Galactic Cultivation Projects
By Alexander (Sandy) Curth
Galactic Cultivation Projects
Alexander (Sandy) Curth responds to
“What will our future gardens look like?”
I imagine a future where genomic data is readily available, not so much for synthetic biology but for slower processes of directed evolution. As we have cultivated the land, plants and animals for thousands of years, we will begin to intentionally adjust the microbiome of our local environments at a larger scale for both our needs and the needs of our microbial communities as together we experience rapid environmental shifts brought on by climate change.
I imagine spaces in which there is a symbiosis between local knowledge and manufactured scientific knowledge, allowing for a hybrid future gardens cared for by communities rich in understanding of the microbial life that surrounds them. Engaging and respecting indigenous knowledge of the environment on a microbial level will be what makes such a future garden possible.
At this point in history we can imagine the entire world has already become such a garden, but one cultivated without the particular care or attention it deserves, particularly in recent history. Our buildings and machines may begin to include more living systems and even our clothes could begin to behave more like extensions of our skin’s microbiome growing and shifting as our needs change throughout the day. Perhaps the earthly garden we live in is already just a small part of someone else’s galactic cultivation project. Perhaps we are a part of this garden that has been forgotten and left to grow unchecked.
In our future gardens… “We will begin to intentionally adjust the microbiome of our local environments at a larger scale for both our needs and the needs of our microbial communities as together we experience rapid environmental shifts brought on by climate change.”
Sandy Curth is a researcher in the Design and Computation Group at MIT where he works on the development of tools for democratization and access in the world of architectural additive manufacturing and living building materials.
On Social Media: Insta and twitter: @sandycurth, Linkedin: /sandycurth
