Living Walls

Term from Urban Farming industry explained for recruiters

Living Walls, also called green walls or vertical gardens, are structures where plants grow vertically on walls, either inside or outside buildings. These installations help make spaces greener, improve air quality, and create a more natural environment in urban areas. Unlike traditional gardens that grow horizontally on the ground, Living Walls make use of vertical space, which is especially valuable in cities. They can range from simple plant arrangements to complex systems with automatic watering and monitoring equipment. Similar concepts include vertical farms and bio-walls. Companies might mention these in job descriptions when looking for people to design, install, or maintain these green installations.

Examples in Resumes

Managed installation and maintenance of 5 Living Walls in corporate offices

Designed irrigation systems for Living Wall projects spanning 2000 square feet

Supervised a team of 3 technicians maintaining Living Walls and Vertical Gardens

Created maintenance schedules for Green Wall installations in 3 major office buildings

Typical job title: "Living Wall Specialists"

Also try searching for:

Urban Farming Specialist Green Wall Technician Vertical Garden Designer Living Architecture Specialist Horticultural Technician Green Infrastructure Specialist Botanical Designer

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you approach designing a living wall system for a large corporate client?

Expected Answer: A senior candidate should discuss analyzing the space requirements, lighting conditions, selecting appropriate plant species, planning irrigation systems, and considering maintenance needs. They should also mention budget considerations and working with building systems.

Q: What strategies would you use to troubleshoot a failing living wall system?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of common problems like irrigation issues, lighting problems, plant diseases, and how to solve them. Should also discuss preventive maintenance and monitoring systems.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you determine the right plant selection for a living wall?

Expected Answer: Should explain considering factors like indoor/outdoor location, light availability, climate control, maintenance requirements, and client preferences. Should mention specific plant types that work well in vertical systems.

Q: Explain your experience with irrigation systems for living walls.

Expected Answer: Should be able to describe different irrigation methods, water requirements, nutrition delivery systems, and basic troubleshooting of watering systems.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the basic maintenance requirements for a living wall?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain routine tasks like checking water levels, pruning, plant health monitoring, and basic problem identification.

Q: What safety considerations are important when working with living walls?

Expected Answer: Should mention proper use of ladders/lifts, weight considerations for mounting systems, water safety, and proper handling of maintenance equipment.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic plant care and maintenance
  • Understanding of irrigation systems
  • Plant identification
  • Basic safety procedures

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Installation supervision
  • Irrigation system management
  • Plant health management
  • Client communication

Senior (5+ years)

  • System design and planning
  • Project management
  • Team supervision
  • Complex problem-solving

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No knowledge of basic plant care
  • Lack of understanding about irrigation systems
  • No experience with safety procedures for elevated work
  • Poor understanding of indoor plant requirements