Onward: Underground Farming in a London Bomb Shelter | National Geographic

we are in southwest London in Clapham

we are in southwest London in Clapham North Station is about a hundred yards

North Station is about a hundred yards

North Station is about a hundred yards in that direction

in that direction

in that direction we are in a tunnel system that was built

we are in a tunnel system that was built

we are in a tunnel system that was built during the Second World War and we are a

during the Second World War and we are a

during the Second World War and we are a hundred feet under London and by the

hundred feet under London and by the

hundred feet under London and by the time he gets here we are now on a level

time he gets here we are now on a level

time he gets here we are now on a level with the underground we wanted to build

with the underground we wanted to build

with the underground we wanted to build a farm it was essentially carbon neutral

a farm it was essentially carbon neutral

a farm it was essentially carbon neutral and that was where we wanted to start

and that was where we wanted to start

and that was where we wanted to start with this project and then we wanted to

with this project and then we wanted to

with this project and then we wanted to move through to build a farm in a tunnel

move through to build a farm in a tunnel

move through to build a farm in a tunnel system and that’s what you see behind us

system and that’s what you see behind us

system and that’s what you see behind us glowing pink and it is a hydroponic farm

glowing pink and it is a hydroponic farm

glowing pink and it is a hydroponic farm that is powered by LEDs and those LEDs

that is powered by LEDs and those LEDs

that is powered by LEDs and those LEDs are all the energy for the LEDs are

are all the energy for the LEDs are

are all the energy for the LEDs are powered by renewable energy

we always wanted to have a have a farm

we always wanted to have a have a farm within an urban environment to make sure

within an urban environment to make sure

within an urban environment to make sure that we cut down on food miles and the

that we cut down on food miles and the

that we cut down on food miles and the distribution and flexibility to the

distribution and flexibility to the

distribution and flexibility to the markets we’ve still got kids in the UK

markets we’ve still got kids in the UK

markets we’ve still got kids in the UK who think that spaghetti has grown on

who think that spaghetti has grown on

who think that spaghetti has grown on trees this is a problem that we’ve got

trees this is a problem that we’ve got

trees this is a problem that we’ve got in terms of that disconnect from food

in terms of that disconnect from food

in terms of that disconnect from food rich q1 star thank you yeah I got sort

rich q1 star thank you yeah I got sort

rich q1 star thank you yeah I got sort of trying to cut down on those food

of trying to cut down on those food

of trying to cut down on those food miles brings me closer to the people

miles brings me closer to the people

miles brings me closer to the people that consume this is so uninspiring yeah

that consume this is so uninspiring yeah

that consume this is so uninspiring yeah yeah and I don’t think you should ever

yeah and I don’t think you should ever

yeah and I don’t think you should ever grow again if you project into the

grow again if you project into the

grow again if you project into the future 10 20 30 years and and high

future 10 20 30 years and and high

future 10 20 30 years and and high people will be dining then people will

people will be dining then people will

people will be dining then people will become more and more and more aware of

become more and more and more aware of

become more and more and more aware of the environment around us you get the

the environment around us you get the

the environment around us you get the socks well yeah in London

socks well yeah in London

socks well yeah in London for example we’re gonna have an

for example we’re gonna have an

for example we’re gonna have an additional 2 million people in the next

additional 2 million people in the next

additional 2 million people in the next 10 years and we need to provide for that

10 years and we need to provide for that

10 years and we need to provide for that so it’s a bank making sure that we we

so it’s a bank making sure that we we

so it’s a bank making sure that we we have a food source it’s from a new

have a food source it’s from a new

have a food source it’s from a new environment

and so we got one bench but when we

and so we got one bench but when we populate the whole of the tunnel we’ll

populate the whole of the tunnel we’ll

populate the whole of the tunnel we’ll have a bench on the floor then halfway

have a bench on the floor then halfway

have a bench on the floor then halfway up and a bench up here as well so we’ll

up and a bench up here as well so we’ll

up and a bench up here as well so we’ll be growing up that’s the multi-layered

be growing up that’s the multi-layered

be growing up that’s the multi-layered system and that would be each side of

system and that would be each side of

system and that would be each side of this tunnel so it’s about utilizing all

this tunnel so it’s about utilizing all

this tunnel so it’s about utilizing all of the space that we’ve got thank you