VLOG75. What I’ve learned this year and how it’s going to effect my plan for 2017. Showing the economics of our winter microgreens production as well.
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Would it be a worthwhile experiment to transplant some of your lettuce to the garden bed of your warmer greenhouse and see how it fairs? Glad to see you using all that bench space for the micros like you had planned!
Would it pay to add Geothermal to the "Lettuce" greenhouse?
try some lights to see what the limiter is .
heat or light.
If you take the same energy used to run the heaters in the new greenhouse, and put it into florescent light fixtures it would be cost effective. The florescent fixtures produce both heat and light. The florescent fixtures extend the daylight hours, which tricks the plants into thinking it is summertime. They can be suspended from a PVC pipe framework. You already know they work in your "passive" solar greenhouse. Just putting lights on one row should convince you. Pea sprouts do just fine in cold temperatures. So does lettuce and spinach. They can easily be put on a pulley system to raise and lower. In the dead of winter you have time and resources to experiment with stuff like this. You just need to be willing to change.
I wonder if supplementing CO2 in the lettuce greenhouse would help? I know you like electric heaters, but had you used natural gas it would also supplemented CO2 which plants need to grow. You spend very little time in the lettuce greenhouse so perhaps the CO2 is very low. Easy enough to test, burn natural gas or propane, or dump a pile of hot compost inside and see what happens.
Lettuce -I'm zone 8/Texas. My experience is that by the time we get tomatoes going well, usually late May, our lettuce and other greens go bitter. I wish I knew how to at least postpone this. What causes this? Heat? Sunlight? Dehydration?
Beth
Have you considered getting some form of energy monitor so that you have an EXACT handle on energy use in your operation? I have a simple TED 1001RDU at my home to give Total consumption, but a more sophisticated setup would give you COMPLETE details of individual areas/components.
Company site: http://www.ted5000.ca
hi Curtis
You mentioned the Farmers Almanac and a few vlogs ago you asked for vlog ideas.
The FA has information on the best days to plant various crops based on the phases of the moon and astrological signs. Have you ever experimented with that or considered it when planting? Any thoughts on this subject?
I had the same problem in my tunnel in Nov. I'm in Palmer Alaska and the persephone period starts about Oct 14 or so. I planted according to the Johnnys winter planting guide but winter comes earlier and harder here. Next year I'm going to be more aggressive with heat, but I"m going to use grow lights as well. I'd be curious to know how your greenhouse would have performed with 16 hours of grow lights in addition to the heat.
Could you possibly add chickens to the ends of your green houses and have them working on compost piles and creating heat, or is that making things too crazy complicated? Just curious
I know the capital expense is high but would it be worth looking at supplemental lighting options for the winter greenhouse ?
It would not only solve the low light issue it would also cut the heating bill.
First off thanks so much for all of your helpful videos and information. I think what you're doing is very commendable. I hope to have my own farm in the next few years and definitely feel that your sharings, videos, and book are big factors in turning that dream into a reality. I wanted to ask if you could share any tips for stances and positions when harvesting, transplanting, or various other farming activities that help reduce fatigue, and stuff like back pains or aches. If you already have done a video on that please point me in the direction, as I have been unsuccessful at finding it. Thanks so much man, keep up the great work!
Hi. great video again. Have you considered winter purslane. might be good in the low tunnels, it can put up with very low temperatures.
Were you going to experiment with planting the vertical bag system anytime soon?
Curtis have you considered running water pipes under the lettuce beds then circulate warm water to keep the soil temp warmer simular to what JM is doing. thanks for yor effort and knowledge you share.
Hey Curtis,
you keep talking about using weights to help germination with micro greens, but can it help germinate your regular crops like tomatoes.
I plan on using the wet paper towel in a baggy technic myself.
Cool stuff CM. While you were talking about the economic viability of your green house I was wondering how much that depends on energy prices. Here in the UK I pay domestic rates of 13.67p/Kwh and 27.40pence a day for electricity and 2.88p/Kwh and 27.40pence a day standing charge for gas. Currently 30 pence = 0.48 CAN$0.48. I wonder how an increase in energy prices would affect your calculations and also what the effect of your new solar panels would be? I would imagine a set up like yours would be a disincentive to tax fossil fuels?
would you be better off using lighting instead of heating and getting the heat from the lights instead of heaters but fixing your cloud problems? you seem to run all the numbers on everything so have probably done this already.
Hi Curtis, Ive just bought your book and I am in the process of selling my house to move to a smaller unconverted barn with some garden as I have none here. In the Cotswolds in UK I am at the same weather type as you are in BC. I was just listening to you saying about the cold in the winter. I am going to harness the heat from my compost heap and pass hot water under one of my tunnels or if its too hot just in the room to raise the temperature for the winter months to see how well it works. As the system will be no dig the plastic pipe won't be damaged. It will be at least a year away but I have only just stumbled across your video's and at present not earning enough to pay for the online course. I look forward to when I can take full advantage of it though. I hope for you a prosperous and healthy new year ahead! D
Curtis, would it not be better to heat the greenhouse with a couple of rocket stoves and cut the energy cost there? You could use pallets and crates as a source of free fuel. Then you could add some T8 LEDs or a couple of 2kw fluoro-merc bulbs to deal with the low light conditions.
U need hot in winter ? … Take 20 % of your surface with chicken … The chicken generate a lot of heat and water, like humain … The hottest is "fumier de cheval" or "horse's shit" … Couche Chaudes … 60°C for 2 week like les maraichers Parisiens du XIXéme siécle …
Chicken can U provide "Organite Eggs" ou "oeufs Bio" … 200 eggs per chicken per year … Chicken shit is an excellent fertilizer for your soil .
Fumier de Cheval … The horse's shit a a faboulous natural fertilizer too ! … And it's free !
Curtis , Could you give us a rundown on your label printer?
Hey Curtis, wondering where you source your shallow 1020 trays in Canada? Thanks for all your work.
Rocket Mass Heaters are ok in a small scale rural situation, but I'm sure thats an issue with urban commercial. The ground heat transfer systems are interesting. I always forget its only zone 6b in areas like BC. I'm in the south & close to 6b and seriously thinking even a medium size/ depth earth heat transfer system will be worth it. Cob or CEB north walls are ok, but obviously water is superior for thermal mass. A north south divided dual purpose building is great especially if it can mutually benefit animals on the north side.
where do you get your micro seeds from?
you might be able to get away without having to take off the remay/row cover during the day, it seems to breathe well. we had no problems so far leaving them on radish arugula and lettuce although its been sunny and hot in the polytunnel… for many days there were maxes above 30 deg C in there according to the thermometer 😮 check in ur area how ot works out.. this way u could have caterpillar tunnels with greens and constant rowcovers in them on far out plots not having to commute there twice a day.
Why don't you use your lights on a track system in the heated green house for more light.
If you make it more efficient would you gain a return. Maybe add lights? Make warmer? Just thoughts
Thanks so much for these vlogs! I find them rather inspirational and have been watching, trying to catch up. A couple of questions for you…
How do you package micro greens for the grocery stores? Currently I do mine in gusseted poly bags but am wondering about clamshells.
Did you consider doing a heat bank in the new greenhouse? Would it work?
Do you have a video on how the harvest of the vertical wall worked for you?