Season Extension for Gardening; Gardening Guidebook for Chatham County, North Carolina ~ Central Carolina Community College ~ For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Year round vegetable production dawling 2017 90 minsPam Dawling
This document discusses year-round vegetable production at Twin Oaks Community in Virginia. The community aims to feed 100 people with organic produce year-round using various season extension and efficient production strategies. These include direct sowing and transplanting crops, succession planting, interplanting, and protecting crops from hot and cold weather. The document emphasizes the importance of healthy soil achieved through crop rotations, cover cropping, composting, and building soil organic matter.
Fall vegetable production 2016 Pam DawlingPam Dawling
This document provides information on suitable crops for fall vegetable production, including warm weather crops that can be harvested in fall, cool weather crops that can be planted and harvested in fall and winter, and overwinter crops for early spring harvest. It discusses scheduling planting times for various crops to extend the harvest season, considering factors like temperature requirements, days to maturity, and frost dates. Cool weather crops recommended for fall include beets, carrots, greens, and root vegetables.
Growing More & Growing Longer in the Colorado Mountains, Gardening Guidebook for Colorado ~ Colorado Master Gardeners
`
For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Sequential planting of cool season crops in high tunnels Pam Dawling 2017Pam Dawling
This document provides information on sequentially planting cool season crops in a high tunnel. It discusses 12 planning steps and then focuses on which crops to grow. Several suitable crops from different families like lettuce, spinach, kale and carrots are described. Details are given on how much to plant and harvest over the seasons with month-by-month schedules. The document also discusses packing more crops in through succession planting and intercropping. Record keeping and additional resources are mentioned.
Year round hoophouse vegetables. Pam DawlingPam Dawling
Which factors should you consider when planning how to keep your hoophouse filled with productive food crops all year? We consider suitable crops for various times of year: cold-hardy winter greens for cooking and salads; turnips, radishes and scallions; early warm weather crops such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers; high summer crops such as edamame, cowpeas, melons, sweet potatoes. We also look at less common ideas: bare-root transplants for planting outdoors in spring, seeds, flowers, and cover crops for soil improvement.
The workshop includes ideas on how to maximize use of the space, including transplanting indoors from outdoors in the fall, seasonal transitions, packing more in with succession planting, interplanting and follow-on cropping. Planning is an important part of success: deciding which crops to grow, deciding how much to harvest and how much to plant, crop rotation, mapping and scheduling. We also look at the challenges of low temperatures, nitrate accumulation, snow, soil-borne diseases, and the challenges of summer: high temperatures, bugs, salt build-up. Year-round use includes attention to caring for the soil: maintaining organic matter, and pest management including solarization.
Hoophouse in spring and summer 2017 Pam DawlingPam Dawling
Food, Seeds, Cover Crops, Cut Flowers, Soil Building.
In colder zones growers use the summer hoophouse for all those hot weather crops that struggle outdoors! But if you can already grow melons, limas, okra outside, you may be left wondering how to make good use of that valuable covered space when it’s hot. As well as heat-loving crops, this presentation discusses cooling the hoophouse; using the opportunity to tackle soil-borne diseases or improve the soil and other uses like seed drying and storage.
Succession Planting for Continuous Vegetable Harvests
How to plan sowing dates for continuous supplies of popular summer crops, such as beans, squash, cucumbers, edamame and sweet corn; cold-weather hoophouse greens and year round lettuce. Using these planning strategies can help avoid gluts and shortages.
Growing sweet potatoes from start to finish Pam Dawling 2016Pam Dawling
How to grow your own sweet potato slips, plant them, grow healthy crops and harvest good yields. How to select suitable roots for growing next year’s slips. How to cure and store roots for top quality and minimal losses
Year round vegetable production dawling 2017 90 minsPam Dawling
This document discusses year-round vegetable production at Twin Oaks Community in Virginia. The community aims to feed 100 people with organic produce year-round using various season extension and efficient production strategies. These include direct sowing and transplanting crops, succession planting, interplanting, and protecting crops from hot and cold weather. The document emphasizes the importance of healthy soil achieved through crop rotations, cover cropping, composting, and building soil organic matter.
Fall vegetable production 2016 Pam DawlingPam Dawling
This document provides information on suitable crops for fall vegetable production, including warm weather crops that can be harvested in fall, cool weather crops that can be planted and harvested in fall and winter, and overwinter crops for early spring harvest. It discusses scheduling planting times for various crops to extend the harvest season, considering factors like temperature requirements, days to maturity, and frost dates. Cool weather crops recommended for fall include beets, carrots, greens, and root vegetables.
Growing More & Growing Longer in the Colorado Mountains, Gardening Guidebook for Colorado ~ Colorado Master Gardeners
`
For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Sequential planting of cool season crops in high tunnels Pam Dawling 2017Pam Dawling
This document provides information on sequentially planting cool season crops in a high tunnel. It discusses 12 planning steps and then focuses on which crops to grow. Several suitable crops from different families like lettuce, spinach, kale and carrots are described. Details are given on how much to plant and harvest over the seasons with month-by-month schedules. The document also discusses packing more crops in through succession planting and intercropping. Record keeping and additional resources are mentioned.
Year round hoophouse vegetables. Pam DawlingPam Dawling
Which factors should you consider when planning how to keep your hoophouse filled with productive food crops all year? We consider suitable crops for various times of year: cold-hardy winter greens for cooking and salads; turnips, radishes and scallions; early warm weather crops such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers; high summer crops such as edamame, cowpeas, melons, sweet potatoes. We also look at less common ideas: bare-root transplants for planting outdoors in spring, seeds, flowers, and cover crops for soil improvement.
The workshop includes ideas on how to maximize use of the space, including transplanting indoors from outdoors in the fall, seasonal transitions, packing more in with succession planting, interplanting and follow-on cropping. Planning is an important part of success: deciding which crops to grow, deciding how much to harvest and how much to plant, crop rotation, mapping and scheduling. We also look at the challenges of low temperatures, nitrate accumulation, snow, soil-borne diseases, and the challenges of summer: high temperatures, bugs, salt build-up. Year-round use includes attention to caring for the soil: maintaining organic matter, and pest management including solarization.
Hoophouse in spring and summer 2017 Pam DawlingPam Dawling
Food, Seeds, Cover Crops, Cut Flowers, Soil Building.
In colder zones growers use the summer hoophouse for all those hot weather crops that struggle outdoors! But if you can already grow melons, limas, okra outside, you may be left wondering how to make good use of that valuable covered space when it’s hot. As well as heat-loving crops, this presentation discusses cooling the hoophouse; using the opportunity to tackle soil-borne diseases or improve the soil and other uses like seed drying and storage.
Succession Planting for Continuous Vegetable Harvests
How to plan sowing dates for continuous supplies of popular summer crops, such as beans, squash, cucumbers, edamame and sweet corn; cold-weather hoophouse greens and year round lettuce. Using these planning strategies can help avoid gluts and shortages.
Growing sweet potatoes from start to finish Pam Dawling 2016Pam Dawling
How to grow your own sweet potato slips, plant them, grow healthy crops and harvest good yields. How to select suitable roots for growing next year’s slips. How to cure and store roots for top quality and minimal losses
Growing out of season vegetable crops, in hot weather and cold weather. Growing vegetables to store for out-of-season use. Techniques to success in all seasons: germinating seeds, growing plants, protecting crops from hot weather, pests, cold weather. Choosing suitable crops that will work for your farm or garden.
Cover crops for vegetable growers Pam DawlingPam Dawling
Using cover crops to feed and improve the soil, smother weeds, and prevent soil erosion. Selecting cover crops to make use of opportunities year round: early spring, summer, fall and going into winter. Fitting cover crops into the schedule of vegetable production while maintaining a healthy crop rotation
Crop rotations for vegetables and cover crops 2014, Pam DawlingPam Dawling
Ideas to help you design a sequence of vegetable crops which maximizes the chance to grow good cover crops as well as reduce pest and disease likelihood. Discusses formal rotations as well as ad hoc systems for shoehorning minor crops into available spaces. The workshop discusses cover crops suitable at various times of year, particularly winter cover crops between vegetable crops in successive years. Includes examples of undersowing of cover crops in vegetable crops and of no-till options.
• Rotation planning for permanent raised beds
• 7 step rotation planning for row crops, steps 1-4
• A useful format for rotation plans
• A walk around our crop rotation
• Steps 5-7 of rotation planning
• Pros and cons of tight rotation planning
• Resources and contact info
Storage vegetables for off season sales 2017 90min Pam DawlingPam Dawling
How to succeed with growing storage vegetables for sale in the off-season. Learn the cold-hardiness of various vegetable crops, how to predict the weather, methods to protect your crops from cold temperatures, various storage methods, and an introduction to hoophouse growing in winter.
Sequential planting cool season crops in a hoophouse 2019 pam dawlingPam Dawling
Which factors should you consider when planning how to keep your hoophouse filled with productive food crops in the cool seasons? Suitable crops, cold-hardiness, deciding which crops to grow, deciding how much to harvest and how much to plant, crop rotation, mapping and scheduling, month by month planting, seasonal transitions, packing more in with succession planting, interplanting and follow-on cropping.
Planning for sustainable farming by feeding the soil. Growing and maintaining healthy soils. Using crop rotations, cover crops, compost and organic mulches. A step-by-step guide to crop rotation. Example of a ten part rotation of vegetables and cover crops. Benefits of crop rotations, cover crops and compost. Opportunities to grow cover crops. Fitting the cover crop with the goal; smothering weeds, fixing nitrogen, scavenging leftover nutrients, improving soil drainage, grazing for small animals, bio-fumigation, killing nematodes. How to make aerobic (hot) compost. Resource list included.
Plan for continuous supplies of popular summer vegetable crops, such as beans, squash, cucumbers and sweet corn; cold-weather hoophouse greens and year-round lettuce. Avoid vegetable gluts and shortages.
How to grow and store crops which tolerate cold weather. How to protect crops from cold weather with rowcover, Quick Hoops, caterpillar tunnels and hoophouses (high tunnels). Dealing with Persephone days, nitrate accumulation in leafy greens, the effect of ethylene on stored vegetables
Winter-kill temperatures for vegetable crops,
Sustainable farming practices Pam Dawling 90 mins 2019Pam Dawling
An introduction to year round vegetable production; crop planning and record-keeping; feeding the soil using crop rotations, cover crops, compost making and organic mulches; production tips on direct sowing and transplanting, crop spacing, succession crop scheduling to ensure continuous harvests, efficient production strategies, season extension, dealing with pests, diseases and weeds; determining crop maturity and harvest methods.
Hoophouse in fall and winter Pam DawlingPam Dawling
How to use the hoophouse in fall and winter to grow varied and plentiful greens for cooking and salads; turnips, radishes, scallions. How to get continuous harvests and maximize use of this valuable space. Tips to help minimize unhealthy levels of nitrates in cold weather. Growing bare-root transplants for planting outdoors in spring. Growing early warm-weather crops. Transplanting indoors from outdoors in the fall.
Winter vegetable production outdoors and in a hoophouse Pam DawlingPam Dawling
For market gardeners, homesteaders and small backyard growers. Growing cold-hardy vegetables out in the open and with varying degrees of protection from rowcovers, to hoophouses (high tunnels).
Growing sweet potatoes from start to finish 2020 Pam DawlingPam Dawling
Everything you need to know to be self-reliant in sweet potatoes or to grow them for sale. Includes starting your own slips, planting them, caring for the plants, harvest, saving seed stock for replanting next year, and curing and storing the sweet potatoes.
Hoophouse cool season crops 240 mins Pam DawlingPam Dawling
How to choose which crops to grow from among those suitable for the cool seasons, including comparing the cold-hardiness of various crops. How to grow varied and plentiful winter greens for cooking and salads; turnips, radishes and scallions. How to plan so that your hoophouse is filled with productive food crops in the cool seasons. How to calculate how much to harvest and how much to plant. How to make maps, schedules, and month by month planting lists. How to achieve a good crop rotation, and smooth seasonal transitions. How to get continuous harvests and maximize use of the valuable space, including transplanting indoors from outdoors in the fall. How to pack more in with succession planting, interplanting and follow-on cropping. The workshop includes tips to help minimize unhealthy levels of nitrates in cold weather with short days. Late winter uses can include growing bare-root transplants for planting outdoors in spring.
Winter Gardening & Cover Crops - What to Grow, When to Plant it in Multnomah County, Oregon, Gardening Guidebook for Oregon ~ Zenger Farm
`
For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Season Extension Techniques for Market GardenersElisaMendelsohn
Market gardeners can extend their growing seasons through various cultural practices and technologies. Choosing sunny, south-facing sites located away from cold air pockets can provide a longer season. Maintaining moist soil and using mulches helps soils absorb and retain heat. Season extension structures like high tunnels, row covers, and plastic mulches allow harvesting earlier in spring and later in fall for higher prices and year-round income.
See the Light at the End of the (High & Low) Tunnel; Gardening Guidebook for Tennessee ~ University in Tennessee ~ For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Greenhouses for Homeowners & Gardeners; Gardening Guidebook www.scribd.com/doc/239851313, For more information, Please see Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children www.scribd.com/doc/239851214 - Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech www.scribd.com/doc/239851079 - Free School Gardening Art Posters www.scribd.com/doc/239851159 - Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden www.scribd.com/doc/239851159 - Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success www.scribd.com/doc/239851348 - City Chickens for your Organic School Garden www.scribd.com/doc/239850440 - Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica www.scribd.com/doc/239850233 - Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools, Teacher Guide www.scribd.com/doc/23985111 ~
Using automation you can make your home easier and cheaper to run and more secure. In the session we will see hardware options, architectural layouts, softwares, examples on customizations and extensions. The presentation will also cover specific problems on multimedia (UPNP AV) and integrations with existing home devices, mobile and internet services. At the end of the session you will be able to design your home and customize the software for your specific needs, in this way you can lie on your sofa and keep everything under control.
Luxury home automation wasn’t a face of everyday life. Today it is, though gradually! Directly controlling and seamlessly staying connected with the home systems you use every day via a mobile device would significantly enhance your quality of life. It is not only about remotely controlling the lights, AC, fan, audio systems, curtains, television, kitchen appliances, garage doors, sprinklers from your smartphone from anywhere. Again it is not merely about regularly monitoring the security of your home and your kids from your workplace miles away. It is all about convenience and safety. It is about exploiting the latest of what technology has on offer. It is about saving energy significantly and contributing to the creation of a greener earth through use of energy efficient systems. A smart home offers all of these – comfort, convenience, monetary savings, and safety. Smart Automation has emerged as a reliable and leading service provider in this segment.
Growing out of season vegetable crops, in hot weather and cold weather. Growing vegetables to store for out-of-season use. Techniques to success in all seasons: germinating seeds, growing plants, protecting crops from hot weather, pests, cold weather. Choosing suitable crops that will work for your farm or garden.
Cover crops for vegetable growers Pam DawlingPam Dawling
Using cover crops to feed and improve the soil, smother weeds, and prevent soil erosion. Selecting cover crops to make use of opportunities year round: early spring, summer, fall and going into winter. Fitting cover crops into the schedule of vegetable production while maintaining a healthy crop rotation
Crop rotations for vegetables and cover crops 2014, Pam DawlingPam Dawling
Ideas to help you design a sequence of vegetable crops which maximizes the chance to grow good cover crops as well as reduce pest and disease likelihood. Discusses formal rotations as well as ad hoc systems for shoehorning minor crops into available spaces. The workshop discusses cover crops suitable at various times of year, particularly winter cover crops between vegetable crops in successive years. Includes examples of undersowing of cover crops in vegetable crops and of no-till options.
• Rotation planning for permanent raised beds
• 7 step rotation planning for row crops, steps 1-4
• A useful format for rotation plans
• A walk around our crop rotation
• Steps 5-7 of rotation planning
• Pros and cons of tight rotation planning
• Resources and contact info
Storage vegetables for off season sales 2017 90min Pam DawlingPam Dawling
How to succeed with growing storage vegetables for sale in the off-season. Learn the cold-hardiness of various vegetable crops, how to predict the weather, methods to protect your crops from cold temperatures, various storage methods, and an introduction to hoophouse growing in winter.
Sequential planting cool season crops in a hoophouse 2019 pam dawlingPam Dawling
Which factors should you consider when planning how to keep your hoophouse filled with productive food crops in the cool seasons? Suitable crops, cold-hardiness, deciding which crops to grow, deciding how much to harvest and how much to plant, crop rotation, mapping and scheduling, month by month planting, seasonal transitions, packing more in with succession planting, interplanting and follow-on cropping.
Planning for sustainable farming by feeding the soil. Growing and maintaining healthy soils. Using crop rotations, cover crops, compost and organic mulches. A step-by-step guide to crop rotation. Example of a ten part rotation of vegetables and cover crops. Benefits of crop rotations, cover crops and compost. Opportunities to grow cover crops. Fitting the cover crop with the goal; smothering weeds, fixing nitrogen, scavenging leftover nutrients, improving soil drainage, grazing for small animals, bio-fumigation, killing nematodes. How to make aerobic (hot) compost. Resource list included.
Plan for continuous supplies of popular summer vegetable crops, such as beans, squash, cucumbers and sweet corn; cold-weather hoophouse greens and year-round lettuce. Avoid vegetable gluts and shortages.
How to grow and store crops which tolerate cold weather. How to protect crops from cold weather with rowcover, Quick Hoops, caterpillar tunnels and hoophouses (high tunnels). Dealing with Persephone days, nitrate accumulation in leafy greens, the effect of ethylene on stored vegetables
Winter-kill temperatures for vegetable crops,
Sustainable farming practices Pam Dawling 90 mins 2019Pam Dawling
An introduction to year round vegetable production; crop planning and record-keeping; feeding the soil using crop rotations, cover crops, compost making and organic mulches; production tips on direct sowing and transplanting, crop spacing, succession crop scheduling to ensure continuous harvests, efficient production strategies, season extension, dealing with pests, diseases and weeds; determining crop maturity and harvest methods.
Hoophouse in fall and winter Pam DawlingPam Dawling
How to use the hoophouse in fall and winter to grow varied and plentiful greens for cooking and salads; turnips, radishes, scallions. How to get continuous harvests and maximize use of this valuable space. Tips to help minimize unhealthy levels of nitrates in cold weather. Growing bare-root transplants for planting outdoors in spring. Growing early warm-weather crops. Transplanting indoors from outdoors in the fall.
Winter vegetable production outdoors and in a hoophouse Pam DawlingPam Dawling
For market gardeners, homesteaders and small backyard growers. Growing cold-hardy vegetables out in the open and with varying degrees of protection from rowcovers, to hoophouses (high tunnels).
Growing sweet potatoes from start to finish 2020 Pam DawlingPam Dawling
Everything you need to know to be self-reliant in sweet potatoes or to grow them for sale. Includes starting your own slips, planting them, caring for the plants, harvest, saving seed stock for replanting next year, and curing and storing the sweet potatoes.
Hoophouse cool season crops 240 mins Pam DawlingPam Dawling
How to choose which crops to grow from among those suitable for the cool seasons, including comparing the cold-hardiness of various crops. How to grow varied and plentiful winter greens for cooking and salads; turnips, radishes and scallions. How to plan so that your hoophouse is filled with productive food crops in the cool seasons. How to calculate how much to harvest and how much to plant. How to make maps, schedules, and month by month planting lists. How to achieve a good crop rotation, and smooth seasonal transitions. How to get continuous harvests and maximize use of the valuable space, including transplanting indoors from outdoors in the fall. How to pack more in with succession planting, interplanting and follow-on cropping. The workshop includes tips to help minimize unhealthy levels of nitrates in cold weather with short days. Late winter uses can include growing bare-root transplants for planting outdoors in spring.
Winter Gardening & Cover Crops - What to Grow, When to Plant it in Multnomah County, Oregon, Gardening Guidebook for Oregon ~ Zenger Farm
`
For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Season Extension Techniques for Market GardenersElisaMendelsohn
Market gardeners can extend their growing seasons through various cultural practices and technologies. Choosing sunny, south-facing sites located away from cold air pockets can provide a longer season. Maintaining moist soil and using mulches helps soils absorb and retain heat. Season extension structures like high tunnels, row covers, and plastic mulches allow harvesting earlier in spring and later in fall for higher prices and year-round income.
See the Light at the End of the (High & Low) Tunnel; Gardening Guidebook for Tennessee ~ University in Tennessee ~ For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Greenhouses for Homeowners & Gardeners; Gardening Guidebook www.scribd.com/doc/239851313, For more information, Please see Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children www.scribd.com/doc/239851214 - Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech www.scribd.com/doc/239851079 - Free School Gardening Art Posters www.scribd.com/doc/239851159 - Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden www.scribd.com/doc/239851159 - Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success www.scribd.com/doc/239851348 - City Chickens for your Organic School Garden www.scribd.com/doc/239850440 - Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica www.scribd.com/doc/239850233 - Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools, Teacher Guide www.scribd.com/doc/23985111 ~
Using automation you can make your home easier and cheaper to run and more secure. In the session we will see hardware options, architectural layouts, softwares, examples on customizations and extensions. The presentation will also cover specific problems on multimedia (UPNP AV) and integrations with existing home devices, mobile and internet services. At the end of the session you will be able to design your home and customize the software for your specific needs, in this way you can lie on your sofa and keep everything under control.
Luxury home automation wasn’t a face of everyday life. Today it is, though gradually! Directly controlling and seamlessly staying connected with the home systems you use every day via a mobile device would significantly enhance your quality of life. It is not only about remotely controlling the lights, AC, fan, audio systems, curtains, television, kitchen appliances, garage doors, sprinklers from your smartphone from anywhere. Again it is not merely about regularly monitoring the security of your home and your kids from your workplace miles away. It is all about convenience and safety. It is about exploiting the latest of what technology has on offer. It is about saving energy significantly and contributing to the creation of a greener earth through use of energy efficient systems. A smart home offers all of these – comfort, convenience, monetary savings, and safety. Smart Automation has emerged as a reliable and leading service provider in this segment.
My Final Year Project - Individual Control Home Automation SystemMichael Olafusi
This project involves the design and construction of an individual control home
automation system using RS232, GSM technology and a microcontroller.
Home automation is the automatic or semi-automatic control and monitoring of
household appliances and residential house features like doors, gate and even the windows.
This project is a demonstration of how to design and build a multi purpose remotely
controlled system that can switch OFF and ON any electrical household appliance (including the security light), by dialling a phone already interfaced via RS232 to a microcontroller that controls a relay for the automatic switching on and off of the appliance and the phone will send a feedback short message service text indicating the new state of the appliance, whether switched ON or OFF.
The results of this project show that a microcontroller is a very powerful device for
building smart electronic devices that can automatically control electrical appliances, with little circuitry complexities and components.
This project aims to design a home automation system that allows users to remotely control and monitor home appliances like lights, fans, AC, etc. using a cell phone. It uses a DTMF module and relays to control the appliances circuitry. The system receives commands from a mobile phone through DTMF tones and operates the appliances accordingly. It provides benefits like saving time, reducing costs, and increasing security and convenience. The document discusses the need for automation, working of DTMF signals, cellular communication technologies considered, system requirements including hardware and software, and programming steps to control appliances remotely.
This document discusses home automation through an Android mobile device. It describes a system where a Bluetooth module and relays are used to allow an Android phone to remotely control home appliances. The phone acts as the host controller, communicating with client modules attached to devices via Bluetooth. The system allows users to control lights, temperature and other electronics from their mobile device.
Plant Season Extension in the Desert; Gardening Guidebook for Nevada ~ University of Nevada ~ For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Season Extension Techniques for Market GardenersElisaMendelsohn
Market gardeners can extend their growing seasons through various cultural practices and technologies. Choosing sunny, south-facing sites located away from cold air pockets can provide a longer season. Maintaining moist soil and using mulches helps soils absorb and retain heat. Season extension structures like high tunnels, row covers, and plastic mulches allow harvesting earlier in spring and later in fall for higher prices and year-round income.
This document discusses growing a winter garden and using season extenders to extend the growing season. It provides information on different types of season extenders including hot caps, floating row covers, cold frames, low tunnels, high tunnels, and greenhouses. These season extenders work by trapping heat and protecting plants from cold temperatures and wind. The document recommends starting cold-tolerant crops in late summer and fall and choosing protected garden beds and season extenders to successfully grow vegetables through the winter.
This document provides instructions for home vegetable gardening in New Mexico. It outlines 8 easy steps: 1) Know your climate zone, 2) Plan your garden layout before planting, 3) Prepare the soil by adding organic matter like compost or manure, 4) Fertilize using a balanced approach of organic and commercial fertilizers, 5) Plant your garden, 6) Water properly, 7) Control pests, and 8) Harvest at the right time. The document also provides tips for soil preparation, fertilization, extending the growing season, and choosing vegetable varieties suited for each climate zone in New Mexico.
This document discusses various techniques for extending the growing season, including protecting plants from early and late frosts. Season extension allows for more crops to mature, different crop varieties to be grown, and moving toward year-round production. Techniques mentioned include using cold frames, low tunnels, shade cloth, mulches, hardy plant varieties, and protecting plants at risk of frost with fabrics or plastics. Microclimates around properties can also be exploited to find warmer or cooler spots suited to different planting times.
Cold Frame Manual - for Winter Gardening ~ Community GroundWorks
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For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110 ~
Bio-Intensive Harvest Season Extension - Vegetable Crops in Cold Climates; Gardening Guidebook for Scott County, Minnesota www.scribd.com/doc/239851313 ~ SouthWoods Center~ For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Season Extension Techniques for Market Gardeners; Gardening Guidebook ~ National Sustainable Ag ~ For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Season Extension Techniques for Market Gardeners Gardening
ATTRA is a national sustainable agriculture information service operated by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through a USDA grant. This publication discusses season extension techniques that market gardeners can use to grow crops year-round, such as cultural practices, plastic mulches, row covers, low tunnels, and high tunnels. It describes these techniques and provides resources for further information.
Extending the Vegetable Growing Season in Wyoming, Gardening Guide for Wyoming ~ University of Wyoming
`
For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Gardening Beyond the Frost; Gardening Guidebook for Davis County, Utah www.scribd.com/doc/239851313 ~ University of Utah, For more information, Please see Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children www.scribd.com/doc/239851214 - Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech www.scribd.com/doc/239851079 - Free School Gardening Art Posters www.scribd.com/doc/239851159 - Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden www.scribd.com/doc/239851159 - Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success www.scribd.com/doc/239851348 - City Chickens for your Organic School Garden www.scribd.com/doc/239850440 - Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica www.scribd.com/doc/239850233 - Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools, Teacher Guide www.scribd.com/doc/23985111 ~
There are some areas of the world in which the agricultural crops require assistance and cooling, especially
during hot days, in order
to prevent them from being subjected to unnecessary stress. In other areas, the color of fruit can be improved by cooling the trees
during the correct time period.
It is possible to extend the shelf life of some types of fruit by cooling them while they are still on the trees. And by using correct and
supervised cooling, we can increase the flower fruit set during periods of very hot weather. In other regions, we can aid and improve
the yield of fruit crops by cooling during the autumn and winter months, and then adding cold units to the same trees or cooling the
same crops at the end of the winter months in order to cause early blossoming.
In addition to employing cooling in open fields, an additional—perhaps primary—use of cooling is in various
types of greenhouses.
The principle of a greenhouse
is that the farmer can control its internal climate and thereby provide the plants with optimal growth
conditions. Therefore, a system that will have a cooling
effect on the internal temperature on hot days is almost indispensable for
every greenhouse.
Another use of a cooling system inside a greenhouse
is, perhaps surprisingly, in cold countries where the greenhouse is especially
built with few ventilation
openings to conserve internal heat. As a result of this design, on the few days that are very hot, there is
insufficient air flow to cool the interior. An efficient cooling system can solve the problem. Further, in these same cold countries, the
crops are usually
already inside the greenhouse by the first days of spring, but the heating system still needs to be operated
in order
to ensure the correct conditions. The windows must not be opened, and inside the building,
the relative humidity drops beneath the
desired levels. At this time, operating a suitable cooling system improves these crops.
What is possible to do to improve agricultural crops is also possible to do with livestock, including all types of poultry, cows, and pigs.
A suitable system can cool their micro-environment and improve production.
The different methods of cooling based on sprinkler-spraying products are as follows
This document discusses various topics related to urban agriculture technologies, including greenhouses, green roofs, vertical gardens, urban livestock, hydroponics, and container growing. It provides definitions, brief histories, types, and considerations for implementing these technologies in an urban environment. The primary focus is on greenhouses and their construction, equipment needs, and suitable plant species for the climate in Quebec. Alternatives for heating greenhouses and examples of innovative urban agriculture projects utilizing these technologies are also presented.
This document provides an overview of greenhouses and greenhouse farming. It defines a greenhouse as a structure with walls and roof made of transparent material that regulates climatic conditions for plant growth. The document discusses the history of greenhouses, types of greenhouses including glass and plastic structures, how greenhouses work by trapping heat, important plants commonly grown in greenhouses like tomatoes and cucumbers, the purpose of ventilation, and the advantages of greenhouses like manipulating the growing season and protecting against pests.
Hotbeds & Cold Frames - for Winter Gardening in Montana ~ Montana State University
`
For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Huerto Ecológico, Tecnologías Sostenibles, Agricultura Organica
http://scribd.com/doc/239850233
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110 ~
Heat waves and its effect on crops.pptxUAS, Dharwad
Heat waves can severely impact agriculture and crops. The presentation discusses heat waves, their measurement, history and effects on crops. Extreme heat can reduce yields for wheat, rice, maize and soybeans. It causes issues like wilting, scorching of plant tissues, reduced photosynthesis and lower quality. Methods to reduce heat stress on plants include overhead watering, mulching and shade cloth. Research findings show heat waves have reduced global cereal harvests by 10% over 50 years. The conclusion reiterates the negative impacts of heat waves on agriculture.
polyhouse,hot bed and humidifier in horticulture under protected cultivationEzhilmathi S
1. A hot bed is a method for raising vegetable seedlings in cold weather by providing extra heat to the soil from decomposing manure or other organic matter covered by plastic sheeting. This allows seedlings to be started well before the last frost date.
2. The document provides instructions for constructing a hot bed including digging a trench, layering it with straw, manure, more straw and soil before covering with plastic to trap heat and protect seedlings from frost.
3. A polytunnel is a similar structure made of polyethylene sheeting over a frame that stays warmer than outside air, allowing off-season crop growth through solar heating and retention of heat inside the plastic covering.
Environmental factors influencing Growth of VegetablesJunaid Abbas
The document discusses how climate and weather impact plant growth and development. It covers various climatic factors such as temperature, seasons, latitude, proximity to bodies of water, and elevation. Cardinal temperatures, frost-free periods, degree days, and temperature effects on photosynthesis, dormancy, and injury thresholds are examined. Plants are also categorized based on temperature preferences, such as cool season and warm season crops.
Impacts of climate change on important fruit crops of Rosaceae familyChongtham Allaylay Devi
The document discusses the impacts of climate change on fruit production of the Rosaceae family. It begins with introducing climate change and its causes. It then examines how various climatic factors like temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind and frost affect fruit production. Increased temperatures can inhibit growth and development or promote pest and disease incidence. Insufficient chilling can impact flowering and yield. The document also summarizes some research papers. One paper finds temperature and rainfall trends are negatively impacting apple production and diversity in India. Another analyzes fruit set and yield of apricot cultivars under subtropical conditions in Turkey.
The document discusses the impacts of climate change on fruit production of the Rosaceae family. It begins with introducing climate change and its causes. It then examines how various climatic factors like temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind and frost affect fruit production. Increased temperatures can inhibit growth and development or promote pest and disease incidence. Changes in rainfall patterns also impact fruit crops. The document analyzes specific impacts like shifts in suitable cropping areas and changes in apple production and diversity in the Kullu valley of India. It provides evidence that temperature and rainfall trends have negatively impacted apple crops in the region. Finally, it discusses results of a study on fruit set and yield of apricot cultivars in Turkey's changing subtropical climate.
Similar to Season Extension for Gardening; Gardening Guidebook for Chatham County, North Carolina (20)
Marthe Cohn was a Jewish French spy who risked her life to gather intelligence for the French resistance during WWII. She infiltrated Nazi Germany using her fluent German and managed to discover key military information. As a result, the French army was able to achieve an important victory. Cohn went on to have a long career as a nurse and nurse anesthetist. She has received numerous honors for her wartime heroism and courageously fights to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive.
This document provides links to resources about organic gardening techniques, urban farming, rainwater harvesting, green roofs, straight vegetable oil vehicles, garden therapy, volunteering on organic farms in Europe, solar energy training, and eco-friendly coffee beans. It discusses how organic gardening technologies can increase plant yields by 400% and provides catalogs and manuals about topics such as city farming, backyard farming, rain gardens, and aquaponics systems. The links provide free information for organic and sustainable living practices.
Ruth Jones, a Christian teacher without a master's degree or administrative experience, was unexpectedly named principal of a struggling inner city elementary school in Grand Rapids, Michigan that was on the verge of closure due to poor academic performance. Through prayer, addressing students' practical needs, and recruiting volunteers, Jones led a dramatic turnaround of the school over 20 years. Test scores and graduation rates increased sharply, and the school now has a waiting list despite originally facing closure. Jones attributes the school's success to aligning herself with God.
- Coconut oil may help slow or prevent Alzheimer's disease in some people by providing an alternative fuel for brain cells in the form of ketones. Dr. Mary Newport put her husband Steve, who had Alzheimer's, on a diet supplemented with coconut oil, which led to improvements in his symptoms and cognitive abilities.
- Researchers have developed a ketone ester that is more potent than coconut oil, but it is very expensive to produce. Coconut oil remains a viable alternative source of ketones. Taking coconut oil may also help with other neurological diseases due to its ability to increase ketone levels and good cholesterol while reducing bad bacteria.
A teacher in Baltimore transformed the lives of students from the slums. In the 1920s, college students evaluated 200 boys from the slums and said they had no chance of success. Twenty-five years later, it was found that 176 of the 180 boys who could be located had achieved success as lawyers, doctors, and businessmen. The professor interviewed each man and they all credited their success to a teacher who had loved and believed in them. When interviewed, the elderly teacher said her simple method was that she loved those boys.
Robert Raikes witnessed the poor conditions of children in Gloucester, England in the late 18th century due to the Industrial Revolution. This inspired him to create the first Sunday school to educate and reform street children. The Sunday school used the Bible as its textbook and proved hugely successful in improving behavior and civic responsibility. Raikes' idea then spread across Britain and to other parts of Europe and America, revolutionizing religious education of children and community outreach efforts of churches. Late in life, Raikes had a profound spiritual experience witnessing a young girl reading the Bible that gave him a new understanding of faith.
The document discusses using Groasis Waterboxx devices to help plant and grow trees in dry environments like the Sahara Desert. It describes how the author and a colleague tried using 10 Waterboxx devices to plant trees in M'hamid, Morocco but their luggage containing the devices was initially lost. They were eventually found and the devices were used to plant tamarisk trees to compare growth with traditional planting methods. The document provides details on how the Waterboxx works, collecting condensation and directing water to tree roots, and hopes the experiment will help increase tree survival rates in the dry climate.
The Groasis Waterboxx is a low-tech device that helps seeds and saplings grow into strong trees in dry environments. It collects and stores rainwater and condensation to slowly water the roots daily. In tests, 88% of trees grown with the Waterboxx survived compared to only 10.5% without it. The inventor believes using this technology could reforest billions of acres and offset humanity's carbon emissions by capturing CO2 in new tree growth.
The document discusses the Groasis Technology, a planting method that uses a Waterboxx and other techniques to plant trees in dry areas with 90% less water. It summarizes that the technology (1) improves soil, maps planting areas, harvests rainfall, and uses the right planting techniques to help trees grow deep roots in the first year to survive independently. It also describes how the technology terraces slopes to harvest and direct rainfall to trees, uses 3D imaging to map ideal planting lines, and a capillary drill to quickly plant thousands of trees per day.
The document describes the Agua, Vida y Naturaleza Project (AVNP) that started in Ecuador in 2012. It is funded by the Dutch COmON Foundation to help small farmers in dry areas by introducing the Groasis Technology, which allows planting in deserts and eroded lands. The technology mimics nature by improving soil, maintaining capillary structures, and using a waterboxx device. The project aims to address issues small farmers face like lack of water, capital, and farming knowledge, in order to help alleviate world hunger and prevent farmers from migrating to cities due to lack of income from farming dry areas.
The document provides planting instructions for using a Waterboxx planting device. It outlines 6 main steps:
1. Preparing the soil by digging holes and adding compost/fertilizer or just watering.
2. Assembling the Waterboxx by placing the wick, mid-plate, lid, and siphons.
3. Preparing plants by pruning roots to encourage deep growth.
4. Planting in holes aligned east-west within the Waterboxx hole.
5. Placing the assembled Waterboxx over the planted area.
6. Watering the plants and filling the Waterboxx for the first time.
This document provides instructions for growing vegetables using the Groasis Waterboxx system. It details recommendations for greenhouse design, soil preparation, planting methods, plant spacing, watering schedules, and pest and disease management. Proper installation and maintenance of the Waterboxx system is emphasized to ensure healthy plant growth and high crop yields. Close monitoring of climate conditions and plant needs is also advised.
The document is a report on the Groasis waterboxx, a device that aims to allow farming without irrigation. It provides an overview of the waterboxx's history and development, describes its components and how it works, reviews testing that has been done, and evaluates its suitability for organic farming. In the conclusion, the report recommends that the cooperative discussed in the document not use the waterboxx yet, as more data is still needed, but could consider conducting their own tests with support from their technical services.
The document summarizes an invention called the Groasis that helps plants survive in arid climates by collecting and storing rainfall to provide steady watering to seedlings. It notes that most rainfall in deserts occurs within one week but is then unavailable, and that the Groasis uses evaporation-proof containers and wicking to deliver water to young plants over longer periods, allowing their roots to develop and access deeper groundwater reserves. Large-scale projects have used the Groasis in countries like Kenya to aid reforestation efforts and combat desertification.
The document summarizes the work of the Sahara Roots Foundation in Morocco and their use of the Groasis Waterboxx to help plant trees and reduce desertification. The Sahara Roots Foundation was established to implement development projects to conserve the Moroccan Sahara through activities like tree planting, irrigation, education, and desert cleaning. They have started using the Groasis Waterboxx, an "intelligent water battery" developed by AquaPro, to improve the survival rate of newly planted trees. The Waterboxx produces and captures water through condensation and rain, allowing trees to be planted in dry areas like rocks and deserts with a 100% success rate.
The document describes the Agua, Vida y Naturaleza Project (AVNP) that started in Ecuador in 2012. It is funded by the Dutch COmON Foundation to help small farmers in dry areas by introducing the Groasis Technology, which allows planting in deserts and eroded lands. The technology mimics nature by improving soil, maintaining capillary structures, and using a waterboxx device. The project aims to address issues small farmers face like lack of water, capital, and farming knowledge, in order to help alleviate world hunger and prevent farmers from migrating to cities.
Groasis Technology is compared to drip irrigation over a 50-year project for a 500-hectare tree plantation. Key financial indicators show that using Groasis Waterboxes results in a higher net present value (NPV) of €26.62 million compared to €21.15 million for drip irrigation, and a slightly higher internal rate of return (IRR) of 22.1% versus 23.4% for drip irrigation. Waterboxx also has a longer payback period of 7 years compared to 5 years for drip irrigation. The document provides assumptions and calculations for costs and revenues for both systems over the 50-year period.
A new technology called the Groasis Waterboxx shows promise for reclaiming desert landscapes and increasing plant survival rates. The simple device regulates temperature and moisture levels around young plants, allowing trees and crops to grow with little watering even in dry conditions. Initial trials in Africa found tree survival rates increased to 88% with the Waterboxx compared to only 10% without it. Researchers in Kenya are optimistic this technology could significantly reduce desertification and help transform the country's deserts into productive, economic areas through increased vegetation.
More from School Vegetable Gardening - Victory Gardens (20)
LAND USE LAND COVER AND NDVI OF MIRZAPUR DISTRICT, UPRAHUL
This Dissertation explores the particular circumstances of Mirzapur, a region located in the
core of India. Mirzapur, with its varied terrains and abundant biodiversity, offers an optimal
environment for investigating the changes in vegetation cover dynamics. Our study utilizes
advanced technologies such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Remote sensing to
analyze the transformations that have taken place over the course of a decade.
The complex relationship between human activities and the environment has been the focus
of extensive research and worry. As the global community grapples with swift urbanization,
population expansion, and economic progress, the effects on natural ecosystems are becoming
more evident. A crucial element of this impact is the alteration of vegetation cover, which plays a
significant role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of our planet.Land serves as the foundation for all human activities and provides the necessary materials for
these activities. As the most crucial natural resource, its utilization by humans results in different
'Land uses,' which are determined by both human activities and the physical characteristics of the
land.
The utilization of land is impacted by human needs and environmental factors. In countries
like India, rapid population growth and the emphasis on extensive resource exploitation can lead
to significant land degradation, adversely affecting the region's land cover.
Therefore, human intervention has significantly influenced land use patterns over many
centuries, evolving its structure over time and space. In the present era, these changes have
accelerated due to factors such as agriculture and urbanization. Information regarding land use and
cover is essential for various planning and management tasks related to the Earth's surface,
providing crucial environmental data for scientific, resource management, policy purposes, and
diverse human activities.
Accurate understanding of land use and cover is imperative for the development planning
of any area. Consequently, a wide range of professionals, including earth system scientists, land
and water managers, and urban planners, are interested in obtaining data on land use and cover
changes, conversion trends, and other related patterns. The spatial dimensions of land use and
cover support policymakers and scientists in making well-informed decisions, as alterations in
these patterns indicate shifts in economic and social conditions. Monitoring such changes with the
help of Advanced technologies like Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems is
crucial for coordinated efforts across different administrative levels. Advanced technologies like
Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
9
Changes in vegetation cover refer to variations in the distribution, composition, and overall
structure of plant communities across different temporal and spatial scales. These changes can
occur natural.
ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, and GDPR: Best Practices for Implementation and...PECB
Denis is a dynamic and results-driven Chief Information Officer (CIO) with a distinguished career spanning information systems analysis and technical project management. With a proven track record of spearheading the design and delivery of cutting-edge Information Management solutions, he has consistently elevated business operations, streamlined reporting functions, and maximized process efficiency.
Certified as an ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) Lead Implementer, Data Protection Officer, and Cyber Risks Analyst, Denis brings a heightened focus on data security, privacy, and cyber resilience to every endeavor.
His expertise extends across a diverse spectrum of reporting, database, and web development applications, underpinned by an exceptional grasp of data storage and virtualization technologies. His proficiency in application testing, database administration, and data cleansing ensures seamless execution of complex projects.
What sets Denis apart is his comprehensive understanding of Business and Systems Analysis technologies, honed through involvement in all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). From meticulous requirements gathering to precise analysis, innovative design, rigorous development, thorough testing, and successful implementation, he has consistently delivered exceptional results.
Throughout his career, he has taken on multifaceted roles, from leading technical project management teams to owning solutions that drive operational excellence. His conscientious and proactive approach is unwavering, whether he is working independently or collaboratively within a team. His ability to connect with colleagues on a personal level underscores his commitment to fostering a harmonious and productive workplace environment.
Date: May 29, 2024
Tags: Information Security, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Artificial Intelligence, GDPR
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Leveraging Generative AI to Drive Nonprofit InnovationTechSoup
In this webinar, participants learned how to utilize Generative AI to streamline operations and elevate member engagement. Amazon Web Service experts provided a customer specific use cases and dived into low/no-code tools that are quick and easy to deploy through Amazon Web Service (AWS.)
Philippine Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP) CurriculumMJDuyan
(𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝟏𝟎𝟎) (𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟏)-𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐬
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐏𝐏 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬:
- Understand the goals and objectives of the Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP) curriculum, recognizing its importance in fostering practical life skills and values among students. Students will also be able to identify the key components and subjects covered, such as agriculture, home economics, industrial arts, and information and communication technology.
𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫:
-Define entrepreneurship, distinguishing it from general business activities by emphasizing its focus on innovation, risk-taking, and value creation. Students will describe the characteristics and traits of successful entrepreneurs, including their roles and responsibilities, and discuss the broader economic and social impacts of entrepreneurial activities on both local and global scales.
Chapter wise All Notes of First year Basic Civil Engineering.pptxDenish Jangid
Chapter wise All Notes of First year Basic Civil Engineering
Syllabus
Chapter-1
Introduction to objective, scope and outcome the subject
Chapter 2
Introduction: Scope and Specialization of Civil Engineering, Role of civil Engineer in Society, Impact of infrastructural development on economy of country.
Chapter 3
Surveying: Object Principles & Types of Surveying; Site Plans, Plans & Maps; Scales & Unit of different Measurements.
Linear Measurements: Instruments used. Linear Measurement by Tape, Ranging out Survey Lines and overcoming Obstructions; Measurements on sloping ground; Tape corrections, conventional symbols. Angular Measurements: Instruments used; Introduction to Compass Surveying, Bearings and Longitude & Latitude of a Line, Introduction to total station.
Levelling: Instrument used Object of levelling, Methods of levelling in brief, and Contour maps.
Chapter 4
Buildings: Selection of site for Buildings, Layout of Building Plan, Types of buildings, Plinth area, carpet area, floor space index, Introduction to building byelaws, concept of sun light & ventilation. Components of Buildings & their functions, Basic concept of R.C.C., Introduction to types of foundation
Chapter 5
Transportation: Introduction to Transportation Engineering; Traffic and Road Safety: Types and Characteristics of Various Modes of Transportation; Various Road Traffic Signs, Causes of Accidents and Road Safety Measures.
Chapter 6
Environmental Engineering: Environmental Pollution, Environmental Acts and Regulations, Functional Concepts of Ecology, Basics of Species, Biodiversity, Ecosystem, Hydrological Cycle; Chemical Cycles: Carbon, Nitrogen & Phosphorus; Energy Flow in Ecosystems.
Water Pollution: Water Quality standards, Introduction to Treatment & Disposal of Waste Water. Reuse and Saving of Water, Rain Water Harvesting. Solid Waste Management: Classification of Solid Waste, Collection, Transportation and Disposal of Solid. Recycling of Solid Waste: Energy Recovery, Sanitary Landfill, On-Site Sanitation. Air & Noise Pollution: Primary and Secondary air pollutants, Harmful effects of Air Pollution, Control of Air Pollution. . Noise Pollution Harmful Effects of noise pollution, control of noise pollution, Global warming & Climate Change, Ozone depletion, Greenhouse effect
Text Books:
1. Palancharmy, Basic Civil Engineering, McGraw Hill publishers.
2. Satheesh Gopi, Basic Civil Engineering, Pearson Publishers.
3. Ketki Rangwala Dalal, Essentials of Civil Engineering, Charotar Publishing House.
4. BCP, Surveying volume 1
The chapter Lifelines of National Economy in Class 10 Geography focuses on the various modes of transportation and communication that play a vital role in the economic development of a country. These lifelines are crucial for the movement of goods, services, and people, thereby connecting different regions and promoting economic activities.
RHEOLOGY Physical pharmaceutics-II notes for B.pharm 4th sem students
Season Extension for Gardening; Gardening Guidebook for Chatham County, North Carolina
1. 1
Season Extension
Debbie Roos, Agricultural Extension Agent
North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Center
919-542-8202; debbie_roos@ncsu.edu
Doug Jones, Land Lab Manager
Central Carolina Community College, Pittsboro Campus
919-444-9680, farmerdj@emji.net
Introduction and Basic Principles
What exactly is season extension?
In agriculture, season extension refers to anything that allows a crop to be cultivated
beyond its normal outdoor growing season.
Advantages
• Possible year-round income
• Retention of old customers
• Gain in new customers
• Higher prices
• Higher yields
• Better quality
• Extended employment for workers
Disadvantages
• No break in yearly work schedule
• Increased management demands
• Higher production costs
• Plastic disposal problems
How does season extension contribute to sustainability?
“…to make a real difference in creating a local food system, local growers need to be
able to continue supplying “fresh” food through the winter months…[and] to do that
without markedly increasing our expenses or our consumption of non-renewable
resources”. – Eliot Coleman, The New Organic Grower
Thermodynamics and Properties of Plants
We can extend the growing and harvest season for crops through techniques that evolve
from two primary strategic goals:
2. 2
1. Protecting crops from damage from extremes of heat or cold
2. Enhancing the growth of crops for quicker maturity and higher quality under adverse
weather conditions
Often one technique will affect more than one strategy. For example, a raised bed will
dry faster and warm up sooner in spring, but will therefore require more attention to
irrigation needs, and may develop higher-than-desirable soil temperatures sooner than flat
ground when summer arrives. It can also cool faster than flat ground. Another example:
A row cover may protect a crop from a frost, but can also prevent the crop from
developing as much hardiness as an uncovered crop, due to the artificial mild climate
under the cover.
Growers are much more likely to succeed in their efforts to extend the growing season for
crops if they understand some basic principles about heat and cold, about how plants
respond to thermal changes, and how various landscape features and protective materials
influence the thermal environment of plants.
Controlling the flow of heat
• The ground is a huge reservoir of heat. It's the heat radiating from the soil that
protects crops at night when you cover them, or protects the lower part of plants that
have a good canopy of leaves. As the ground gets colder in late fall, it radiates less
heat. Thus the leaf canopy or added row covers will give less protection as the
ground cools. The reverse is true as the soil temperature increases in spring. Wet
ground conducts and radiates more heat than dry ground.
• Lighter, sandier soils and any soil in a raised bed will dry out, warm up, and
become workable earlier in the spring. Adding organic matter to clay soils can
improve drainage; this will also darken any soil so it will absorb more heat. Dark
mulches, such as black plastic, also raise soil temps. Mulches will insulate the ground
and allow less heat out at night; thus crops will be colder on mulched ground.
• Clouds form a “blanket” that slows radiant heat loss from the earth. Temperatures can
drop as much as 5-10° F within an hour after the sky clears at night. The arrival of
cloud cover will often raise temperatures and save crops on a frosty night.
• Water can store a lot of heat and can give it up relatively quickly. This enables
overhead irrigation to protect a crop from frost. It also creates warmer microclimates
near ponds or other bodies of water.
• Water also absorbs heat quickly, and evaporating water removes heat from its
environment. Thus, overhead irrigation on a hot day can cool heat-sensitive crops or
aid germination of heat sensitive seeds.
3. 3
• Land sloping to the south will stay warmer in the late fall and warm up sooner in the
early spring. Land sloping east will warm sooner in the morning; to the west it stays
warmer in the evening.
• Cold air is heavier than warm air, and will slide down slopes to settle in flat areas or
hollows, often referred to as “frost pockets”. On a calm night, the warmest
“microclimate” in a given area will often be near the top of a slope. Objects in a
landscape, such as buildings or created windbreaks, can influence the movement of
cold air. Windbreaks uphill from a crop can protect from frost; downhill from a
crop may cause trapping of cold air. A forest surrounding a smaller, level field on
several sides may also keep cold air from reaching the crops.
• Windbreaks, such as buildings, hedges, fencerows, or woods, can influence
microclimates in other ways. They can create a useful “microclimate”, where solar
gain can accumulate in daytime; wind can stress plants by accelerating evaporation
from leaves; it can also push cold air deeper into the canopy of the crop or through a
row cover. The “wind chill factor” means: moving air extracts heat from objects
faster than still air.
• Remember: Weather forecasts are usually for urban areas; temperatures on clear
nights can be as much as 10 degrees lower in rural frost pockets than what is stated
in the media for a general local area.
Hardiness: which crops have how much, and under what conditions?
• If the weather gets colder gradually, plants will develop hardiness, and be less
damaged by extreme cold. If extreme cold immediately follows a warm spell, it
will do much more damage to most crops.
• Moderate wind also helps to harden crops, both in the field and in seed flats. "Soft"
transplants, freshly transplanted to the field, are more vulnerable to frost damage than
hardened plants.
• Higher nitrogen levels will keep plants soft, less hardy. Various stresses and health
conditions can also lessen hardiness.
• Each crop, when thoroughly hardened, has a typical threshold temperature, below
which it will usually be damaged. Within each crop, varieties will vary in their
hardiness, hence the range of temperatures given in the following table. Consult seed
catalog variety descriptions for mention of degree of hardiness. The table below is
based on Doug Jones’ personal experience.
Threshold Damage Temperatures for Common Crops
TENDER CROPS (crops originally from the tropics): All are damaged at 31-32° F.
These include all the nightshades – tomatoes, peppers, etc. (young potatoes can recover
4. 4
from moderate frost), cucurbits (squashes, cukes, melons, etc), beans, basil, sweet
potatoes, and corn (can also recover).
COOL SEASON CROPS: Most crops below will survive at temperatures lower than the
indicated range. If winter survival is the main goal, some damage is acceptable; the plants
will usually recover as the weather warms up.
VERY HARDY HARDY SEMI-HARDY
Leeks (5-20° F) Cabbage (12-20° F) Lettuce (20-25° F)
Parsnips (tops 15° F, Broccoli (18-22° F) Cauliflower (25-28° F)
roots 0° F)
Spinach (8-12°) Brussels Spr. (15-20° F) Carrot (tops 10° F,
roots 30° F)
Rutabaga (10-15° F) Beets, Chard (15-25° F)
Kale (10-15° F) Peas (18-25° F;
blossoms 30° F)
Mustard (10-15° F)
Slow-Growing Cool Season Crops – a special challenge in the Piedmont
In the Piedmont, we have two seasons of moderate weather enjoyed by cool weather
crops (60-75° days): spring and fall. These seasons are often less than 60 days long. The
quick-maturing crops are relatively easy to fit into this window: lettuce, spinach, mustard
greens, radishes, spring peas, fall carrots. Using transplants helps to fit the cole crops into
spring and fall, though the fall seedlings need to be started in a shaded location, and the
spring crop in a greenhouse or cold frame. Very slow crops, like parsnips, Brussels
sprouts, and celery are more difficult. Row covers can help to get these crops started
extra early in spring, so they can finish before hot weather degrades them. Covers can
help the fall crop mature without damage.
Temperature Extremes Affecting Germination and Seedling Vigor
One limitation of early spring planting is the negative effect of cold soil on germination.
Seedlings that emerge slowly are much more vulnerable to attack by soil pathogens.
Clear plastic laid directly on a seedbed can help seeds germinate quickly, provided the
soil doesn’t overheat.
Conversely, hot soil inhibits germination of some fall crops, particularly spinach, lettuce,
parsnips, beets. Use mulches, shading, and/or micro-sprinklers to cool the soil and crop.
5. 5
Days required for vegetable seedling emergence
at various soil temperatures for seeds planted ½ inch deep
Soil Temperature (° F)
Crop 41 50 60 68 77 86 95
Cool Season
Broccoli 28 20 10 7 5 4 -
Cabbage 24 15 9 6 5 4 -
Cauliflower 30 20 10 6 5 5 -
Onion 31 13 7 5 4 4 13
Pea 36 14 9 8 6 6 -
Spinach 23 12 7 6 5 6 NG
Warm Season
Snap Beans NG NG 16 11 8 6 6
Eggplant - - 27 13 8 5 7
Muskmelon - - NG 8 4 3 -
Pepper NG NG 25 13 8 8 9
Sweet Corn NG 22 12 7 4 4 3
Tomato NG 43 14 8 6 6 9
NG = No Germination; - = Not Tested
Source: California Agricultural Extension Leaflet
Cultural Practices for Season Extension
Cultural Practices for Modifying Micro-climate
There are lots of things you can do to modify the crop microclimate that do not involve
covers or structures. Some of these strategies require long-term planning.
Site Selection
Land with a south-facing slope will stay warmer in the late fall and warm up sooner in
the early spring. A site at the top of the slope, with unimpeded air drainage down the hill,
would be ideal for maximizing season extension.
Soil and Moisture Management
Adding organic matter, tillage, raised beds, improve drainage
6. 6
Cultivar Selection
• Cultivar selection is an important strategy for achieving season extension. The
number of days from planting to maturity varies from cultivar to cultivar, and some
cultivars germinate better in cool soil than others.
• Staggered planting dates can be combined with the use of cultivars spanning a range
of maturity dates to greatly extend the harvest season for any one crop.
• Heat-tolerant varieties can help extend the season of certain crops.
• See enclosed ATTRA publication Scheduling Vegetable Plantings for Continuous
Harvest
Transplants
Use of transplants is a key season extension technique. They can provide a 3-4 week head
start on the season.
Irrigation
• Increasing or decreasing soil water content can enable tillage operations, prevent
waterlogging of the root zone and/or aid germination.
• Overhead irrigation can be used to protect crops from frost. Micro-sprinklers can be
used to cool them.
Windbreaks
• Use of windbreaks can result in increased yield and earlier crop production by
providing wind protection. Young plants are most susceptible to wind damage and
“sand blasting”. Rye strips between rows can provide protection from wind and wind-
borne sand. Windbreaks can improve early plant growth and earlier crop production,
particularly with melons, cucumbers, squash, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and okra.
• The major benefit of a windbreak is improved use of moisture. Reducing the wind
speed reaching the crop reduces both the direct evaporation from the soil and the
moisture transpired from the crop. This moisture advantage also improves conditions
for seed germination. Seeds germinate more rapidly and young plants put down roots
more quickly. Improved moisture conditions continue to enhance crop growth and
development throughout the growing season.
7. 7
• The type and height of the windbreak determine its effectiveness. Windbreaks can
be living or non-living. Rye strips are suggested for intensive vegetable production
based on economics. In general, the windbreak has a significant effect on the crop at a
distance of 8 times the height of the windbreak. A rye strip 3 feet tall will protect
vegetables up to 24 feet away. The windbreak should be planted perpendicular to the
prevailing wind direction. Rye strips should be planted from September through
October to obtain good plant establishment and to provide adequate time for plant
growth prior to beginning the next production season.
Fabrics and Structures for Season Extension
Plastic Mulch
• Plastic mulches have been used commercially for the production of vegetables since
the early 1960s. Plastic mulches provide many positive advantages for the user, such
as increased yields, earlier maturing crops, crops of higher quality, enhanced insect
management, and weed control. They also allow other components, such as drip
irrigation, to achieve maximum efficiency. Although a variety of vegetables can be
grown successfully using plastic mulches, muskmelons, tomatoes, peppers,
cucumbers, squash, eggplant, watermelons, and okra have shown the most significant
responses. Production of strawberries and cut flowers is also greatly improved by the
use of plastic mulch.
• Plastic mulches directly impact the microclimate around the plant by modifying the
radiation budget (absorbitivity vs. reflectivity) of the surface and decreasing the soil
water loss. The color of a mulch largely determines its energy-radiating behavior
and its influence on the microclimate around a vegetable plant. Color affects the
surface temperature of the mulch and the underlying soil temperature. Another
important factor is the degree of contact between the mulch and soil or by not
being taut, often quantified as a thermal contact resistance, will greatly influence the
performance of a mulch. If an air space is created between the plastic mulch and the
soil by a rough soil surface, soil warming can be less effective than would be
expected from a particular mulch.
• Black plastic mulch - the predominant color used in vegetable production is an
opaque blackbody absorber and radiator. Much of the solar energy absorbed by black
plastic mulch is lost to the atmosphere through radiation and forced convection. The
efficiency with which black mulch increases soil temperature can be improved by
optimizing conditions for transferring heat from the mulch to the soil. Because
thermal conductivity of the soil is high relative to that of air, much of the energy
absorbed by black plastic can be transferred to the soil by conduction if contact is
good between the plastic mulch and the soil surface. Soil temperatures under black
plastic mulch during the daytime are generally 5° F higher at a 2-inch depth and 3° F
higher at a 4-inch depth compared to those of bare soil.
8. 8
• Clear plastic mulch - absorbs little solar radiation but transmits 85% to 95%, with
relative transmission depending on the thickness and degree of opacity of the
polyethylene. The undersurface of clear plastic mulch usually is covered with
condensed water droplets. This water is transparent to incoming shortwave radiation
but is opaque to outgoing longwave infrared radiation, so much of the heat lost to the
atmosphere from a bare soil by infrared radiation is retained by clear plastic mulch.
Thus, daytime soil temperatures under clear plastic mulch are generally 8 to 14° F
higher at a 2-inch depth and 6 to 9° F higher at a 4-inch depth compared to those of
bare soil. Clear plastic mulches generally are used in the cooler regions of the United
States, such as the New England states. Weeds can be a big problem under clear
mulch.
• White, white-on-black, or silver reflecting mulch - can result in a slight decrease in
soil temperature (-2° F at 1-inch depth or -0.7° F at a 4-inch depth) compared to bare
soil, because they reflect back into the plant canopy most of the incoming solar
radiation. These mulches can be used to establish a crop when soil temperatures are
high and any reduction in soil temperatures is beneficial.
• Infrared-transmitting mulch - These mulches provide the weed control properties
of black mulch but are intermediate between black and clear mulch in terms of
increasing soil temperature. The color of these mulches can be blue-green or brown.
These mulches warm up the soil like clear mulch but without the accompanying weed
problem.
• Red mulch – performs like black mulch, warming the soil, controlling weeds, and
conserving moisture, with one important difference. In Pennsylvania experiments,
tomato crops responded with an average 12% increase in marketable fruit yield over a
3-year period. There appears to be a reduction in the incidence of early blight in
plants grown on red mulch, compared with plants grown on black mulch. When
environmental conditions for plant growth are ideal, tomato response to red mulch is
minimal. Other crops that may respond with higher yields include eggplant, peppers,
melons, and strawberries.
Source: Center for Plasticulture at Penn State
• NC A&T State University Black Plastic Mulch Program – contact Marshay Privot
at mtprivot@ncat.edu or call 336-334-7957
• Biodegradable mulch
o Biodegradable plastics are made with starches from plants such as corn,
wheat, and potatoes. They are broken down by microbes. Biodegradable
plastics currently on the market are more expensive than traditional plastics,
but the lower price of traditional plastics does not reflect their true
environmental cost. Field trials in Australia using biodegradable mulch on
tomato and pepper crops have shown it performs just as well as polyethylene
9. 9
film, and it can simply be plowed into the ground after harvest. Researchers
with Cornell University also found that biodegradable mulches supported
good yields, but the films they used are not yet commercially available in the
U.S. Bio-Film is the first gardening film for the U.S. market. Made from
cornstarch and other renewable resources, it is 100% biodegradable. Bio-Film
is available from Dirt Works in Vermont.
o Paper mulch can provide benefits similar to plastic and is also biodegradable.
An innovative group in Virginia carried out on-farm experiments to explore
alternatives to plastic. They compared soil temperatures and tomato growth
using various mulches, including black plastic, Planters Paper, and recycled
kraft paper. Plastic, paper, and organic mulches all improved total yields of
tomatoes grown in the trials, when compared with tomatoes grown on bare
soil.
o Recycled kraft paper is available in large rolls at low cost. Participants in the
experiment were concerned that it would break down too quickly. To retard
degradation, they oiled the paper. This resulted in rather transparent mulch
and, as with clear plastic, soil temperatures were higher than under black
plastic. Weeds also grew well under the transparent mulch. To reduce weed
growth and to keep the soil from becoming too hot, the experimenters put hay
over the oiled paper several weeks after it was laid.
o Planters Paper is a commercially available paper mulch designed as an
alternative to plastic. It comprises most of the benefits of black plastic film
and has other advantages. It is porous to water. Left in the soil, or tilled in
after the growing season, it will degrade. Tomatoes grown with this mulch
showed yields and earliness similar to tomatoes grown in black polyethylene
mulch, even though the latter resulted in slightly higher soil temperatures.
Planters Paper, however, is considerably more expensive than black plastic. It
does not have the stretchability of plastic, and it tends to degrade prematurely
along the edges where it is secured with a layer of soil. The paper is then
subject to being lifted by the wind. Rebar, old pipe, or stones—rather than
soil—can be used to secure the edges.
Source: ATTRA Season Extension Techniques for Market Gardeners
Row Covers
Two main types of row covers:
1. floating row covers - lie directly over the crop and may cover multiple rows
2. Hoop-supported row covers - sometimes referred to as low tunnels, they
generally cover a single row
10. 10
There are also two basic types of row cover materials:
1. clear polyethylene
2. spunbonded polyester or polypropylene
All of these are available in varying thicknesses, weights, widths, and lengths.
• Crop distinctions such as temperature sensitivity, pollination methods, and growth
habit dictate the type of row cover that is best to use.
• Spunbonded covers are comprised of a thin mesh of white synthetic fibers which
entrap heat and serve as a barrier to wind, insects, and varmints. Water from rain or
overhead irrigation freely passes through. The weight of these covers ranges from 0.3
to about 2.0 oz/sq yd. The lightest covers are used primarily for insect exclusion
while the heaviest of the covers are used for frost protection. The most common
medium weights are 0.5 to 1.25 oz/sq yd and are best for season extension for such
crops as melons, cucumbers, squash, lettuces, peas, carrots, radishes, potatoes, sweet
corn, strawberries, and cut flowers. With covers under 0.5 oz there is minimal heat
retention at night; and over 1.75 oz, there is a significant reduction in light
transmission. The heavy covers are used for nighttime frost protection only since they
do not transmit sufficient light for optimum crop growth.
• Spunbonded row covers in the 0.5 to 1.25 oz range provide 2-4° F frost protection in
the spring. In the fall, there is more protection because there is a larger reservoir of
heat in the soil in the fall than in the spring.
Floating row covers
• Floating covers require much less installation labor than hoop supported covers. The
wider and longer the covers, the less labor required per unit area since only the edges
are secured. These covers vary in width from 3 to 60 feet and up to over 2,000 feet
long. Even though most crops can be grown without damage under floating covers,
tomatoes and pepper are an exception. If the spunbonded material is not supported
with wire hoops for these crops, flapping of the cover in the wind will damage the
growing points of young plants. Also, with summer squash under windy conditions,
many of the leaves might be broken by the cover. For these three crops, a series of
strategically placed wire hoops will prevent crop damage.
• Weed control can be a significant problem under row covers unless they are used in
combination with plastic or some other type of mulch.
Hoop-supported row covers
• Hoop-supported row covers are often called low tunnels. They offer many of the
same benefits as floating row covers, but are not permeable to air or water and are
more labor-intensive. There are several types of low tunnels. Slitted row covers have
11. 11
pre-cut slits that provide a way for excessive hot air to escape. At night the slits
remain closed, reducing the rate of convective heat loss and helping to maintain
higher temperatures inside the tunnel. Punched row covers have small holes punched
about 4 inches apart to ventilate hot air. The punched covers trap more heat than the
slitted tunnels. They are best for northern areas and must be managed carefully to
avoid overheating crops on bright days. They are useful for peppers, tomatoes,
eggplant, most cucurbits, and other warm-season crops that grow upright.
Additional Observations by Doug Jones:
• In the protected, wind-free, slightly warmer environment under the cover, crops will
grow faster during cold weather. Ironically, this effect also prevents plants from
developing as much hardiness as equivalent crops with no protection! To deal with
this, I add a second cover when extreme cold is forecast.
• In the Piedmont, many cool-season crops can be brought through the winter under an
adequate thickness of fabric (medium weight fabric: add a second layer). Crops
actually grow a little during winter warm spells.
• High (hoophouse) or low tunnels with a single layer of clear plastic get much warmer
on sunny winter days than fabric covered beds, so crops will grow faster. But it gets
about as cold at night in the hoop house as under the fabric covers. In the coldest
weather I like to add a row cover to beds of semi-hardy crops inside the hoophouse.
Clear plastic must be ventilated on calm, sunny days when ambient temperatures are
above 50-60° F. Otherwise, the crop will be overheated.
• Plant leaves that touch the fabric usually get more damaged from extreme cold, and
from strong winds whipping the cover back and forth. A tunnel structure of heavy (9
gauge) wire hoops will help to keep the fabric from touching the leaves of the crop.
Concrete block wire (“ladder wire”) makes a more stable tunnel structure. It's
important to stretch the fabric very tight end-to-end, and use lots of pins, soil, or rocks
to keep big winds from blowing your covers into the trees. Red plastic “Repins™” are
very effective for pinning, as well as easy to pull up for access to the crop.
• Wire hoops are not sufficient to prevent heavy snow from collapsing the
cover. Sometimes I just take the cover off when a big snow is forecast, and actually
get less damage than under the collapsed tunnels. Powdery snow itself is a good
insulator.
High Tunnels
• A high tunnel, or hoophouse, is basically an arched or hoop-shaped frame covered
with clear plastic and high enough to stand in or drive a tractor through. Traditional
high tunnels are completely solar-heated, without electricity for automated ventilation
or heating systems.
12. 12
• High tunnels have been used for many years throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle
East and they are rapidly gaining in popularity here. Several universities are now
conducting high tunnel research (see Resources handout for websites).
• Benefits of high tunnels:
o Crops grown in hoophouses have higher quality and are larger than those
grown in the field.
o Crops grown in hoophouses can hit the market early when prices are high and
help to capture loyal customers for the entire season.
o Hoophouses allow certain crops to be grown throughout the winter, providing
a continuous supply to markets the entire year.
• Crops that have been grown in high tunnels include specialty cut flowers, lettuce and
other greens, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, raspberries, strawberries,
blueberries, and cherries. Although high tunnels provide a measure of protection from
low temperatures, they are not frost protection systems in the same sense that
greenhouses are. On average, tunnels permit planting about three weeks earlier than
outdoor planting of warm season crops. They also can extend the season for about a
month in the fall.
• Hoophouses are not difficult to build. The most common design uses galvanized
metal bows attached to metal posts driven into the ground 4 feet apart—a traditional
quonset style structure. Strength is important. Heavy-gauge galvanized steel pipe is
best for hoops. Setting the hoops four feet rather than any further apart is also
recommended. Growers in snowy climates might choose a peaked-roof structure
instead of the quonset style. The most critical components of a hoop house for
strength are the end walls.
• The most economical covering is 6-mil greenhouse grade, UV-treated polyethylene,
which should last three to five years. Do not use plastic that is not UV-treated—"It
will fall apart after half a season”. Some growers use a double layer of plastic.
• Roll-up sides used on many high tunnels provide a simple and effective way to
manage ventilation and control temperature. The edge of the plastic is taped to a one-
inch pipe that runs the length of the tunnel. A sliding "T" handle is attached to the end
of the pipe so that the plastic can be rolled up as high as the hip board. Ventilation is
controlled by rolling up the sides to dispel the heat. Depending on temperature and
wind factors, the two sides may be rolled up to different heights.
• Temperature management using the roll-up sides is critical. On sunny mornings, the
sides must be rolled up to prevent a rapid rise in temperature. Tomato blossoms, as
mentioned earlier, will be damaged when temperatures go above 86° F for a few
hours. Even on cloudy days, rolling up the sides provides ventilation to help reduce
humidity that could lead to disease problems. The sides should be rolled down in the
13. 13
evening until night temperatures reach 65° F. A maximum/minimum thermometer is
a great aid in keeping tabs on temperature.
• Twenty feet by 96 feet is a size commonly used by market growers. This size allows
efficient heating and cooling, efficient growing space, and adequate natural
ventilation.
• Alison and Paul Wiediger of Au Naturel Farm in Kentucky also use a commercially
available 20- by 96-foot high tunnel, in addition to two 21-by 60-foot tunnels. They
think there is value in building as large a structure as is practical. They also find that
plants close to the walls do not grow as well as the plants further from them. The
larger the frame, the larger the percentage of effective growing area. And most
growers want more, rather than less, space at the end of one growing season.
Most of the growing in this tunnel will be in spring, fall, and winter when
outside temperatures are cooler/colder. We believe that both the earth and
the air within the tunnel act as heat sinks when the sun shines. At night,
they give up that heat, and keep the plants safe. The smaller the structure,
the smaller that temperature "flywheel" is, and the cooler the inside
temperatures will be.
• The Wiedigers use a double layer of 6-mil, 4-year poly to cover their tunnels. A small
fan blows air between the two layers to create an insulating barrier against the cold.
Construction and management details can be found in their manual, Walking to
Spring: Using High Tunnels to Grow Produce 52 Weeks a Year (See Resources
handout).
Source: ATTRA Season Extension Techniques for Market Gardeners
• Eliot Coleman popularized the concept of the mobile high tunnel in the U.S. The
tunnels sit on railroad wheels and roll on wooden rails so they can be moved from one
site to another. For example, the tunnel might be used to start a lettuce crop, and once
the spring warmed up enough for the lettuce to thrive outdoors, the tunnel is moved to
the second site where tomatoes are planted. Coleman’s book Four-Season Harvest
provides details on the mobile tunnel model.
Haygrove Multibay Tunnel Systems
• With Haygrove tunnels, innovative growers are literally covering their fields to
protect high-value crops from early and late frost, heavy rain, wind, hail, and disease.
The frames also provide support for shade cloth and bird netting. The British
company Haygrove was started in 1988 with a little more than two acres of
strawberries in hoophouses. By 2002, Haygrove had expanded to nearly 250 acres of
soft fruits, including strawberries, blackberries, red currants, and cherries, grown
under plastic in England and eastern Europe. They also came up with a new design
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for multibay tunnels and sold 3,000 acres of tunnels throughout Europe.
• Haygrove tunnels are now being distributed and used in the U.S. Haygrove sells
tunnels from 18 to 28 feet wide per bay, with a three bay minimum. There are no
walls between bays. The total length and width can be whatever the grower desires.
Company representative Ralph Cramer in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, says he
has seen tunnels as short as 65 feet and as long as 1,100 feet. They have been used to
cover from 1/3 acre to 100 acres (of blueberries in California). Unlike greenhouses,
Haygrove tunnels don't need to be built on flat ground, but can be built on slopes.
Cramer says advantages of the systems include lower cost and better ventilation. One
acre of Haygrove tunnels costs about 55 cents per square foot, or about $24,000.
Local Example of Haygrove Tunnel System: Peregrine Farm
• Locally, Alex and Betsy Hitt of Peregrine Farm purchased a half an acre (two ¼ acre
blocks) of Haygrove tunnels and first used them for the 2004 growing season. They
had actually gotten a quote before the 2003 season began and the price scared them so
they walked away. But then the summer of 2003 yielded a horrible tomato crop due to
all the rain and disease so they decided to go for it. They had seen the Haygroves
being used for cut flower production in California and Pennsylvania. They wanted
them mainly as “dry houses” to keep the tomatoes dry and also for certain flowers
that don’t like their blooms getting wet (lisianthus, poppies, campanula, delphinium,
etc.). Alex and Betsy already had 6 mobile high tunnels that worked great for
tomatoes but they wanted something that could be moved with the rotation, cover lots
of ground, and be well-suited for cover crops.
• They contacted Ralph Cramer of Cramer’s Posie Patch, the east coast distributor for
Haygrove. They ordered two ¼ acre blocks because that was the size of their rotation
plots. Each bay is 24 feet wide. The Haygrove tunnels are shipped over from
England. It takes about 8 weeks. The shipping cost alone is $4,000, whether the cargo
container is full or not. If growers did a cooperative purchase they could reduce
shipping costs. The total cost, including shipping, was $0.85/square foot. The plastic
is supposed to last for at least two years; Alex will get at least three years.
• Construction of Haygroves: You have to be prepared for the delivery. You have to
unload everything within two hours or you get charged Alex received over 5 tons of
stuff! The roll of plastic itself weighed one ton. Need to have appropriate equipment
ready for off-loading. The Hitts constructed the tunnels in October and covered them
with plastic the following April. Haygrove sends someone to advise you on
construction. They won’t do any of the actual work but they are there to tell you how
to do it. The Hitt’s Haygrove rep spent an entire day with them and showed them how
to lay out the field. It took two people 80 hours total to construct ½ acre of
Haygroves. It took 4 people an additional hour to cover each bay in plastic.
• The Hitts use one ¼ acre block for cut flowers and one for heirloom tomatoes.
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• Advantages of Haygroves
• Disease protection – Alex has a mysterious strain of anthracnose disease that
attacks his tomatoes. This disease has even left our plant pathologists
stumped. Under the Haygroves, the disease comes 3-4 weeks later, so instead
of 5 weeks of production, he gets 8-9 weeks, and a 35% increase in income.
At this rate, it will take three years to pay off the tunnels. They are still trying
to work out which crops are best suited for the Haygroves. For some crops, it
may increase disease. Dahlias had powdery mildew under the Haygroves.
• Improved quality – Alex believes they would be great for producing a superior
quality melon since they would control the amount of rain which often dilutes
the sugars and causes splitting. They grew melons in the Haygroves the first
year and they did great until the plastic had to be removed for an impending
hurricane and then the melons all exploded!
• Provides season extension – doesn’t just affect temperature but also wind and
moisture. The multiple huge bays means there’s a large area of air under there
that cools off slower at night. The Haygroves were originally designed in
England to keep strawberries dry, so they are designed more for controlling
rainfall rather than temperature. However, the Hitts did have a surprise frost
hot after planting their tomatoes – the ground outside was totally white and
the tomatoes inside the tunnels were fine.
• Disadvantages of Haygroves
• They are very difficult to construct if you have rocky soil, as the Hitts do. The
legs are sunk 30 inches, and Alex had to use a jackhammer! This causes
problems not only with initial installation but also makes it difficult to move
them. To get around this problem, the Hitts are going to install another set of
permanent legs, which the Haygroves can be moved to. This will allow them
to have a three year rotation with the Haygroves.
• The Haygroves present a huge sail out in the field so you have to be prepared
to vent them by pushing the plastic up very high. They are designed to
withstand 70 mph winds. They were designed for England conditions where
they don’t get thunderstorms like we do that bring wind and rain at the same
time. The Hitts have already had some bows bend due to a downdraft
thunderstorm. They learned that come the first of May, they vent the tunnels,
using ladders to push the plastic as high as they can. They make sure to roll
the plastic up inside so it doesn’t wrinkle and collect water running off the top
– this would soon weigh it down and cause bending.
• They are not designed to take a snow load. They must be uncovered in winter.
They can be used with sidewalls and end walls but they still are not designed
for overwintering crops.
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• Like any greenhouse, there will be a lot of water running off so you need to
prepare for this when preparing the site. Make sure that when the water pours
down the sides, it can run off between the rows and not across them. Alex digs
a little trench in the leg row and seeds it with a cover crop to direct water out
into the field.
• Would they do it again, knowing what they know now? Alex said they would. For
them, it was a specific answer to a specific problem, and tomatoes were 16% of their
business so it was worth solving that problem. For people who want to grow lettuce
all season, a Haygrove is not for them. They should just get a high tunnel. The
Haygroves are pretty labor-intensive, and it takes a couple of years to learn how to
best manage them.
Shade
• Although season extension usually brings to mind an image of protecting plants from
the cold, modifying temperatures in mid-summer can also be important. Shade over a
bed can create a cool microclimate that will help prevent bolting and bitterness in
heat-sensitive crops such as lettuce and spinach, make it possible to grow warm-
weather crops in areas with very hot summers, and hasten germination of cool-
weather fall crops.
• Some growers provide cooling shade by growing vines such as gourds on cattle
panels or similar frames placed over the beds. Shade fabrics, available from
greenhouse- and garden-supply companies, can be fastened over hoops in summer to
lower soil temperatures and protect crops from wind damage, sunscald, and drying.
Placing plants under 30 to 50% shade in midsummer can lower the leaf temperature
by 10° F or more.
• Commercial shade fabrics are differentiated by how much sunlight they block. For
vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, use 30% shade cloth in areas with very hot
summers. For lettuce, spinach, and cole crops, use 47% in hot areas, 30% in northern
or coastal climates. Use 63% for shade-loving plants. (The maximum shade density—
80%—is often used over patios and decks to cool people as well as plants). Shade
houses can also provide frost protection for perennials and herbs during winter.
Temperatures inside can be as much as 20° F higher than outdoors.
Source: ATTRA Season Extension Techniques for Market Gardeners