plant bed project
This is the current project that I am working on for my A-Level coursework. My school is interested in making a school garden in our sixth form area, and the teachers have asked me to produce a plant bed which is able to keep rats, insects, birds and foxes away while the garden is unattended. As I am still in the process of finalising this product, I am unable to put the completed product into this portfolio, however I am able to present my design ideas as well as models.
design ideas
This was my first design for my plant bed, where I thought it could have a foldable net surrounding it which could be folded backwards when people needed to water the plants. I thought that this would be a good way to prevent any animals from damaging the plants and vegetation.
I wanted to think of alternative ways which the protection could be used, so I drew the netting in a prism shape which I imagined could clip together to be secured. I then wanted to include nets along the sides of the prism to cover any gaps, making sure no animals would sneak in.
I began to think of different ways the product could be designed. This design is similar to the shape of a cupboard or wardrobe, yet it is made for plants. There is still netting surrounding the plants to keep them protected. And as the design is taller, it is suitable for the taller vines that people may be planting.
modelling
I added features to the plain model such as a folded seat for people to sit on when they are gardening and a drawer to store any utensils (gloves, gardening tools, plant food).
I had curved some copper wire and stuck the ends to the inner edges of the model, this would be where the protective layer would sit on, so it stays upright.
I used a plastic sheet to wrap around the top of the model, acting as the protective shield for where the plants would grow.