The Connected Seeds project is a London-based seed library that uses digital technology for users to interact with seed growth, growing conditions, and tell the stories of those who plant them.
The project was founded by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, and works with the help of community volunteers. Communities can use the seed library to grow food from locally-adapted, open-pollinated seeds.
The Connected Seeds project uses sensors to continuously monitor vital statistics such as light levels, soil temperature, air humidity, and more.
In today’s world, knowledge concerning the successful growth and maintenance of seeds is dwindling. With corporate interests at stake, several areas have legislation in place to keep seeds and food production out of the public’s hands. With these developments in digital technology, the practice of growing one’s own food can be learned and taught by anyone.
The project was driven by an Arduino board and 3G connectivity. The circuit design, sensor specifications, and code from the project are available on GitHub and visualizations of some of the deployments can be found here.
