifies unused areas.
• It reduces a home’s heat gain from the sun.
• It makes use of free water.
• Helps to reduce erosion.
• It decreases dependency on municipal water sources.

The design is simple, yet extraordinarily functional.

• The dimensions are 78″ H x 33″W x 10″ d.
• A tank, holding 250 liters, is located behind the wooden-framed unit. The tank dimensions are 60″H x 30″W x 8″ D.
• Wooden planter boxes are slotted between slats on the frame. Since there are a number of parallel slats running horizontally, the planter boxes can be placed anywhere along the horizontal.
• The entire frame can be loaded with planters.
• A cotton wick system, embedded in the frame, wicks water through capillary action from the tank to the plants as they need it.
• If needed, the system can be used inside instead of out.

Some nice features of the system:

• Brackets. To attach the VERT Garden to an outside wall of the house (or other structure).
• Filter Box. This connects to the downspout to feed the tank and direct overflow. It also contains a micron mesh to keep debris, mosquito and other larvae from entering the tank.
• Cedar frame and planter boxes. Cedar is resistant to pests and rot, and gains character as the wood weathers.

Although the prototype water tank is made from polyethylene, it can be constructed from any recycled material.

The designer, Michael Tampilic, holds a degree in Industrial Design from Ontario College of Art and Design, and a bachelor of mathematics from the University of Waterloo, Ontario.

‚”The VERT is a prototype for my project targeting suburban homes in Toronto,” says Tampilic. ‚”I believe that its design, the plants used, and the materials used to build it will depend greatly on where it will be used. I want to make this product as sustainable as possible, and that includes using local materials. I want to develop these types of systems that will work in different parts of the world.”

He adds, ‚”I see this stage of VERT as just the beginning, and I’m excited about pushing it further. At this time it is not ready for production, and as such I can’t quite answer questions about cost, assembly and other such inquiries.”