my research project outline

I'd love to get feedback on this! Resources, lack of clarity, questions, whatever you've got. Thanks!

HOW CAN I GROW MORE FOOD USING VERTICAL SPACE?

The problem: I rent half a two-family house. My gardening space is limited to: one bed (6' wide) aligned east-west on the south side of the house (25' long), and one bed (6' w) aligned north-south on the east side of the house (12' l). The south side also has a 25' open porch and ~6' x 3' of usable pavement.

Question: Are there ways to go beyond trellised vines and shrub or tree crops, and increase usable soil volume vertically?

Continue to research available material for relevant concepts

• Edible Forest Gardens by Dave Jacke
• Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls by Nigel Dunnett and Noel Kingsbury
• Fresh Food from Small Spaces by R.J. Ruppenthal
• Gardening on Pavement, Tables, and Hard Surfaces by George Schenk
• All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew
• Espaliers and Vines for the Home Gardener by Harold Perkins
• Edible Buildings - benefits, challenges, limitations by James Petts, PDF
• "Little Homestead in the City" website
• further book, web research

Idea 1: Design "ladder" planter

• does it already exist? or something similar?

• how can I tie it in to other garden functions?

• vermiculture in bottom? (closer to kitchen than current compost bins)

• what materials? considerations: lightweight, durable, recycled, free/cheap

• is pallet wood feasible?

• could we create something similar with a box spring mattress and wire screen?

• how will screen stand up to time and moisture? Is there something else, lightweight?

• what planting material? - sphagnum moss? - and? -ratio sphagnum moss to compost to soil?

• how best to layer planting material?

• control of moisture - placement under roof drip? too much too fast in storms?

• can we make it in sections so easily (seasonally) movable?

• will it go in the "hoop house" on end of porch? will things continue to grow?

• what needs to be tweaked? angle of ladder? width? depth of "step"

Analyze expected niche and choose desired plants

• east side, south side

• depth of soil, root patterns

• edible forest gardens

• one green world

• fedco seeds, trees
  

Build several ladder planters, place in different locations and record growth, yields

Idea 2: Build a 7'x7' "hoop house" on south-east end of porch.

Learn more about hoop houses - check with Daniel Botkin - what can I expect?

• will ladder planters go in hoop house? necessary?

• water containers (water for temperature maintenance) - durable, recycled, free/cheap
• summertime hoophouse could heat compost
  

Idea 3: Some trellises, vines on strings, or espaliered small trees along porch.

• decide which and what

Integrate all 3 ideas.