Plenty Planters™
Plenty Planters simulation on Kunstzone project in Bergen.
Design: Ralston Bau.
Plenty Planters™
Low-Threshold food and plant growing for neighbourhoods and gardens
Bioregion Institute is developing a modular, low-threshold raised bed system for food growing in urban spaces, built from reclaimed construction timber. The project aims to make growing your own food accessible to everyone — whether you have a balcony, a rooftop, a shared courtyard, or no soil at all.
Why this matters
The system builds on our experience from Kaihagen and the Urban Dyrking pre-project, which we carried out in 2022 with support from Klimaetaten. From that work, we developed growing modules based on the pallet collar structure — a familiar format in urban gardens — and began exploring how to make it more flexible, beautiful, and truly scalable.
Our modules sit on four interchangeable pallet variants that can be combined in countless patterns and arrangements. This makes the system easy to build upon independently, move with a standard pallet jack, and adapt to any surface — asphalt, quaysides, rooftops, or terraces. The pallet collars used in the first prototypes are reclaimed from industry, and all wood is cleaned and verified free of chemicals that could transfer to food crops.
What we are doing
We want to go beyond the rectangular raised bed. By designing four distinct pallet shapes, the modules can be arranged into flowing, organic forms that bring life and character to otherwise hard urban surfaces. The goal is to make growing space accessible and affordable for anyone who wants to grow food but lacks access to land.
The next current phase of the project will develop the full value chain for reclaimed renovation timber, alongside systems for water management, storage, near-composting, social gathering, and rain cover.
Product direction
We are testing the system in several pilot projects built on permaculture principles and designed to support local biodiversity. The first is an expansion of Kaihagen and Plenty Planters™ at Laksevåg, in front of Fergehallen, led by Bioregion Institute with Marin Eiedom support.
Plenty Planters are patented, both for their name and bespoke design.
Delivery
Modular growing system
First production series
Two pilot gardens
Timeline
since 2024 - ongoing
Aligned with Bergen's Green Strategy
Satsing 02 – Climate action
Satsing 06 & 12 – Material reuse from construction
Satsing 07 & 08 – Biodiversity & urban growing space
Satsing 09 – Local food production
Research team
Alexandre Bau
Lars Haugen Aardal
Birgitta Ralston
Geir Goosen
Fjord Moods
Client
Bergen kommune
Marin Eiendomsutvikling
