Smart Irrigation System Edyn Aims to Simplify Growing

Last fall, I came across some really interesting reads regarding in-ground technology that viticulturists were utilizing in order to optimize the growth of their grapes while also minimizing wasted water and energy. Different variations of smart watering technology have been adopted by the agriculture industry, but like many innovations, they have been limited to large businesses.

However, the development of Edyn, a wi-fi based sensor and valve that reads the soil like a psychic reads palms (but more reliably than most psychics), aims to bring affordable "smart plant growing sensors" to the masses.

Edyn makes two products, the Edyn garden sensor and Edyn smart valve. The garden sensor assesses soil nutrition via sensors that are powered by a small solar panel, which pumps back a variety of critical growing information, including humidity, ambient temperature, light intensity and soil electrical properties, right to an app on your smartphone.

The Edyn garden sensor communicates wirelessly with the Edyn smart valve which can be plugged directly into sprinkler systems to efficiently control waterings. (The EPA cites that some experts suggest as much as 50% of water used for irrigation is wasted due to evaporation, wind and runoff!)

What's Innovative About Edyn

But as you likely already know, soil sensors like these have already been around for a number of years. So what’s the big deal here? Well, first, it’s the actionability of the information returned to the user. Instead of raw quantitative readings, the app will tell you more than just what to grow, but also when to grow it, what to grow nearby it, and whether the soil itself needs to be adjusted through assets like lime or compost.

Second, it’s the core objective behind the total adoption rate of Edyn sensors that is truly unique and could pave the way for more successful plantings – from natural meadows to golf courses.

Founder Jason Aramburu isn’t just trying to improve a few select gardens – he’s trying to change the world. By gathering the data pulled from each of the rods and compiling it into a singular database, Aramburu and his industrial design partners at Fuse Project hope to give everyone access to real-time information on crop success.

LEED v4 Outdoor Water Use Reduction

Edyn could be helpful for any LEED project. The intent of Water Efficiency (WE) Outdoor Water Use Reduction credit in LEED v4 is to reduce outdoor water consumption. Using Edyn could help property managers and on site engineers in projects with gardens (such as schools or community projects) develop a better understanding what will grow well in their region today and share that knowledge effectively. As urban farms become more common, gardeners could tap into Edyn to help with their agricultural success and improve their food independence.

Whether you’re pursing a green roof, stormwater management, or a community garden, you might consider tapping into it’s capabilities – and the founder’s mission – over on KickStarter.

They’ve already raised more than triple their goal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still contribute.