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𝐜𝐨𝐰𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 ꫂ ၴႅၴ
Class field trip at Profound Microfarms today. I learned so much from Jeff and the farm techs. When the pandemic started, they adapted by offering home delivery. The quality of these greens were outstanding. The industrial supply chain for grocery stores takes 3ish weeks to reach the dinner plate of Americans. By then, the shelf life is maybe a week or two before those greens start looking wilty. These are picked at peak ripeness, and are delivered a day before delivery! This shortens the distance driven to our homes, by effectively cutting out a good chunk of the middle men involved.
Random thoughts and questions:
I look forward to learning more. Maybe I can apply this knowledge in my next job or home?
Does anyone know someone who has experience with 3D-printing homes, or shipping container gardens?
https://getchipdrop.com offers free woodchuck mulch
https://grodan.com was the seeding substrate they used to germinate under red and blue lights.
Greenhouses may not be 100% sustainable rn. The monthly costs for the Profound Microfarms is:
- $1,000 to $2,000/mo for electricity. Though maybe cheaper to run the greenhouses 24 hours than in 12 hour increments, since turning the automatic systems on and off is a sizable tax on power.
- $100 to $200/mo for water (Collin county also taxes additional homes that reclaim rainwater)
- $600 to $1,000/mo for propane for the greenhouses themselves.
Metrics collected within the greenhouse:
- water temperature
- dissolved oxygen
- air temperature (72°F - 73°F is what PMF aims for)
- Jeff also noted that lower, more squat ceiling greenhouses are more difficult to control temperature and humidity-wise.
Common insects in the geeenhouse:
- aphids. Aphids, APHIDS -- Jeff noted that they use a combination of ladybugs, predatory wasps, and praying mantis to help regulate when aphids are apparent in the closed greenhouse system.
Greenhouses in Texas need to be oriented North to South, and away from all over-reaching shadows and tree cover. Fans and an insulating wall need to be built on the Northside.
Since you got this far, NFT is an acronym for a style of hydroponic farming that stands for nutrient film technique.
Collin County Master Gardening (https://ccmgatx.org) offers classes to become a master gardener that I may be looking into for the future!
Stay curious!
These voices need to be amplified. More diversity in our ecosystem and food supply chain is integral to how we meet the needs of the future.
There’s a playlist on the American Farmland Trust’s YouTube channel. I was unfortunately am unable to share all of them: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6kH004Kij1Jir4NUTWJr0UCwVgKVDaJv
Just a few of grandpa's books. He is an avid reader, but mostly reads during winter, when there's less farmwork to do.
Me and the crew.
South Carolina bananas and papayas via my previous neighbor’s backyard. Our gardens use to go hard.
Papa’s shed and a piece of his farm. He taught me everything I know about growing food.
Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountain National Park - TN
(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JilYBVrFiLA)
My baby girl helping her Poe with an oil change 🥰
Calf’s first rainbow
Farm Boss in need of Plow Boy for HARD work.
