Team 14: DigIt

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  Title Slide

Abstract

Grocery stores and markets in Philadelphia charge high prices for healthy and nutritional produce. As a result, many low income families are unable to get a balanced and nutritional diet, leading to other unhealthy alternatives that could be physically damaging in the future. Simultaneously, there are also a lot of open lots throughout Philadelphia that are not being used. Current research suggests that by using empty lots to generate produce, many low income households would be able to purchase produce at a cheaper price. Our proposed solution will solve the problem of costly nutritional produce by providing an application that gives step by step instructions to farming based off of specified inputs so that local communities can grow their own food.

Dig It is an online tool that individuals in the West Philadelphia area can use to help make the process of planning and implementing a community garden more efficient. There are thousands of vacant lots in the Philadelphia area. It is possible to purchase one of these locations or obtain permission to convert the lots into a community garden, thereby creating a great opportunity to provide nutritional produce to the community at a low cost. Our tool uses the Simplex algorithm to generate a model that will assist users who have information about a plot in suggesting which crops to grow to maximize their preferences, profit, or nutritional return. In order to obtain a permit to convert one of these plots, individuals must provide the city with a plan for continued attention to the project. Our product will help to increase the number of gardens approved by the city, by providing a clear plan to those interested. The value of our product goes beyond gardens and offers great social and environmental benefits.

With our final product, an online user interface, anyone is able to upload their lot data and their personal preference to receive an output that provides a suggested batch of crops as well as an approximate timeline. With the personal preferences, our model and interface can be used by anyone to deliver an end result specifically tailored to them.