Technology in the Garden: Dream or Disaster?
By Andrea Peck
Most of us take a visit into the garden and want to leave our technology behind. There is nothing more disruptive than to be knee deep in worm-furrowed dirt, nails filthy, and hear the phone ring. Or a text ping. But, what if the technology were able to assist you in your gardening-- or, even better, bring the garden indoors?
Well, technology has finally hit the gardening aisle and you know what that means--there's no going back. There are now computerized plant sensors which offer a host of data-driven information about your own garden Powered by the sun, some sensors are able to monitor your soil conditions, check moisture levels, and measure light frequency. The information is sent to an app on your phone. Some of these apps incorporate weather forecasts and conditions, thereby allowing you to monitor and adjust your irrigation schedule from anywhere.
Other systems operate with a battery-- which is useful for indoor plants or those who live in Alaska. This one acts like a nurse as it takes and records ambient temperature and hydration, as well as diagnosing overall plant health. They are capable to the point of checking your green darling's nutrient levels. Hard, cold facts about your plant--and veiled insinuations about your gardening prowess--are provided, again through various apps.
In addition, these systems offer an online index of thousands of plants, along with their individual growing requirements, and environmental conditions that best suit them. It's like a whole world of information at your fingertips.
If Smartphones and apps are old hat to you, then you may be ready for the big guns--combining systems and creating a central control. From irrigation to attractive outdoor lighting, you can have all of your technology work together like a rock star's entourage. If this doesn't quickly land you into Category Joneses, I don't know what will. Imagine fanning yourself on a tropical beach while monitoring your petunias--assisted by minute-by-minute weather updates. It's a dream and it's now possible.
As I read about the amazing advances (and they are amazing) of internet-based, app-involved garden tools, I can't help but feel a bit patronized. Perhaps it was that moment when I happened on the topic of watering--my personal downfall--that I felt the tug at my confidence. It didn't help that I was trying to type on the computer and negotiate an untoasted piece of bread with too much butter and jam on it without staining my clothing--a challenge for even the most dexterous. Watering, according to the article is difficult. Overwatering, underwatering; variables such as wind and heat and other nearby plants; dogs that prefer the hose. It goes on.
Nevertheless, as technically opposed as I am, I can definitely see a benefit to a watering control system that offers updated weather information. I mean, we've all seen massive water sprinklers going on in the pouring rain, right? Usually one sprinkler, the fiercest of them, is trained onto the street as well. Definitely something that would not likely happen if your Smartphone were in charge.
So, I continue reading on, just a cog inside my own technological world of Google.
It didn't take long to find another interesting permutation involving plants and gadgetry. This time, the item was a plant-based phone charger. Inherent in the design, of course, is the pot which connects a USB wire to an “underground” (within the pot) charging system composed of two small chambers of bacteria which produce electrons with the activating elements of water and photosynthesis. The electrons are collected into a small battery via a nanowire network. Now, I'll be honest about this--I have no idea how the electrons are collected. Maybe one of you out there knows about this process and can describe in layman's terms exactly what happens in this here. For now, I'll just call it plant voodoo.
This new system of charging your phone is pretty neat. It's definitely more attractive to look at a plant than a conventional phone charger. Of course, in my Dreamy Beach World, I'd rather leave my phone at home.
Particularly, when I'm out in the garden.