INSIDE LONDON’S NEW SUBTERRANEAN FARM

“The farm, located 115 feet below a busy South London street, uses hydroponic techniques to grow pesticide free crops”

By:  Fergus O’Sullivan

Published: July 1, 2015; The Atlantic City Lab; http://www.citylab.com/tech/2015/07/inside-londons-new-subterranean-urban-farm/397454/

Level of Difficulty: *

BEFORE YOU READ

·         Go to the website for “Growing Underground” and study the website:  http://growing-underground.com/  . Make a note of the major advantages of underground farming.

·         Now, study the pictures, watch the video and read about these new urban farms on the following website: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3143564/Growing-underground-Forgotten-World-War-Two-bomb-shelter-100ft-tube-tunnels-world-s-subterranean-farm.html

Make some notes on what you have seen, watched and read.

QUESTIONS

1.       In what way is the new agricultural project unique?

2.       What overall conclusion can we draw from this project?

3.       All the precautions taken in the underground farm are for the purpose of………………………

4.       What advantage do crops grown at the underground farm have over the stuff you habitually eat?

5.       It is to the company’s advantage to grow crops underground because……………………….

6.       The place of the farm was probably especially selected because …………………………………………..

7.       Explain what “This” refers to in the phrase “This could be the beginning”. Use your own words.

8.       The project Growing Underground has enormous potential because …………………………………..

WRITING TASK

Write a paragraph or an essay discussing the advantages of Growing Underground. Use all the material that you have studied.

INSIDE LONDON’S NEW SUBTERRANEAN FARM KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This fascinating text is all about an innovative approach to farming: a project called Growing Underground is pioneering a completely novel way of growing crops. The project has enormous potential and could help deal with the problem of loss of farm land. Hopefully it will lead to plenty of discussion.

1.       It is 115 feet below a busy South London street

2. With the right equipment you can grow food just about anywhere.
3. Keeping any bacteria at bay
4. They are pesticide free
5. The farm’s subterranean location cuts overheads
6. It is located extremely close to central London; OR,  the farm can get its crops onto plates within four hours of being harvested
7. This could be the beginning of a whole new way of growing crops
8. Other improbable, unpromising sites could be used to create stuff to eat.