Urban Gardening

Pushing heavy loads in a wheelbarrow may be easier than carrying them, but it can certainly still be a plenty difficult task. The eBarrow Kit was designed with that fact in mind, as it electrifies existing wheelbarrows.

The Nest House is a striking example of how contemporary architecture can blend with traditional elements to create an inspiring home. Elevated on diagonal x-shaped pillars, the concrete structure creates a nest-like home surrounded by lush gardens.

Not everyone has a green thumb, which is why we've seen a number of smart pots designed to make plant-care easier. One of the latest systems, known as Pico, consists of multiple mini-pots that can be electrically linked together.

It's always interesting to see how well fanciful renders translate into an actual project and the MVRDV-designed Seoullo 7017 Skygarden is no exception. Following the concept's unveiling a couple of years ago, the highway-turned-walkway/park has now opened to the public.

Few works of art are as beautiful as nature, so why not frame nature and hang it on your wall at home? That's the premise behind the Wall Garden, a new aeroponic planter that is designed to hang like a picture and grow herbs, flowers and vegetables.

Recently opened vertical farms from the likes of FarmedHere and AeroFarms allow produce to be grown more efficiently, transported shorter distances and arrive fresher in stores. A vertical farm in Germany, however, is going more local and fresher still, with produce actually being grown in-store.

Architecture students recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to support their local community garden. The team's plans include the use of recycled shipping containers and solar power.

Philips has opened a new facility for developing LED "light recipes" for indoor farming. The GrowWise City Farming research center will be used to study how light can maximize the quality and yield of different crops. The aim is to help producers grow tasty and healthy food indoors all year round.

Underwater gardeners off the tourist beach of Noli, Italy are growing basil crops underwater over a span of 50 days. It's part of an effort to develop an energy-efficient farming technique that could be used to grow food where this wasn't previously possible.

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.

Texas-based consumer health advocate Mike Adams of non-profit organization Food Rising has developed a new soil-free, non-electric, home-based food grow system called the Mini-Farm Grow Box.

Among the challenges that growing city populations face are climate change, social alienation, limited resources and urbanization. A new concept skyscraper is designed to tackle each of these issues. The Elastic Woodscraper II promises sustainability, efficiency and social cohesion.