Budapest Farmer's Hack: Digital Sensors Transform Community Gardening in 2013
In 2013, Budapest Farmer's Hack was initiated by Attila Nemes and Péter Eszes via OS Kantine, focusing on revitalizing neglected gardens in Budapest. They incorporated sensor technology to track plant conditions, utilizing open-source sensors that continuously monitored humidity, temperature, and light, sending alerts for ideal growth. Participants, including students from Budapest University of Technology and Economics, could oversee gardens remotely, thus conserving both time and energy. The initiative sought to enhance urban dwellers' connection to nature and establish effective gardening practices to mitigate problems such as overwatering. By employing cost-effective DIY technology, it promoted resource conservation and education on the synergy between technology and nature. Nemes is currently pursuing a PhD at ELTE, while Eszes has studied at Budapest University and Interface Culture in Linz.
Key facts
- Budapest Farmer's Hack was developed in 2013 by Attila Nemes and Péter Eszes for OS Kantine
- The project reclaimed unused community gardens in greater Budapest during spring and summer 2013
- Open-source sensors monitored humidity, temperature, and light, sending data to a digital network
- Alerts were triggered when humidity or temperature levels became too high or too low
- Participants included students from Budapest University of Technology and Economics
- Remote monitoring saved time and energy by eliminating frequent travel to garden sites
- The project used inexpensive DIY technology readily available to the public
- Budapest Farmer's Hack aims to be a model for cities worldwide, integrating data networks into urban infrastructure
Entities
Artists
- Attila Nemes
- Péter Eszes
- Janeil Engelstad
Institutions
- OS Kantine
- Budapest University of Technology and Economics
- Kitchen Budapest
- Institute for Art Theory and Media Studies (ELTE)
- IXDS
- Prezi.com
- CIID
- PWC
- Volvo
- IAMAS
- University of California, Berkeley
- ARTMargins Online
Locations
- Budapest
- Hungary
- Linz
- Japan
- California