With spring fast approaching, there's a whole bunch of cool projects that we are planning to start tackling this year. Here's a list of the current priority items.
1. Food production, of course!
The goal this year is to maximize our yield with the urban land(s) we are growing on. We will also be growing seeds for use next year on our loaned farm property in Stoney Creek ON. Also known as the Terra Thunder Centre of Excellence!
It's difficult finding reliable yield information from diversified organic farms but from what I gather something in the range of 2000-2500 lbs/acre is a good target. (ref: http://goo.gl/MweQGU).
There's a whole bunch of new varieties that we haven't grown before so it will be a great learning (and eating) experience. Take a look at our seed listing if you haven't yet: http://goo.gl/sJnZaF
2. Urban Food System
We're building a simple gardening ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) leveraging all the tools and power of GOOGLE!
The system aims to feature; a way to plan diversified cropping, input timesheets, track farm resources, post production, allow the general public to view production, and hopefully the close the loop a way for people to "purchase" the produce.
Why GOOGLE?
- costs free-ninety nice
- tools are there and it's supported well
- accessible enough for non-technical people to get into it
Besides, I've been meaning to play around with google apps script anyways. When/if the time comes to transition to something more developed and custom, all the data will be easy to collect and export anyways.
3. Black Solider Fly Larvae (BSFL)
These nasty maggots have gotten me hot and steamy like never before. I believe this species will become as prevalent in the composting community as red wiggler worms have in the past few years. I don't think BSFL will replace our worms; we will continue vermicomposting for the rich compost material, but for fats, meats and other non-worm items I'm hopeful this is the solution.
Check out these awesome time-lapses!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww1CAsTvAJs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaoVBlS8iVA
4. Thunder Core
A project we've been working on in the last year; an automated and remotely controlled horticultural controller, internet-connected with sensors including PH, dissolved oxygen, moisture, built on Arduino hardware. We're hoping to finalize and test the first prototype at one of the urban farm properties this year.
5. Beekeeping
We got swept up in the fervor of the recent Flow Hive buzz. (haha I'm so punny)
If you haven't seen; https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/flow-hive-honey-on-tap-directly-from-your-beehive
On it's way to becoming the most funded project in history, which is awesome! Too bad it won't be shipping in time for this season so you can look forward to tasting our honey earliest in 2016. As responsible beekeepers though, we will be taking workshops, getting protective equipment, etc this year.
6. Aquaponics
Been planning to work on this for the longest time, looking to jump in this 2015 season. Tilapia anyone?
7. Biomass/Biochar Production
This year we'll be looking to improve on our TLUD design and produce more biochar for the urban gardens.
Something like this; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OitA6hQBic
Look forward to more updates!
EDIT: Almost forgot one of the big ones
8. Mycology
Mushrooms! So good, and so low maintenance? We will be starting to produce our own spores of popular edible mushrooms including; cremini/portabello, shitake and oyster which are apparently the easiest to grow. After that, I'd like to get good at producing the medicinal and highly plant beneficial mushrooms such as red reishi & general mycorrhiza types for soil amendments.
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