The Pivot Planter
Fall 2021 | Grace McIsaac
Creative Brief
Design a planter for microgreens that takes care of itself while the user is away.
Research Summary
Mircogreens are a tiny but mighty plant that most people haven't tried or don't even know about. These baby vegetables are the stems of adult vegetables picked just after the first leaves develop. They are small which makes them perfect for people who don't have a ton of space to grow their own food. They are easy to grow which makes them perfect for those without green thumbs. And they packed with nutrition which makes them perfect for anyone and everyone. They can be grown hydroponically, which means the roots grow into water and not dirt. Mircogreens have an incredibly short harvest time, varying between 6-12 days.
In order for the product to rotate without spilling water everywhere, many shapes were explored. The idea is that the basin is filled with water and the lid is placed on top. The mircogreen seed packets are placed on the lid and can grow through the small holes into the water.
To add a another planter, just slide the second set of poles together until the metal pin clicks into place. The height is adjustable with multiple holes. The top rests on a C style hook that is placed a the curtain rod.
Solar panels face the window to detect the sunlight and use its energy to power the rotating motor. The smart solar panels detect the sunlight and let the rotating motor know to either turn towards or away from the window.
A companion app connects to the planter and lets the user program the plants in each spot. The app lets the user check the status while away from home. Recipes are offered and include the microgreens that will be ready for harvest soon. There is also a display on the planter for each spot that shows the type of microgreen and how long until it can be harvested.
