GrowShare: urban farming web marketplace in global API Developer Challenge [VIDEO]

GrowShare, an urban farming marketplace built by Temple University‘s Urban Apps and Maps Studio, was named a runner-up in the global Google Places API Developer Challenge.

The app, which has not officially launched yet, lets users find vacant lots for urban farms, track those in progress and exchange resources for these projects. The project was led by Temple professor Justin Shi, one of the heads of the Urban Apps and Maps Studio, which aims to train students to build civic-minded startups. The Studio recently won $635,000 in Knight Foundation funding to continue its work.

“The GrowShare project was one of my grand experiments that people can learn how to program in very short time, given proper environment,” Shi said.

Visit GrowShare here. Watch GrowShare’s demo video for the Google challenge.

http://www.youtube.com/v/9M06epbGGUE?version=3&hl=en_US

The GrowShare team, composed of four of Shi’s students, has halted work on the project but hopes to continue it with National Science Foundation funding, Shi said. He’s currently working with Temple professor and Urban Apps and Maps Studio founder Youngjin Yoo on the grant proposal now.

The idea came out of the February 2012 Northbroadband Challenge from the Urban Apps and Maps Studio.