Hyperaccumulating plants are those that adapt to polluted environments well enough to thrive. Although they are considered biopollutants, they adapt well to the Anthropocene age and fight pollution as they accumulate and break down contaminants like heavy metals, diesel, nitrates, etc, that would otherwise harm species, creating a fast-growing biomass to be utilised for compost, research and fields like phytomining. Instead of scrapping them, through creative solutions, we can instead use their healing properties to try and restore ecosystems. i.e., fight pollution with biopollution. Boat BioLogs are bioremediating floating gardens that incorporate such hyperaccumulating UK-native plants that can be made and installed by canal boat residents using materials and techniques that are affordable and easily accessible to them.
A canal boat occupied by a single resident in the UK, on average, releases 20,800 litres of greywater annually. This call to action automatically strategizes, targets and converts this source of water pollution into a solution. My vision is for every canal boat to have its own personal bioremediating floating gardens so that when enough boats have it installed, it would then collectively improve the quality of canal waters.
In collaboration with the London boat community, I established a DIY strategy to make the gardens adaptable and affordable, so it aligns with their self-sufficient lifestyle. Boaters can customise the size and placement of the garden according to their boat's design and structure. These urban gardens use biodegradable, long-lasting, rust and corrosion resistant materials that do not react to sunlight (or if they do, are well-insulated). These materials and parts involved can easily be sourced from local hardware stores or online. By scanning the QR code on an already installed garden, boaters can download the app designed as part of the project. Referring to the app, boaters can source the necessary parts and follow the guide to build Boat BioLogs. This app also categorises plants according to their purpose, season, maintenance and lists steps needed to ensure they do not harm existing ecosystems. The user then installs the same QR code they had scanned resulting in a ripple effect to collectively improve the quality of canal water.
By identifying dead space, I was able to design Boat BioLogs to fit in narrow spaces; these are only slightly wider than a boat fender. Despite lacking space, it promises boaters the luxury of private gardens without any structural alterations to their boat and hence it motivates them to install them. Furthermore, being a natural regenerative tool, it celebrates the healing properties of nature and incentivises dialogue and a sense of environmental responsibility amongst the community.
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