Addressing food insecurity

 Yes, my blog has been quiet for a while, not because of a shortage of projects currently on the go, but rather, yah, been busy.

Part of a new project I am developing for my Rotary club to address food insecurity in our area.

In a nutshell, how to grow your own food at home easily and cheaply.  Supplemented by communal gardens and setting up gardens project at Senior residences, school etc.

A bit of a departure for my woodworking blog, but not to worry, lots of woodworking and others projects to come :-)

This project is a two part effort I am in the process of  fleshing out.

1- Growing food.  Spaces, setup, requirements, education.  Growing year round.

2- How to preserve and cook food. Its one thing to grow you must also know how to preserve and cook it.   Will rely on guest chefs from around the Valley, maybe get a foot in the door at the Devour festival to promote our project.

Both parts have some construction projects

- Seedling and cloning station TBD. in progress (will update)

- Potting station TBD, not selected yet

- Hydroculture projects.  Selected and in progress

Pic source

An example of Aeroponic tower.

Have a prototype in construction but want some changes.

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An example of NFT system

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An example of Ebb & Flow system to be installed in our greenhouse

Pic from Pinterest

Example of DWC with a control bucket

Not  hydroponic systems but soil based growing in tight spaces

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Worm composting garden tower

Probably, in my opinion, the very best worm composting system

The internet sensation Larry Hall and his grow rail system and its many variations and adaptations 

The Larry hall grow rail system , one example

The secret to its auto watering, a float valve 

I will build a two rails system, one rail for containers with 3 inch net pots, the other with fabric grow bags.

Why so many systems?  The right system depends a lot on the proposed usage, type of plants grown, how many and etc.  Want to gain experiences with a few systems to better understand them and their usage

And of course a few more woodworking projects to go along

Source unknow, from Facebook

The inspiration I used for Sub Irrigating raised beds, wheel chair accessible.

Picture these set up at senior residences, school cafeteria, community gardens etc.

Pic source  

An example of a Picnic table, wheel chair accessible

Pic from Facebook

Example of similar build, modified to be covered by bug nets or greenhouse cover.

 Enclosed raised bed 8X12 ft at home to test some of these systems.

SIP bed, Auto watering grow rail for 3 in net cups or fabric grow pots 

and NFT set up for growing strawberries.

Should alleviate problems with critters eating our berries :-)

Alongside these various projects at different stages of progress from selection, design, spec, build and uses, I am also setting up a proper grow corner in the basement besides the existing cold storage room.

In process of modifying the existing passive ventilation ducting in the cold room to bring in fresh air and exhaust air from grow tent.  Using mostly AC Infinity products for this setup.  I like their build quality, performance and price point.  Designed in California, built in China, sound familiar? :-)

And of course, the continuing improvements to bring to our greenhouses.

Greenhouse No1, the one that got hit by a tree, get another year of reprieve before being demolished and replaced by another design:  Chinese Passive Thermal with possibly closed system geothermal using a car radiator/fan, and glycol.  I need this one to stay up, currently used for storage until new shed goes up.

It will need some reinforcements to keep on trucking :-) 

No 2, will see more modifications.  Better insulate ends walls, fix draft bottom of rear door, more ventilation and better automation (AC Infinity No 69 WIFI controller) Make and install crank handle for opening side roll up vent and add screening.  Setup Hydro system Ebb & Flow inside along one side.  Need some electrical and water supply upgrades.  Will eventually switch it off the grid going solar. Install sink and potting table

To come as I write them :

How to design and build greenhouses

How to build the various projects I will undertake

Understanding series to help navigate around the various cryptic specifications on:

- Light requirements,  understanding the terms and the relationship between the various specifications.

How to measure correctly without breaking the bank. It's all about the PAR (PPFD, DLI)

- Temperature requirements, specifically the relationship between the trio of ambient, canopy and root temperatures.  How it affect the transpiration requirements of a plants along with proper humidity (VPD)

- The requirements of ventilation, both to control temperature swing and humidity control

- How to spec properly a water pump for various Hydroculture systems.  Lots of misleading and confusing specs out there.  What you need to know.  Similarly for air pump and air stones 

- The importance of nutrients and the differences between soil and hydroculture nutrients.  Less is always more.  How to measure PH in soil and Hydro, and balancing Nutrients and PH in Hydroculture nutrients solution.  Some of the pitfalls to avoid in Hydroponics.

And whatever else knowledge I deem important for a successful program.

May sounds a bit intimidating all these terms and acronym's, but really it is not all that complicate if you understand the relationship with each other. It is all about duplicating the plant requirements to thrive.

Well, that should keep me out of troubles for a while.  I will share with you my plans and progress as I go along.  Stay tuned...

And full disclosure: I am not a Horticultural specialist, but I did slept at a Holiday Inn express last nite :-)

I am self taught mostly and both my spouses (late and current) were/are avid gardeners.  Heather was big into African Violets and Jean is more of an outside gardener and grow up literally in a greenhouse.  Her mom had 6 greenhouses for her flower business. Learned a lot from Osmosis :-)

Bob, and his infamous never ending to do lists