This article was taken from the April 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Would you like to test your gardening skills, but live in a place where there is little light? Inventor Ekrof came up with a solution after plants failed to grow on his balcony: a modified 20-litre container he refers to as a "Space Bucket".
What you will need
To make your bucket, you'll need four white 20-litre buckets (but only one lid); black tape; epoxy or other sealant; cable ties; a cutting tool; four 23-27W CFL bulbs; two bulb sockets; two Y splitters; two 12-volt PC fans; a 12V power supply with enough output to support both fans; a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)-protected power strip; and a 24-hour light timer.
Prepare the bucket
For this assembly, there will be a main bucket as well as several buckets used to elevate and house the lighting. Poke holes in the bottom of what will be your main bucket to allow for drainage, then cover the outside walls with several layers of black tape. This will keep light from leaking out of your bucket.
Install ventilation
Cut two holes in the side of the main bucket a few centimetres from the top to house your PC fans. Using epoxy, attach one fan as the air inlet and another on the opposite side as the outlet. This will extract the heat produced by the lights, keeping the plants at a good temperature. Wire these fans in parallel to your 12V DC power supply.
Add the lighting
Cut off the bottom of the other buckets 5-10cm from the top. Attach the lid to one, then coat it and top with tape. Drill two holes in the side for the sockets, about 5cm from the top. Insert the sockets with a Y splitter attached to each, and install the bulbs, ensuring they don't rest on the plastic. The other buckets can be stacked to adjust the height of the lights.
Finish your bucket
Attach the power strip to the side of the bucket using cable ties, then plug in the lights and fan power-supply. Plug in your timer for the input power-supply to the power strip. This can be used to set how long your plants have light. Or, the timer can be hooked up to the lights if you want the ventilation fans to run all the time.
Start your garden
Plant your micro-garden in the bottom of your bucket. Put down stones first to allow for proper drainage, then place soil and your plant on top. Or you can put a pot plant in there and let it grow with your new artificial sunlight. According to Ekrof, these plants "usually react with accelerated growth -- the buckets pack a lot of lighting in a small footprint".
Play it safe
It's critical that GFCI protection is used with all wiring. Power strips can be GFCI-capable, or some outlets are wired this way. If you're not comfortable wiring, consult a qualified electrician or use pre-wired lighting fixtures. Be sure to check on your bucket frequently, especially when first used.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
