Enhancing Edmonton's Urban Food Landscape:
School of Continuing Education
Capstone Showcase.
Summer 2025.
Explore our student-driven project focused on transforming Edmonton’s urban food landscape. Consider purchasing a vertical garden through our public offer to support sustainable, local food production.
Stack & Sprout
Empowering Edmonton’s Urban Agriculture through Vertical Gardens
In a time when Edmonton faces rising food costs, climate change challenges, limited local agricultural options, and a cold climate that restricts year-round farming, this project presents an innovative solution to transform urban food production. By leveraging 3D printing technology to create vertical gardens, residents can help address the need for sustainable, affordable, and local food sources while having limited space. Students have benchmarked against successful vertical gardening 3d models to recommend great options for purchase directly from local 3d printing services.
This initiative not only fosters creative problem-solving and technological innovation but also aims to produce a comprehensive digital portfolio highlighting student efforts. Let’s cultivate a resilient, sustainable Edmonton—because a thriving local food system is vital for our city’s health and future!
Solve real world problems through the lens of business analysis:
Community Partner!
The Wheelbarrow Gardener
The Wheelbarrow Gardener is a dedicated garden care provider serving Edmonton and the surrounding areas, committed to transforming outdoor spaces with a customer-focused approach. Their experienced staff offers both regular and one-time services for residential, commercial, and homeowners' associations. Specializing in garden maintenance, redesign, consultations, and education, they create beautiful, harmonious, and sustainable environments. Dedicated to eco-friendly practices and environmental stewardship, they deliver exceptional service and inspiring landscapes—focusing exclusively on gardens, not lawn care.
Help Contribute to our Edmonton Urban Agriculture:
Let's create 20 3D-printed vertical gardens in the next year to make a meaningful impact.
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Number of gardens installed: 20
Number of residents and groups involved: 60
Diversity of people participating: High, with participation across age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
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Amount of food grown: Each garden produces an average of 10 kg of food per month
Reduced food transportation (food miles): 24,000 km of food miles saved
Water and energy saved per garden: 30% reduction compared to traditional gardening
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Resident satisfaction and feedback: 85% estimated satisfaction rate
New or expanded urban farming projects inspired: 2 new projects or expansions by this initiative
Provide education to 3 classrooms about sustainability and urban farming
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How many gardens stay healthy after 1 year: 80% of gardens remain healthy
Studies show that approximately 98% of sustainability projects fail, often due to unclear goals, lack of measurable objectives, or initiatives that are not realistically achievable.
Elicitation -
Information Gathering from Sources like MacEwan Sustainability, YouTube and Forums
Recommendations for Vertical 3D Models!
Off-the-shelf 3D printable files were used—similar to COTS software—as they are pre-made designs ready for immediate use. This offers a time-saving advantage for development and ensures proven, reliable results.
Prototypes were printed to demonstrate the value of the solution.
These files are available for personal printing use!
Build it
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Stack it
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Sprout it
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Build it • Stack it • Sprout it •
Green Garden
Our Modular Hydroponic Tower Garden stands out because it’s fully 3D printable, modular, and designed for easy scalability. Unlike other models, each section can be added or replaced individually, and the angled grow ports improve space efficiency and airflow. It's also compact, making it ideal for both indoor and small urban settings.
EcoSpire "3D Printed, Earth Minded".
In a world of limited space and rising food concerns, EcoSpire offers a smart solution, a 3D printed vertical garden made from sustainable materials like PETG and PLA. Designed for modern urban living, it’s modular, mess-free, and perfect for homes, schools, or restaurants. More than just a product, EcoSpire is a movement toward greener cities, cleaner food, and hands-on sustainability. From teaching biology to growing fresh herbs on a balcony, it adapts to every lifestyle helping us grow more in less space, and grow green together.
Stack & Sprout
What if growing your own herbs didn’t feel like a workout from the 80s?
Welcome to Stack n’ Sprout — where you don’t need a shovel, a six-pack, or a green thumb to grow your own food.
We’ve got two easy ways to get growing: with coconut coir or a mess-free hydroponic setup.
So whether you’re Team Dirt or Team No-Dirt, we’ve got you.
Conquer Food Costs: Cultivate Your Own Veggies at Home
As food prices continue to soar in Edmonton and Canada, it's time to take control of your plate and your pocket? With vertical gardens designed for our local climate, you can grow fresh, pesticide-free produce on your balcony or fence and backyard walls. It’s time to transform unused vertical spaces into sustainable, affordable food production—right at your home. Join us in growing greens and food for Edmontonians, one wall at a time!
Urban Roots
The design we selected follows the principle of “less input, more output” by using a minimal material framework that reduces production costs, simplifies installation, and increases structural efficiency. This lean approach delivers maximum plant yield with minimal resource investment.
“Tiny Space Hero”: Designed specifically for ultra-small homes or apartments.
We’re creating a smart, sustainable vertical garden system that not only saves space and water but also empowers users through a companion app and eco-friendly practices. Ideal for urban living, our solution is perfect for homes, schools, and offices that care about green living.
Fresh Loop - Full circle of sustainability and taste.
Healthy eating shouldn’t be a luxury but in Canada’s long winters and with rising grocery prices, it often feels that way. Why spend $2 on a tiny bunch of herbs when you can grow your own—fresh, organic, and year-round? Our indoor vertical garden brings flavor, wellness, and joy right into your home. Pick vibrant basil, parsley, or cilantro anytime, and enjoy the natural antioxidants that support your heart, kidneys, and immune system. We take care of everything: setup, guidance, and even starter plants. No chemicals, no guesswork—just real food, grown by you. Grow fresh. Eat well. Feel good. Your food, your garden, your peace of mind.
EdVert Garden
We made a smart and fun vertical garden that’s not only great for growing plants in small spaces but also includes a bowl of water with real fish!
Don't have a 3D printer? Explore affordable local 3D printing services to bring your vertical garden to life!
Featured: 3D Printing Services by Chris
Small local company located in Edmonton, Alberta offering affordable, high quality 3-D Printing services including printing, design and consulting on your project.
If you can dream it we can figure a way to make it a reality.
5% OFF
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5% OFF ⋆
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PETG is a great filament for limited exposure to direct UV and the elements , ASA is a better choice though it costs more to print. Leaving the tower inside PETG is fine for long periods of time in the window. Outdoors you may want to upgrade to ASA. If you wanted to only leave the tower inside with limited direct sun exposure then PLA is also an option when sealed properly, and it is cheaper to use. These options are available please contact for current pricing.
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Now any plastic or coating has the possibility to have some leaching though.
When cured the sealant is really strong and durable and is very unlikely to do this.
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All items will be assembled before shipping out to ensure all components fit together properly. Any misprinted items will be corrected or printed again. I do offer a limited warranty on all prints free of issues or mistakes caused by printing or post finishing processes.
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As pricing is very dynamic this can be difficult to calculate correctly. Unfortunately some products are limited in availability or lead times can be longer. I do my best to keep costs reasonable for everyone. I will always, if contacted directly, offer any updates to changes in pricing. ASA filament takes longer to print with and is sometimes harder to get in bigger quantities. The usual difference for me is approximately 20% more than PETG in pricing using ASA. PLA is easier to get and little cheaper and it is about 10 % cheaper then PETG.
If you do not want the sealer added this significantly lowers the price and lead time for printing. This cost is passed on to the buyer at $120 for the 6 level tower lower the price to $410
Lead times for printing the 6 level grow tower is approximately 3 weeks.
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The best way to clean these is a little soap and water with no harsh chemical cleaners.
Chemical cleaners can break down the coating and the plastic over time. You can add a cap full of bleach to the soapy water for more disinfecting if needed. Do not clean with just bleach only.
Interested in having someone help setup and maintain your vertical garden?
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Which plants are best suited for a vertical garden in Edmonton's climate, such as lettuce, spinach, kale, basil, parsley, and mint? Also, how should I combine or arrange these plants to optimize light exposure and growth?
What is the optimal placement for my vertical garden to ensure it receives maximum sunlight, especially in a sunny area that aligns with the light needs of leafy greens and herbs?
What is the best way to start these plants from seed, and what growing medium—such as coco coir or other soil alternatives—would you recommend for indoor seed starting or initial growth?
How do I care for and maintain my vertical garden to ensure healthy growth looking our for things like pests and disease. and fertilizer options for these plants
Are there specific season-extending methods or indoor solutions you recommend for growing herbs and leafy greens year-round in Edmonton's climate?
Special Thanks!
MacEwan University Makerspace
The Makerspace at MacEwan University offers access to tools and equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing machines, virtual reality headsets, and multimedia resources to support students, faculty, and staff in their research, projects, and creative pursuits.
Special thanks to the Makerspace for providing 3D printing and prototype guidance for our student-driven project.
Special Thanks!
MacEwan University Sustainability Program
MacEwan University's Sustainability Program is dedicated to creating an environmentally healthy and equitable future through innovative campus projects, community engagement, and interdisciplinary courses. Recent initiatives include urban beekeeping, campus gardens, and sustainability education, all aimed at fostering social, environmental, and economic resilience.
Special thanks to MacEwan for a tour of their vertical gardens that helped guide decisions on our project..
Special Thanks!
Veg Instead ! - A "Grow What You Eat" Initiative by the
City of Edmonton
The Veg Instead! initiative by the City of Edmonton encourages residents to grow their own vegetables in non-traditional urban spaces such as front yards, balconies, and side yards. This program aims to promote urban agriculture as a sustainable practice that reduces food miles, enhances biodiversity, and supports climate resilience. Participants can grow food directly in the ground, in raised beds, or through creative container gardening.
Our project to create 3D vertical gardens will complement Veg Instead! by providing innovative, space-efficient solutions for urban food cultivation, further enhancing Edmonton’s journey toward a resilient and sustainable city.
What People Are Saying
“Thanks so much for bringing your class to visit the Tower Gardens. They had a lot of great questions, and I appreciated the enthusiasm and engagement.”
— Kaz, MacEwan Sustainability Program
“this sounds like a fantastic project, and I appreciate the focus on sustainability and local manufacturing..”
— Ian, Edmonton 3D Printing Company
“It’s not about the money, its about the education to become more sustainable in Edmonton.”
— Susan, Wheelbarrow Gardener
Land Acknowledgement
ninisitawêyihtênân ôma askiy kâ-tâkiskâtamâhk, nikotwâsik kihci-asotamâtowin kâ-itamihk ôta ê-kî- otaskanêsicik mihcêt iyiniwak, ôta kî-mâwacihitowak. kihcêyihtowin êkwa kistêyimowin nimiyânânak otâcimowiniwâwa, opîkiskwêwiniwâwa, osihcikêwiniwâwa êkwa isihtâwiniwâw ôki kahkiyaw iyîniwak.