Transcript Passive Solar Greenhouse Cultivation

Passive Solar Greenhouse
Cultivation
Key Topics
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Centurion Farms CSA
Greenhouse site selection and preparation
Greenhouse construction
Crop selection and Planting Plans
Soil preparation
Seeding-Direct sow and Transplants
Crop rotation
Temperate and water regulation
Harvest and post harvest
Field Production
Centurion Farms CSA
•
•
•
Centurion Farms, LLC is a established, socially
responsible organization based on sustainable farming,
environmental conservation, community service, and
education
Situated on 8.5 acres, Centurion Farms, LLC follow
sustainable practices including crop rotation, cover
cropping, and composting to grow produce naturally,
without use of synthetic chemical additives
We will strive to maintain and improve soil health,
minimizing negative impact to the environment while
providing healthy, local foods to our community
What is CSA?
•
CSA is a partnership between farmers and customers where
customers become a member of a CSA by paying a fee at
the beginning of the growing season. Farmers provide a
portion or a ‘share’ of the farm’s produce to each CSA
member each week throughout the growing season.
•
Through direct sales to members, farmers receive better
prices for their crops, receive a guaranteed market for their
produce, and gain some market security
•
CSAs create agriculture-supported communities where
members receive a wide variety of foods freshly harvested
from local farms and farmers are able to produce a wide
variety of high quality vegetables on a small scale, while
creating jobs in the community
Centurion Farms CSA
•
In 2007 Centurion Farms, LLC followed the CSA concept, growing
vegetables on 1 acre garden to provide fresh produce to the needy in
Northeast Michigan
•
Rather than selling shares to private citizens, we initially planted, grew,
and harvested fresh local produce and delivered a total of 20 weekly
vegetable baskets (shares) to organizations such as Huron House boys
home, Hope House girls home, the Salvation Army Food Pantry, Sunrise
Mission for the homeless, Mio senior citizens center, Trinity Sunday meal
program and Shelter, Inc., an organization dedicated to assisting
victims/survivors of abuse and their families
Centurion Farms CSA
•
In 2008 we developed the CSA market garden to continue
supporting area shelters while also offering private shares to
families and individuals.
•
Our goal is to grow the program to the point where it will
support one full-time and numerous part-time employees in
Alpena County
•
Through use of variety selection, crop rotation, and hoop
houses, vegetable production can be extended to up to 8
months of the year. (2008 got a grant for ½ cost of passive
solar gothic greenhouse)
Sunrise Food Coalition
Mission Statement
As a collaboration of concerned citizens and
community-based organizations, Sunrise Food Coalition
is to build on existing service networks using grassroots organizing to strengthen the health and wellbeing of our greater community by developing local
food and farming enterprises and creating local jobs in
Northeast Michigan while ensuring every community
member has access to safe, nutritious, affordable food.
•
Greenhouse site selection and
preparation
Greenhouse Construction
Greenhouse Construction
Crop Selection and Planting Plans
Soil Preparation
• Remove and
•
•
•
•
compost previous
crop
Addition of organic
matter
Utilize a no till
system, (fork )
Rake bed
Sow and water
29 April 2009
Direct Seed or Transplant
Transplants
Tomato, Eggplant, Peppers, Melon, Cukes
squash, brassicaceas
Direct Sow, carrots, radish, spring onions,
peas, beets, etc..
Crop Rotation
• 5 beds
• Each bed grouped by
•
family or similar
cultivation of crops
Not growing crop in
same bed, rotated to
a different bed each
season
Temperature and Water
Water
Harvest and Post Harvest
Let’s go and check out greenhouse
and a bit on Field Production