charlotte dieckmann + nils ferber: parasite farm

the 'parasite farm' by charlotte dieckmann and nils ferber
all photos by alexander giesemann

the 'parasite farm' by charlotte dieckmann and nils ferber is an indoor compost system that can be easily integrated
into your current living environment. 

designers' own words:
today 88% of germany's population lives in cities and only 5.8% of the country's cultivated land is farmed ecologically.
while most fruits and vegetables have become available all year round we are loosing touch with how it was grown,
harvested and transported. the expensive, highly compacted urban area doesn't leave much room for agricultural practices
and not everybody has access to a balcony or garden. our answer to that question is the 'parasite farm', a system that enables you
to compost your biological waste, produce humus soil and to grow your own vegetables and herbs - all within your apartment!
to integrate with your interior and your habits both the vermicompost system and the plant boxes use existing furniture as infrastructure.
the parasitic objects are fed by your food scraps and provide you - in turn - with fresh vegetables. we hope that this small-scale
nutrient cycle makes people discover the fascination of growing you own food and evokes questions about the current
industrial food production and possible alternatives.

the 'parasite farm' system consists of illuminated plant boxes which fit into shelving units and a larger compost container
which can simply be hung from your kitchen table that has an integrated chopping board.

the compost material rests on a grate - to harvest some humus soil you simply shake the grate a bit and pull out the drawer underneath

designboom has received this project from our 'DIY submissions' feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication.