Technology In The Garden US 40

USA - CANADA EDITION · ISSUE 40 · 2021 · FREE COPY

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EDUCATE REDUCTION I WORLD-CLASS SUPPORT & FERTILIZ

CONTENTS

20

GROWING UNDER ENHANCED CO2

the History of

MARKETpLACE

Technology

14

in the Garden

66

LOCAL GROWERS

FANTASTIC FUNGI: GROW YOUR OWN MUSHROOMS

99 88

78 I N THIS ISSU E OF GARD E N CU LTU RE: 9 Foreword 10 5 Cool Stats - Instagram Poll 13 Author Spotlight 14 MARKETPLACE Spotlights 20 The of HistoryTechnology In The Garden: A Timeline 28 Mass Robot Farming: Project Mineral 30 Relationships and Rethinking Profit in Local Food Business 35 Data-Driven Farming:The Past, Present, and Future 38 At The Crossroads:To Use or Be Used By Technology?

45 Regulations and Resource Conservation: How New Technology is Being Driven by Legal Compliance 46 Go Go Garden Gadgets 50 Low-Tech Gardening Hacks 56 Growing Advice: Is pH impHortant?

WHAT GOOD IS A SUBSTRATE CHEMISTRY IN 3D HYDROPONICS PRINTER? 58 Rosemary - A Culinary Gem and Flavorful Herbal Medicine 63 Trending Terrariums: Mini, Low-Maintenance Gardens 66 Growing Under Enhanced CO2 71 Smartphone App Helping Small-Scale Farmers and Food Insecure in Kenya 77 Shorties 78 Fantastic Fungi: Grow Your Own Mushrooms 83 My LED Affliction 88 What Good Is A 3D Printer?

92 The Problem of Mold 96 BEST OF THE BLOG: How Hydroponics, Aquaponics, And Vertical Farming Are Helping End Hunger 99 Local Growers 102 5 Cool Ways To Add Simple Tech To Your Indoor Garden 7

FOREWORD & CREDITS

CREDITS

FOREWORD

good and the bad regarding technology and agriculture.

Commercial level farms have become a tech-driven

the land or the quality of the food. Pesticides, fungicides, chemical

Easy to use • Consistent clean quality input

E XECU T I V E ED I TO R Celia Sayers celia@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-1539 For all growers • Growing support provided

In contrast, home gardeners and smaller commercial farms most often use technology to maximize quality. But, of course, quantity is still important.

Sometimes you have to look back to see forwards. Maybe the most exciting technology is not a machine at all, but an idea. In At The Crossroads: To Use or Be Used By Technology? Evan Folds brings another thought-provoking article that makes you question the good, bad and ugly side of technology and where it is taking us.

Garden Culture is happy to welcome Brian Gandy, a veritable wealth of knowledge on all things lighting, with his introductory article My LED Affliction. When it comes to tech in indoor gardens, no product has evolved as quickly as LEDs. Learning about plants and soil health is fundamental, and as Martyna Krol describes in Go Go Garden Gadgets, tech is an excellent addition to any gardener’s tool kit. Anne Gibson also shares some ingenious Low-Tech Gardening Hacks.

ED I TO R Catherine Sherriffs cat@gardenculturemagazine.com

U S A - C A N A DA E D I T I O N · I S SU E 4 0

greed and the need to feed billions of people on demand.

USA - CANADA EDITION · ISSUE 40 · 2021 · FREE COPY

THE ART OF GROWING

fertilizers, and GMOs are only a symptom of the greater problem:

PRESIDENT Eric Coulombe One less thing eric@gardenculturemagazine.com to worry about. +1-514-233-1539

C U LTU RE

industrial behemoth, seemingly without a care for the health of

G A R D E N

T

here is an interesting yet tragic dichotomy between the

Special thanks to: Alan Creedon, Albert Mondor, Anne Gibson, Brian Gandy, Caroline Rivard, Catherine Sherriffs, Christopher Sloper, Dr. Callie Seaman, Evan Folds, Jesse Singer, Martyna Krol, Michael Parisi, Nico Hill, Philip McIntosh, Rich Hamilton, and Sarah Schuette.

CANNA is an established and serious partner for the Green Market.

We provide solutions for all growing methods and for any kind of grower.

CANNA nutrients, additives and growing mediums are manufactured from the highest quality source materials.

We understand the importance of a clean and consistent input as well as keeping it simple.

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CANNA loves to share its knowledge and experience, our team is there to support you.

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ADV_CA_20_CORP_GARDEN-CULTURE.indd 1

GCMAG.CO 28-09-2020 10:54

DESIGN Job Hugenholtz job@gardenculturemagazine.com D I G I TA L & SO CI A L M A R K E T I N G CO O R D I N ATO R Serena Sayers serena@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-0062 ADVERTISING ads@gardenculturemagazine.com PUBLISHER 325 Media INC 44 Hyde Rd, Mille-Isles QC, Canada J0R 1A0 GardenCultureMagazine.com ISSN 2562-3567 (Print) · ISSN 2562-3575 (Online)

As most Garden Culture readers have probably come to realize, I am very “pro” technology when

Garden Culture is published six times a year, both in print and online.

it comes to my garden. Although data is key to understanding your plants, simplifying may be a more straightforward solution. Knowledge is powerful; however, if you don’t know how to interpret the data, all the tech in the world will not help. Nothing can replace a green thumb and getting dirty in the garden!

Eric 3

@GardenCulture

@GardenCulture

@GardenCultureMagazine

@Garden_Culture

D I ST R I B U T I O N PA R T N ER S • Hydrofarm • Central Coast Garden Products • pHive.8 • Autopot USA • Biofloral USA • Eddi’s • Biofloral • Quality Wholesale

© 325 Media INC

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from 325 Media Inc.

9

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

5 COOL STATS GARDEN technology

W

Here’s What You Had To Say!

e asked; you answered! This edition of Garden Culture Magazine is all about technology in the garden, but we get that while some people love it, others aren’t as savvy or refuse to use gadgets at all. So to get a better idea of how our online

readers feel about garden tech, we put out an Instagram poll; here are the results!

Want in on the conversation? Please give us a follow @gardenculturemagazine

1 2

How likely are you to use technology in your outdoor garden?

1. Likely - I have several useful gadgets!

2. Unlikely - I might dabble, but use nature/experience as my guide.

How likely are you to use garden apps?

1. Very likely - they can be super helpful.

2. What’s a garden app?

3

Your dream indoor garden includes: 1. A simple hydroponic countertop or houseplants on a windowsill.

2. A full-blown grow room or tent equipped with lighting, fans, timers, and more.

4

Do you think you need technology to be a smart gardener?

1. Absolutely; we have the technology, why not use it?

2. Not at all; instinct is everything!

5

As the world faces a climate crisis, how does technology fit in?

1. Nowhere; we have to go back to basics to help mitigate climate change.

2. Everywhere, we need smart solutions to help reverse environmental damage.

10

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

I steer clear of chemicals as I know they can be detrimental to plants and soil and their origins are often dubious as byproducts of warfare

Author Spotlight

Alan Creedon

T

here’s no doubt the world needs to focus on building local food scenes, systems where everyone can access affordable and nutritious

food and small-scale farmers are paid well and appreciated for their hard work. Growing and buying local is Alan Creedon’s passion. He’s heavily involved in the local food movement in the West Yorkshire Hills, where he lives with his family. In his shor t time contributing to Garden Culture Magazine, he’s so far introduced us to a wealth of knowledge on not only the impor tance of suppor ting local food producers but the ins and outs of small-scale, organic farming. Here are a few more things you need to know about Alan.

What’s your growing motto?

Learn as you grow, grow as you learn.

What’s your favorite plant to grow and why?

Tomatoes - it’s a long process with lots of learning and attention involved. And mostly bountiful!

Are you interested in writing for Garden Culture Magazine? We’d love to hear from you! Send us an email introducing yourself with a sample of your work. editor@gardenculturemagazine.com

Do you like to grow organically?

Yes, I steer clear of chemicals as I know they can be detrimental to plants and soil and their origins are often dubious as byproducts of warfare—many reasons not to use.

What’s your favorite food?

The pizza that I make from scratch.

What’s on your playlist right now?

The Hamilton soundtrack; my daughter won’t have it any other way! It’s pretty good, though. Usually, it would be something groove-based like afrobeat or hip hop, as I love beats! 3

13

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BY JESSE SINGER

the History of

Technology in the Garden

Technology is defined as “the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.” One of the oldest industries on the planet is agriculture. Our farms and gardens have witnessed incredible technological advances over the millennia for both the individual gardener and the large acre farmer.

20

GARDEN TECHNOLOGY - A TIMELINE

10,000 BC The First Gardens

Humans began enclosing outdoor space around 10,000BC, likely designed to keep out animals and marauders. The words “garden” and “yard” come from the Old English “geard,” which describes a fence or enclosure.

CREDIT: Wikimedia Commons

10,000 BC Microlith Around the same time that the first gardens appeared, so too did the first garden tools.

The microlith featured a sharpened stone set in a handle and looked like a small spade and could be used to dig, clip, cut, and clear land. It was the first multi-tool!

Until fairly recently, we thought that the fertilizer concept only dated back about 2,000-3,000 years. However, new research done on ancient European farming sites dating back as far as 8,000 years ago has found high concentrations of the rare nitrogen-15 isotope (N-15), indicating manure being used as fertilizer.

6000 BC Manure as Fertilizer

6000 BC Pruning

The grapevine is thought to be the first woody plant ever intentionally pruned by humans, and it is believed to have happened in Armenia around 6000 BC.

21

The Wheelbarrow 200 BC Developed in China in the 2nd century BC, the current version of the wheelbarrow we have today is similar to the ones created almost 2,300 years ago.

14 AD Roman Emperor Tiberius’ Cucumbers Tiberius ate a cucumber-like vegetable every day. To make sure it was available to him every day of the year, Roman gardeners used various artificial gardening methods that can be seen as precursors to what we know today as greenhouses. Gardeners would plant the vegetables on wheeled carts so that they could wheel them indoors at night. Also, the cucumbers were stored in cucumber houses that were covered with oiled cloths or selenite sheets.

Sanga Yorok was a cookbook written by the doctor to the Korean royal family. Besides recipes, it also discusses various farming methods and contains the first known description of a heated greenhouse.

There are detailed instructions on how to build the structure and how heat and humidity are controlled using a traditional underfloor heating system called ondol.

Sanga Yorok The 1450s

the 1600s Peat Although an important energy source going back to the 12th and 13th centuries, it was in the 17th century that we start to see it being used to improve the soil.

“Watering Can” 1692 It is believed that the term “watering can” was coined by Lord Timothy George. George was an avid gardener and wrote those words in his diary in 1692.

The 1700s The rake To families in the 18th century, the rake was an essential tool. Unfortunately, it was also costly.

22

GARDEN TECHNOLOGY - A TIMELINE

The 1700s Cutting the Grass There were two ways to keep your formal grassed areas neat and trimmed in the 1700s: grazing animals or a scythe. The scythe (the same tool commonly depicted in representations of the Grim Reaper) required the user to swing it and his body from side to side as they walked along.

1701 The Seed Drill Invented by British agriculturist Jethro Tull, the seed drill is the first agricultural machine. And yes, the rock band is named after him.

Ash from Peat 1730 A new product is discovered using the ash left behind after the burning of peat for home heating. The ash has a little potassium and a lot of phosphorus and began to be used as fertilizer.

The 1730s Crop Rotation Viscount Charles Townshend was an English statesman who became very interested in agriculture later in life. He was an advocate of the four crop rotation systems made up of turnips, barley, clover, and wheat, and his work earned him the nickname “Turnip” Townshend.

The 1800s Charles Lucien Bonaparte French botanist and Napoleon’s nephew, Charles Lucien Bonaparte, gets credit for building the first practical modern greenhouse. Built in the 1800s in Leiden, Holland, it was used to grow tropical, medicinal plants.

1830 The Lawnmower

Barn Engine 1812 British inventor and mining engineer, Richard Trevithick, designed the “Barn Engine.” It was the first ‘semi portable’ stationary steam engine designed for agricultural use and was used to run a corn threshing machine.

The “Barn Engine” replaced horses and was cheaper to run.

Finally, something better than the scythe! The first lawnmower was invented in 1830 by British engineer Edwin Budding. This first mower featured a series of blades on a cylinder and a box attached to the front to catch the clippings.

23

GARDEN TECHNOLOGY - A TIMELINE

1870

53% The population of the United States is 38,558,371, and 53% of this population is involved in farming.

The Haws Watering Can The 1880s 1892 John Froelich Froelich was an American inventor who is credited with inventing and building the first gasoline-powered tractor. He got a patent and invested everything into starting his company, but by 1895, he was out of business.

Patented in the 1880s, they redesigned the traditional watering can and moved the handle from the top to the back, thus making it much easier to use. The company is still around today and is the oldest manufacturer of watering cans in the world.

1893 Portable Engine While the “Barn Engine” was technically semi-portable, it typically stayed in one spot. The first genuinely portable engine came about in 1839 and was manufactured by William Tuxford of Boston, Lincolnshire. It was, however, still using steam-engine technology.

Corkscrew Weeder The 1900s 1901 Dan Albone Where Froelich had failed, British inventor Albone succeeded. Albone created the first commercially successful gas-powered, lightweight tractor, which he called the Ivel Agricultural Motor. The sale price in 1903 was £300.

Invented in the British Isles in the early 1900s, the corkscrew weeder was simply a metal corkscrew on the end of a long wooden pole. This labor-saving tool was simple and very effective.

Mutagenesis 1940 Plant breeding would traditionally take a good 12 to 15 years to produce a new crop variety. However, in 1940, plant breeders learned that they could make things happen faster via a process called mutagenesis - using radiation or chemicals to change the plant’s DNA. 25

GARDEN TECHNOLOGY - A TIMELINE

1983 The Genesis Machine

1.8%

Marketed as the “Genesis Rooting System” but known as the Genesis Machine (after “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”) it is the first commercially available aeroponic apparatus.

2000

The population of the United States is 275,000,000, and only 1.8% of the population is involved in farming.

2017 Tertill

The Tertill is a weed-killing robot. It’s a Roomba for your garden, but instead of vacuuming, it removes weeds. In 2017, Tertill launched its Kickstarter campaign, and the product is now available on its website for anyone to purchase.

VegiBee 2019 The VegiBee is a garden pollinator that lets you hand pollinate every plant in your garden and claims to increase the yield of your garden by up to 33%.

2024 U.K. Peat Ban The U.K. will ban sales of peat compost to gardeners.

Sources: • • • • • • • •

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse gardendigest.com/timel20.htm#Start orderease.com/community/-the-evolution-of-technology-in-horticulture en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tractor iaea.org/topics/mutation-breeding gardensillustrated.com/garden-equipment/collecting-classic-and-vintage-tools peatmoss.com/what-is-peat-moss/the-history-of-peat/ haws.co.uk

• • • • • • •

cropwatch.unl.edu/fertilizer-history-p1 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Townshend,_2nd_Viscount_ Townshend tertill.com en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lucien_Bonaparte History of Agricultural Biotechnology: How Crop Development has Evolved go.nature.com/3iB5lMK History of Garden Machinery (Garden Trader) bit.ly/3hQC0yl en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroponics

BIO

Jesse grew up obsessed with movies and so it only makes sense that he graduated from McGill University with a degree in Political Science. He then put that degree to good use with a job at a video store. After that, he spent months backpacking around Europe - a continent that he has been back to visit many times since.

Jesse is super curious and loves to learn and explore new subjects. For the last 15+ years, he has been writing online for a number of different sites and publications covering everything from film and television to website reviews, dating and culture, history, news, and sports. He’s worn many hats - which is ironic because he actually loves wearing hats and he has many different ones.

27

BY RICH HAMILTON

Mass Robot Farming:

Project Mineral I

t’s hard to believe that the film Blade Runner was set in 2019! While today’s world isn’t quite the sprawling neon-lit metropolis filled with flying cars, cyborg’s, and mutants like the one por trayed in the movie, small aspects of such a future are trying to creep in. For example, automated robots

might soon be growing our food for us.

Automated robots might soon be growing our food for us 28

ROBOT FARMING

Alphabet, a parent company of Google, is behind Mineral, a groundbreaking and ambitious agricultural tool. As described by the inventors, the project has hopes of “embracing nature’s diversity to nourish generations to come”.

What Is Mineral?

Good or Bad?

Fully-automated, eco-friendly, and solar-powered robots will roam

Is all of this necessary? Well, some would argue that to keep up with the demand of feeding the world’s growing population, we need to fully understand what we are growing and how we grow it. The United Nations estimates we will need to produce more food in the next 50 years than we have grown in the last 10,000! Add to this the challenging factor of climate change, and you can appreciate why the Mineral project was born.

crop fields to collect Mineral is about reading the plant.

Farmers may understand their soil and massive amounts of crops from experience, but this hightech gadget aims to take things further data on plants by collecting all information that could There are over 30,000 species of edible be helpful to the grower; knowledge plants that grow on earth, and less than that, until this point, has been too com1% of them are farmed for food. Of that 1%, rice, wheat, plex and challenging to gather. Mineral organizes, presents, and and maize account for almost 50% of the world’s plant-based uses the information to help farmers with the many decisions calories. they need to make every growing season. Some of the details the robot will be able to gather include the environmental The Mineral project could be a total game-changer in terms conditions, past crop data, soil composition, and more. The of sourcing other viable food alternatives. Growing leaps and information is recorded and used as a blueprint to predict and bounds in productivity would enable us to get the best out plan future crop yields. of the crops that we already rely on in the less than perfect conditions we are facing.

How it Will Work

Fully-automated, eco-friendly, and solar-powered robots will roam crop fields to collect massive amounts of data on plants.

These robots will use state of the art digital cameras to gather high-quality plant trait information and images. The buggies identify and classify plants and weeds, while GPS software allows the mapping of individual plant locations. Plant buggies can also spot pests and diseases, record the number and growth of fruits and flowers, record plant height and leaf area, and more.

Some may think Mineral is a step in the right direction and takes all of the guesswork out of agriculture. Others may feel we’re only inching closer to robots ruling the world and a lazier, more machine-dependent human race.

What do you think? 3

Where the Data Goes This data then runs through software, which cross-references it with weather data, soil composition and satellite imagery. A detailed picture is made of what is going on in the field, the existing growth patterns, and how the plants could perform better.

The Future of Gardening Mineral’s vision and software could usher in a future where a gardener can read through an email job list of physical plant interactions. This way, no plant will be missed, and every single one will reach its full potential.

Breeders using the Mineral tool will be able to understand and predict how different varieties of plants respond to their environments. Mapping and imaging plants mean more precise predictions of yield size. The option of troubleshooting and treating entire fields and individual plants could prove very desirable in terms of reducing the cost and environmental impact of insecticides and pesticides.

BIO

An industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in a variety of roles, Rich is currently a business development manager for a large UK hydroponics distributor. The author of the Growers Guide book series, Rich also writes on all aspects of indoor gardening. He is also an independent industry consultant, working closely with hydroponic businesses worldwide.

29

BY ALAN CREEDON

Relationships and Rethinking Profit in Local Food Business E

very business wants to make a profit; that’s how

companies progress, and that’s how growth happens.

So how can we rethink profit to be more fulfilled?

So how can growth happen in a small business, which doesn’t make a profit and can’t afford a fat advertising budget?

30

Wider Benefits – Head-Based vs I was talking to a friend at a small local Heart-Based Consuming cooperative producers’ market about We talked about how When looking at local food, we always this recently. We were observing the have to take these benefits into accrowd, seeing the friendly chatter and the main difference count; it’s the difference between the banter that was going on. I told him it between small local pull of the supermarket and the pull was my job to help expand this small of locally produced food. Shopping business to hopefully reach more peobusinesses and big becomes less of a transaction, moving ple and increase online sales, as it also supermarkets is from head-based, logical thinking to has a website and weekly delivery slots. heart-based feeling.

We talked about how the main differthat supermarkets ence between small local businesses create a buzz through Head-based is about money and barand big supermarkets is that supermargains (bargains because the supermarkets create a buzz through advertisadvertising ket says they are), often feeding addicing. Through building their brand, they tion and comfort eating. The transacgain peoples’ trust. With convenience tion is about quantity and a feeling of thrown in, that trust is the perfect forsatisfaction through having achieved a bargain. mula – they have the money to buy peoples’ The supermarket gets the money and the profit, and the confidence, in a way. That’s a very powerful thing. consumer gets the satisfaction.

So how can growth happen in a small business, which doesn’t Heart-based is about perceived value. The consumer has enmake a profit and can’t afford a fat advertising budget? tered into a relationship with the retailer or producer – it’s personal. There’s the feeling of responsibility, support, and The cooperative I’m freelancing for is currently volunteer-run, relationship with people and places. Everyone wins. Relationand as one of the long-standing volunteers, Keith, recently told ships are built, and a deeper understanding of the producer, me, “you don’t get people volunteering at their local Tesco.” their land, and challenges happens. The consumer may buy So what’s the difference? And what drives people to pay perless, but the feeling is far more satisfying than buying from the haps double the supermarket price for a cucumber from a supermarket. The profit is spread between the producer/ local producer? Profit. retailer and the consumer.

Here are the points of profit inherent in local food: I hear from many small producers about how tough it is and 1. Produce. A small producer grows the cucumber hophow they make no money from it. When money becomes ing that someone will buy it, or with a bit of luck, they will the main focus, the main way to feel a sense of achievement have secured their market beforehand. This is the first in the work, then all the other benefits, in turn, feel much point of profit - the relationship between the grower and smaller. the produce. The value is in the learning, experience, and time before the cuc is even sold.

2. Market. The producer finds a market. This could be by attending an actual in-person market, selling produce Why People Don’t Buy Local from the farm gate, veggie boxes, or retailers. The reOne word: fear. When I worked setting up an organic food lationship involved and the willingness to continue the wholesaler in Manchester ten years ago, it was a hard sell. chain is inherently valuable. This requires trust, relationThe market was catering and selling local, organic food to ship building and community connection. chefs and restaurants. Part of my job was to convince time 3. Consumer. The grower of the cucumber has a handand budget-constrained (and often very fickle) chefs to buy to-hand transaction with the consumer through a market a more expensive, less convenient product. Our main selling or the retailer they have sold it to, who then sells it on point was that it was locally grown, that the chefs could get giving full credit to the grower for growing it. Profit. The to know the growers and have produce grown to order. We consumer feels good because they have bought the cuended up supplying everyone from university catering to fine cumber, and they know where it’s from, and the retailer dining restaurants. Some loved it, and to others, it made no feels good because they have bought it locally and have sense. The ones that loved it bought into the relationship supported the producer. Profit.

31

LOCAL FOOD BUSINESS

We need to help people see that when they buy local, they are tapping into something much deeper than a financial transaction – it’s a cultural connection, a relationship between people, food, nature and community – all of which take time and effort and a willingness to be open

side – that was the most crucial part - and then they looked at the price. We were closer, more open with each other, and there was trust involved. Those who were entirely budget-focused rarely bought the food and were therefore never open to the deeper benefits.

All too often, people are only voting with their wallets, seeing that their economic survival is the bottom line. When money calls the shots, we get supermarkets; packaged, heavily branded, poor quality, processed, ‘safe’ food. People are scared to step away from this way of consuming because, to them, it feels safe. People also do not want to feel responsible for another’s livelihood – that’s scary. The supermarket takes that fear away, couches us in brands and bargains and takes all the ‘messy’ relationship and responsibility away.

When we look at the bigger picture, we, as consumers, are removed from the compassionate side of consuming through the disempowerment practiced by supermarkets. We no longer see what produce is available, seasonality and the occasional, natural inconsistency of locally produced food. Inconsistency

has now become intolerable for consumers. But what seasonality and inconsistency do is connect us to the producer, the challenges of food production, and finally, to the vulnerable nature of food production and security. We don’t want to see that we are vulnerable. We don’t want to care what affects producers.

When we are disconnected from the profit of local food, we forgo relationships and a deeper understanding of natural cycles. We need to help people see that when they buy local, they are tapping into something much deeper than a financial transaction – it’s a cultural connection, a relationship between people, food, nature and community – all of which take time and effort and a willingness to be open.

Suppose we can begin to look at profit as a social capital rather than always financial. We will start to see that what we’re working towards is a deepening connection, both grounding and satisfying, aligning us with healthy buying and consumption practices and a deeper foundation in community and relationships. Everyone profits that way. 3

BIO Alan has worked in local food for over a decade and in that time has been involved in retail, wholesale and growing local produce. He is passionate about people working together and enjoys bringing his ideas into the world of veg. He lives in the West Yorkshire hills with his wife, daughter, son, dog and cat and loves walking in the hills, sleeping out in the woods, and having a dip in the river (but would sometimes prefer sleeping out in -3 than a dip in the river!).

He will be publishing his first book this autumn. He is a mindfulness teacher, running regular courses and events as a nature connection guide. He likes to combine the philosophical with the practical.

33

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DATA-DRIVENSOIL FARMING HOMEMADE MIXES

BY SARAH SCHUETTE

The Past, Present, and Future

Data-Driven Farming W

hat do you think of when you hear the word “technology”? I usually think of computers, robots,

and electronics, but that’s because I was raised in a digital era. Despite this common misnomer, the definition of technology is “The application of scientific knowledge to change and manipulate the human

environment.” The application of scientific knowledge in agriculture dates way back before any of us were born. We have been using tools to manipulate our environment for agricultural purposes for around 12,000 years. One of the earliest tools was a pestle to grind oats and other grain.Then, we developed animal husbandry and food storage abilities.Those first technological developments would change the course of human history and eventually become what it is today.

Technology allowed us to transition from mobile hunter-gatherer communities to stable agrarian societies. The ability to stay in one place allowed us to plan for the future, grow into more prominent civilizations and played a pivotal role in accelerating technological developments that we all use today.

A Fork In The Road

The evolution of agricultural technology The application of Fast forward a few thousand years to anhas allowed us to create more efficient scientific knowledge in systems of growing, transporting, and geother significant turning point for modagriculture dates way ern agricultural technology in the United netically manipulating our food in the inStates, the Dust Bowl and Great Depresterest of feeding populations of exponenback before any of us sion, in the early 20th century. Soil testing tial growth on a global scale. Necessity is were born technology had already begun to take the mother of invention. If we were going shape, but we still did not have enough to sustain a food source for a fast-growexperience to predict what was about to happen to our reing global population, we had to develop technologies and get sources. We could not perceive the structure and function of more efficient. our soil and water resources and thus unwittingly devastated them, nearly destroying ourselves in the process. Nevertheless, we learned a big lesson; we realized that stewarding our An Increase in Efficiency natural resources plays a crucial role in our survival.

In the last few decades, the tech revolution for farming and gardening has vastly increased our efficiency. Computerized From this point, there became a fork in the road for agricultechnology has become infused into our gardening and farming ture. Some chose to build victory gardens and grow their food practices, from big ag technology to plug and play grow domes as a means of food security, but the main stem of society took for the individual user. a more industrial and global approach, vowing to “feed the world.” As populations grow, we need more extensive sysA home gardener can use a pH meter and soil moisture probe, tems to accommodate our new size and shape. while a small farm can install a weather station to collect onsite climate data. Cloud-based software is everywhere, allow 35

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DATA-DRIVEN FARMING ORGANIC LAND CARE

Big Ag and high-tech efficiency come at a price, often to human health

ing us to collect, manage, and use data, making our farms and businesses more efficient and cost-effective. These technologies are affordable and available to most people in the developed world.

As we have seen in the past, agricultural decisions that harm the environment and resources is just stealing from our future selves

We can now divert post-consumer waste from landfills and turn it into organic fertilizers and pesticides. Installing water-conserving irrigation systems, automating greenhouses, and utilising meters for data collection are now commonplace. Even the ability to transport fertilizers, water, electricity etc., have driven the infrastructure systems that function today.

The Down Side Although technology has allowed us to farm marginal lands more effectively and maximize climate control of indoor environments, highly mechanised systems have downsides. Big Ag and high-tech efficiency come at a price, often to human health. Disposal of electronic waste, pollution of the environment, mining raw materials, and work conditions are just some progress costs.

A Better Way To Grow From this, a new way of agriculture is emerging. Regenerative agriculture is a way of making the environment better through farming practices. This new way of growing marries technology with soil health, leading to increased human and environmental health. We can use solar, wind, and hydroelectric to power our indoor facilities and greenhouses. Introduce predatory insects to clear our crops of pests without toxic chemicals. Allow microbes in the soil to unlock nutrients from organic waste products rather than applying salt-based fertilizers. We can use data to make the best decisions for our crops, pocketbooks, and future.

The Future

So, what does the future of ag resemble? Tech has come a long way since the mortar and pestle. We now have AI drones that can capture different imagery and software to interpret the data and identify problems. Drones can capture more data than humans alone, detecting soil moisture levels, plant transpiration levels, nutrient deficiencies, and even pest infestations and hotspots.

They can be programed to sense when a plant is thirsty before it wilts, detect plant stress signals before they are visible, and identify the plant stress source.

AI coupled with automated grow rooms or greenhouses can manage crops remotely, which means we can produce more with less. One can be on the other side of the world and still see the climate data of multiple grow areas in real-time via an app on the phone. Some even allow you to manipulate a greenhouse remotely, opening doors or windows to shift internal conditions! Along with AI helping diagnose a crop’s health, decisions can be made quickly, saving labor and input costs while reducing crop loss. Technologies can be amazing, efficient and save us a lot of money and headache; however, we have to wonder what we are losing on a human level to these technologies.

As we have seen in the past, agricultural decisions that harm the environment and resources is just stealing from our future selves. However, as long as we take important lessons from it, we can use this newfound scientific information to manipulate the world for the betterment of humanity, passing along an efficient, effective, and healthy agricultural world for future generations. 3

BIO After receiving her degree in Soil Science from Humboldt State University, Sarah Schuette and her business partner Joanna Berg started

an agricultural laboratory to serve the local farming and gardening community in Humboldt County, California. From building an OSHA compliant soil testing laboratory to designing custom fertilizer blends and IPM programs, they have helped local and international growers implement sustainable, cost-effective cultivation practices for over a decade.With extensive knowledge of indoor, outdoor, and greenhouse cultivation, they believe education is key to completing the information gap and supporting healthy people, plants, and a healthy planet.

37

BY EVAN FOLDS

At The

Crossroads To Use or Be Used

By Technology?

38

TECHNOLOGY

I

f you live in the modern world, technology is a big deal. This becomes obvious when you lose your phone and need an impor tant phone number or when your WiFi stops working on a work deadline. But most of the time, technology is so close that we take it for granted.

There is a genuine mystery to technology. The frequencies that make it work are invisible and have a magic quality that is all-powerful and capable of coordinating the entire world. Of course, only certain people have access to these frequencies, but the story goes that it didn’t need to be this way.

A Man Before His Time

There is a genuine mystery to technology.

The frequencies that make it work are invisible and have a magic quality that is all-powerful and capable of coordinating the entire world

Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) was arguably the greatest inventor of all time. He was a man before his time, as he was known to say, “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.”

At the turn of the 20 th century, Tesla was working on a free energy machine that would have made electricity available to everyone at no charge. JP Morgan funded the initial stages of the project but ultimately pulled the plug when he discovered Tesla’s altruistic ambitions. Getting taken advantage of by corporate interests was a theme of Tesla’s life. He called these gatekeepers “ignorant, unimaginative people, consumed by self-interest” that sought to protect the immensely profitable low-tech industries like coal and oil that already controlled the energy market. Not much has changed.

How We Use Technology We can use technology for good or for bad. We can build technology to empower and inform or leverage it for power and surveillance. Often, the distinction is blurred by corporatism and the vicious pursuit of profit that leaves good intentions in its wake and a haze of convenience and advertising. Technology is the realm of the shyster.

Here is an example of this reality using the internet. If you use a typical mainstream web browser, you may get to use the web browser for free, but your information is sold to advertisers in return for profit from your attention. Compare this to the Brave web browser that uses a cryptocurrency called the Basic Attention Token (BAT) to recalibrate this extractive posture to put the user in control. When you use Brave, instead of the user seeing advertising without choice, you can opt-out of advertisements altogether, and if you choose to opt-in, you get paid in BAT for your involvement. This is how the internet looks when it is built for people, not just profit.

Billionaires are taking leisure flights to space, and most who live in urban areas have a smartphone in their pocket estimated to be 120+ million times more powerful than the computer that sent us to the moon. Technologically, we are more advanced than any civilization in the history of Earth, but in all of our brilliance, we are actively undermining ourselves.

It’s Everywhere Technology is the sum of techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in producing goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives. Technology can be the knowledge of practices or procedures, or we can embed it in machines.

Nikola Tesla

Technology is everywhere, and we are becoming more reliant on it by the day, especially during the Covid moment. The lockdown resulted in drastic increases in remote activity; according to a study published in December 2020, data usage services rose 47% compared to pre-lockdown levels, and video-conferencing services like Zoom saw a ten times increase in usage. Given our increasing reliance on technology, we must perform a deeper evaluation of its role and purpose in our lives.

39

TECHNOLOGY

The question becomes, are we going to use technology to lift humanity, or will we allow ourselves to be used by technology?

The question becomes, are we going to use technology to lift humanity, or will we allow ourselves to be used by technology?

At the turn of the 20th century, Tesla was working on a free energy machine that would have made electricity available to everyone at no charge

Increasingly, the mechanical is being left without a moral component.

We are not even having a conversation. We are on the doorstep of technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing, delivering us into an age that will transform our socioeconomic fabric and make the internet revolution look like child’s play.

To accomplish the moral component of technology and finally reckon with its mysteries and impacts, we must be mindful of the spiritual nature of our humanity. We must imagine ourselves as more than merely material beings.

Otherwise, we become completely consumed and defined by materialism alive in our age.

The Fourfold Spiritual Being An effective way into this concept is Rudolf Steiner’s construct of the fourfold spiritual being. The most apparent realm is the mineral kingdom. It is dead, inanimate – a stone cannot move unless an external force is applied. It is a physical structure only, without a life of its own; consider the body’s skeleton. Steiner called this the “physical body”.

The plant kingdom best exhibits the next life level. Clearly, the plant has a physical body, but it grows up against the force of gravity, it possesses a life force that enables it to develop, live, and consume its surroundings to produce life.

Steiner named this the “etheric body”.

Animals have a physical body and an etheric body but differ in that they achieve a certain level of conscious awareness. They have feelings that express themselves through

dreams, drives, desires, pain, and pleasure. We can say, then, that animals are not only alive but ensouled beings with instincts and feelings.

Steiner referred to this as the “astral body”.

Human beings share with all three kingdoms of Nature a physical body, etheric body, and astral body - but the human being is unique. We are not animals; we are humans – we have an ego or the aspect of the human being, which gives us our identity, capacity for reflection, and self-awareness.

Animals are molded by their environment according to Darwinian evolution. But humans flip that script, and through our higher conscious awareness, manipulate the environment instead. If we live in colder places, we are not selected to have more fur; we put on a coat. In other words, we do not evolve; we egolve.

When we say “I”, we can only be referring to ourselves as individuals, not to anyone else. The power of this individual ego enables humans to walk erect, speak and think, be creative, and develop - and also to destroy - civilizations.

Egolution enables us to enter into the spirit of things in a unique way among living beings, evidenced by our biologically imbalanced global population and the artistic and social achievements of humanity.

The human being has specific capacities which animals lack.

For example, foxes use the same technique as their ancestors did for catching chickens, and birds build their nests the same way they have always done. They do not look back upon their history and apply what they have learned to update their techniques. Animals operate with a group soul, they do not participate consciously in the process of their own development and evolution.

41

TECHNOLOGY

Rudolph Steiner

The major distinction between human beings and animals is the ability of the human being to think as an individual, but also to build on this level of consciousness to invent and develop new ways of doing things. Animals may build tools, but humans develop the technology.

Essential Questions

Will we reach a point where we can no longer control technology? Will we, in the future, still be able to experience the difference between an artificial and an authentic soul?

Technology relieves us of the drudgery of labor, whether muscular or mental.

As technology emancipates us from labor and assuming we can come to grips with the social and political disruption resulting from the paradigm shift underway, we come to the question regarding the meaning and potential of our humanity. Do we believe in abundance? What does technology, as our creation, tell us about who we are and the meaning of our lives? Will we reach a point where we can no longer control technology?

Will we, in the future, still be able to experience the difference between an artificial and an authentic soul?

Technology has evolved from tools that “extended” the physical body as hammers or arrows, replacing beasts of burden with combustion engines, and modern robotics and artificial intelligence. What’s next? And who will decide if this is good?

These are important questions, but they are questions that are not being asked in important places. There is a more profound way to view our relationship with technology. How can we understand technology from a spiritual point of view?

A Spiritual View

Here, we can again lean on Steiner. In his lecture, The Challenge of the Times delivered in Dornach, Switzerland in 1918, he describes a capacity to control machines that he called “mechanical occultism”, “...solely by means of certain capacities that are still latent but evolving in man, and with the help of the law of harmonious oscillations, machines and mechanical constructions and other things can be set in motion...

These things are at present in process of development. They are guarded as secrets within those secret circles in the field of material occultism. Motors can be set in motion, into activity, by an insignificant human influence through a knowledge of the corresponding curve fo oscillation. By means of this principle, it will be possible to substitute merely mechanical forces for human forces in many things.”

According to Steiner, during the Ancient Greek culture, the collective human connection with the spiritual world was lost, and evil forces began to inspire the development of science in the Academy of Gondhishapur in modern-day Iran.

He said that this is where the seeds of modern materialistic science were first sown, and enmeshed into economic motives that drive the development of technology to this day.

For a deeper dive, visit the group MysTech.org.

An appreciation for technology’s subtle and spiritual nature can go a long way towards cultivating a new relationship with this powerful force in human development. But, are we going to organize in a way that allows us to leverage technology for human health and thriving, or are we going to be used as pawns in a profit-driven game that will result in a growing digital divide?

Only time will tell. 3

Bio

Evan Folds is a regenerative agricultural consultant with a background across every facet of the farming and gardening spectrum. He has founded and operated many businesses over the years - including a retail hydroponics store he operated for over 14 years, a wholesale company that formulated beyond organic products and vortex-style compost tea brewers, an organic lawn care company, and a commercial organic wheatgrass growing operation.

He now works as a consultant in his new project Be Agriculture where he helps new and seasoned growers take their agronomy to the next level.What we think, we grow!

Contact Evan at www.BeAgriculture.com or on Facebook and Instagram @beagriculture 43

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LEGAL COMPLIANCE

BY MICHAEL PARISI

REGULATIONS HOW NEW TECHNOLOGY AND RESOURCE IS BEING DRIVEN BY CONSERVATION: LEGAL COMPLIANCE

N

orth America’s reconciliation with cannabis has been nothing short of a sea-change, marking a shift in perspective on a plant that has spent most of its history in the USA vilified to the point of absurdity. As more and more evidence piled on as to how the persecution of adults choosing to enjoy the medicinal or recreational benefits

of cannabis made no sense, a new and vital industry has emerged. Regardless of federal status, by 2025, legal cannabis is projected to surpass $70 billion in annual revenue, with over 600,000 full-time American jobs. As of this posting, cannabis is fully illegal in only five states, and it is widely expected that the federal ban will soon come to an end.

expensive to build a zero-waste facility now, Capital investment in legal cannabis Regardless of federal by creating less regulated waste and using topped $10 billion in 2019, up 40% from status, by 2025, legal fewer resources, in the long run, ROI plays the previous year. Most of this money is cannabis is projected out nicely. This infusion of cash to be spent spent developing massive commercial/inon resource conservation has been a boon dustrial infrastructure to produce a quality to surpass $70 billion to HydroLogic and many others, procuring product in large volume. Easier said than in annual revenue, with funds for technology advancements that done; unlike most industrial grown crops, over 600,000 full-time just didn’t exist prior to legal cannabis. For the plant is sensitive to environmental flucinstance, we have developed a closed-loop tuations. Achieving the current standard of American jobs nutrient runoff water reclamation system what is considered by premium buyers to that can process an unlimited volume of wastewater that would be a sellable product requires tight controls, with all inputs calnormally go down the drain. By extracting the vital nutrient ibrated and measured on a level more typical of a science lab compounds unused by the plants, the end products are reusable than a traditional farm. purified water and dry fertilizer. Such a system was completely unheard of just a few years ago; HydroLogic now has several Water is an extremely important variable in this formula, and operating successfully in the field. Another innovation we are water purification equipment is typically required to prevent quite proud of is our automated reclaim condensate contamination and ensure consistent mixing of added nutrients, system (ARCS)* which collects condensate generated vital to the quality and volume of cannabis yields. In most casby HVAC systems that are required to regulate grow es, this means using large-scale reverse osmosis filters, which room temperature. ARCS collects and purifies accuproduce a certain amount of wastewater as contaminants are mulated condensate and then sends it back into irriseparated from product water and then flushed down the drain gation. In operation, this system can supply as much as in an effluent stream.

80% of a grower’s daily water demand, with a source that would normally be headed right down the drain or Being a water purification industry professional now for six-plus need to be trucked off as waste. years, I can say with full confidence that the regulatory demands on water use in growing legal cannabis are unprecedented.

These technologies, as well as others such as improved When it comes to water volume usage, compared to say, alefficiencies in reverse osmosis and ultra-filtration methmond farming in the Central Valley, California, or corn/soybeans ods, have wide-ranging implications for the decentralin the Midwest, compliance to grow legal cannabis seems outized, indoor future of agriculture. As hydroponic farms rageous. As for wastewater, it seems downright draconian. In *HydroLogic ARCS was the continue to take root across the urban landscape, the one case, HydroLogic supplied municipal-scale water filtration winner of 2019’s Cannabis & potential for a resource-lite, self-contained, and enviequipment to a massive operation in the Palm Desert that was Tech Today’s Sustainability ronmentally conscious reimagining of big ag is taking required to meet a ZERO wastewater compliance demand.

Award for Water Use, with shape. In no small way, regulation compliance is pushing Meaning, if they wanted to turn the lights on, they could prohundreds now in use across conservation innovation as we have never seen before. duce absolutely no wastewater unless it’s trucked off and disNorth America.

I guess the saying “no pain, no gain” applies in this reposed of professionally. gard, and as we look ahead to the work that must be done to find the balance between consumer demand and proSo, here’s where things get really interesting. Investors are tecting the only planet we get, our children and grandchildren banking on big winners in cannabis and have proved willing to will thank us for these efforts. 3 spend capital with a long-term focus. While it might be more 45

BY MARTYNA KROL

Go Go

Garden Gadgets

Here are the tools which helped me both in a controlled growing environment and on my outdoor plot.

46

GARDEN GADGETS

T

he world of urban gardening is packed with the most innovative and technologically advanced equipment. A day spent strolling through any industry trade shows like Feed Yourself or Spannabis is guaranteed to fill your head with information that would take months to research if you decided to start from scratch. Specialists

from all fields, from ventilation and nutrients to growing systems and pest control, are an invaluable resource available

to anyone keen to stop by for a chat. But if you’re not quite ready for setting up a tent in your house, and you only want to be ‘au naturel’ with your plot, you may wonder if any of these fancy toys could be helpful to you at all? Here are the tools which helped me both in a controlled growing environment and on my outdoor plot.

Hygrometer and Thermometer in One

When we tend our plots, it’s usually sunny and dry, but knowing what happens at night can give you an idea about the airflow between your plants and avoid the dreaded late-summer mildew problems

It is a handy device for all indoor growers.

Hence, it’s widely sold in hydroponic outlets yet hardly seen in your local garden center. The hygrometer/thermometer is singularly the best little tool anyone with a greenhouse could have. There are many garden thermometers; however, a thermometer and a hygrometer in one has an advantage over the others. It will display current temperature and humidity, as well as storing the minimum and the maximum values. You can monitor your space in early spring or late summer, the most crucial time when the risk of frost can mess with your growing plans. Monitoring humidity isn’t on many plot holders’ minds. When we tend our plots, it’s usually sunny and dry, but knowing what happens at night can give you an idea about the airflow between your plants and avoid the dreaded late-summer mildew problems.

Another advantage of a hygrometer is a long probe which tells us the outside parameters too. I found this very useful in early spring as I was leaving lit candles in the polytunnel at night to keep the frost away from my seedlings. I knew what to expect through trial, error, and data collected from the hygrometer, especially considering the forecasted temperatures were a lot lower than the actual readings. It may not be rocket science, but it’s useful science.

Read about the Itsy Bitsy Spider Mite: gcmag.co/spider-mite

An Endoscope or a Microscope This one, you might think, is a little too much if you only garden as a hobby, but it can be beneficial, particularly if you have a greenhouse and may have to deal with tiny pests. It came in really handy for me when I had to identify a mite and decide if it’s the dreaded two-spotted ‘spider’ mite or its predator Phytoseiulus persimilis. A quick look calmed my nerves at that moment, but if it hadn’t been the predator instead of a pest I had ignored, then it could have been game-over for my cucumbers pretty soon. Endoscopes now come with a USB attachment, so you could connect it to your phone when you’re in the garden or bring specimens home. It’s also a fun exercise to do with kids, looking at bee’s fur or spider’s eyes (eek!).

For those of you who like to get a little curious about what’s in the soil, who eats whom or how their mouthparts work, I highly recommend extracting some soil animals and checking them out under a microscope. Watching the worm’s gut processing the food or a Mesostigmatid mite eating an aphid is like watching something straight out of a low budget ‘80s horror film.

47

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Watching the worm’s gut processing the food or a Mesostigmatid mite eating an aphid is like watching something straight out of a low budget ‘80s horror film EC Meter As this article refers mainly to soil growers, I will assume that many of you follow organic practices and aren’t using mineral nutrients or additives. You may be making some anaerobic teas like the one I make from nettle and comfrey, using liquid seaweed or experimenting with other plants and extracts like willow bark. The rule of thumb with the application of such potions is that you dilute your extracts ‘to the color of a weak tea’, a very English way of thinking. But why is the ‘weak tea’ color advised? Some old boys will tell you that if you make it stronger, “it will burn your plants”, creating crispy tips of leaves, discoloration and ultimately the opposite effect to what you wanted. The roots absorb nutrients in the form of soluble mineral salt ions, and the high concentration will cause a shortage of water uptake - the plant will take the water from itself, starting with the tips of the leaves. In short, the color of your liquid indicates how rich the solution is, and there’s no way of measuring it precisely unless you own an EC pen. I didn’t have one when I was brewing a rooting tea with willow, and guess what happened? I thought, “a bit dark that, but should be ok” - nope, I should have diluted my tea more. Oh, the joy of homemade experiments!

Air Pump The real game with boosting your plant’s health starts with the knowledge of AACT - Actively Aerated Compost Tea. Instead of letting the anaerobic bacteria breed in an oxygen-poor environment, you can cultivate the ‘good’ bacteria which thrive in oxygen and bring extraordinary results when applied to plants’ roots. The most fun part is that you can play with the ingredients like you’re cooking a meal.

The base for your oxygen-rich tea will always be the same - some foliage, molasses and compost. Your base plant matter could be any plant, but it’s worth doing some research if you want a specific result - you choose which chemical compound you want to be present in your mixture. For nitrogen-rich tea, pick freshly cut grass or nettles. For phosphorus, you can throw sprouted and blended soybeans or shredded root vegetables like carrots.

For a potassium-rich flowering mixture, use flowerheads or banana skins. Add molasses for a good source of sugars which the bacteria use for energy. Ensure the compost (we’re talking nice-smelling, earthy and fresh compost) is a massive collection of soil animals, bacteria and fungi, which you want present in the tea.

Make Your Own!

Check these out for further recipes to brew your own:

Using Compost Tea in Hydroponics gcmag.co/compost-tea-hydroponics

The Stench of Power: Making Comfrey gcmag.co/comfrey-tea

Drink Up: Making Nutrient-Rich Compost Tea For The Garden gcmag.co/DIY-Compost-Tea

One simple method is to cut a leg off a pair of old tights.

Stuff it with your greens, compost, and molasses. Add any other ingredients you may want, for instance, bone meal, fish fertilizer, bat guano, worm castings - they all bring something valuable to the brew. Suspend the parcel on a stick and place it in a bucket of non-chlorinated water. Turn the air pump on. It is important to note that AACT can only brew for a limited time; usually, 12-24 hours is enough. The organisms present in the compost, plants, and additives will multiply, using up the molasses’ carbohydrates. If the brew is left too long, the source of sugars disappears and the live organisms will start dying.

Once your elixir is ready, use it up straight away without turning the air pump off, it only takes a couple of hours for the environment to change from aerobic to anaerobic, you don’t want all your hard work to go to waste (and even damage your plants!). The results of applying AACT are superior compared to the standard ‘compost teas’. With a small solar battery, you can do it right at the allotment.

Admittedly, some of these tools can be fairly expensive, but in my experience, they soon pay for themselves in the improvements you’ll see in your plants. 3

BIO Martyna Krol is a vegetable grower, natural beekeeper, and edible spaces designer. She is a lover of all soil and urban farming techniques and is the former head of growing at Incredible Aquagarden.

49

BY ANNE GIBSON

I enjoy connecting deeply with nature in my garden and using my senses and creativity

Low-Tech

Gardening Hacks Unprotected tomato truss has all been eaten

Repurposing a plastic bottle into a protective cloche for seedlings

50

LOW-TECH GARDENING

B

efore apps and garden gadgets were available, gardeners used tried and true techniques to grow their food and gardens. I admit I prefer to keep smar t devices indoors except when I’m consulting. Zoom video calls are a great way to ‘walk’ around client gardens long-distance!

However, I enjoy connecting deeply with nature in my garden and using my senses and creativity. That said, I do use a mobile phone to take photos for my online garden journal records.

Digital photos are an easy way to track patterns each year. I follow moon cycles to time my planting activities like farmers have done for thousands of years.

I also use a soil pH kit for testing as needed. A timer on the multi-zoned irrigation system is a significant investment but saves time and money. When it comes to solving other garden issues, I prefer non-invasive, inexpensive ‘old tech’ approaches to organic gardening!

“Necessity is the mother of invention.” - Plato These are a few of my favorite tech-free and DIY gardening hacks.

Crop Protection and Pest Management One of the biggest issues we face is pests stealing our food crops before we get a chance to harvest. Insects, caterpillars, slugs and snails are a few of the most common culprits.

The two stages that our edibles are most vulnerable are when they are tender seedlings or bearing fruit. So, I have a few strategies up my sleeve to protect my plants for minimal cost, time and effort.

1) DIY Upcycled Cloches Newly germinated seeds and young seedlings are very vulnerable to a wide range of pests. Whilst I’m not a fan of plastic in the garden, upcycling can be an economically sustainable option for many gardeners. Since most households must recycle plastic bottles of some kind, you can put them to better use outdoors. I repurpose spare bottles by making them into a reusable ‘cloche’ or crop cover. Simply cut the top and bottom off and slide over the seedling, embedding the base into the soil. Sometimes I peg it into position by reusing bamboo skewers or takeaway chopsticks. They’re perfect for holding a cloche in place.

Plastic bottle cloche protecting kale seedling in garden

Upcycling can be an economically sustainable option for many gardeners 2) Bag It! I use cheap reusable gift bags with ties in various sizes to protect different fruiting crops from attack. Green stink bugs, fruit flies, caterpillars, grasshoppers, rats, and mice all seem deterred by this simple but effective strategy.

I use small, medium and large bags depending on the size of the fruits I’m protecting. Small bags are perfect for covering clusters of strawberries, and medium bags are ideal for cherry tomatoes, depending on the variety. I use larger bags for truss tomatoes, peaches, stone fruit, passionfruit, capsicum and eggplant. The ties are quickly closed and loosened when you need to pick your fruit.

When the fruits are ready, they safely drop off into the bag, so nothing goes to waste.

Strawberries bagged up as a low cost pest management hack

Butterflies and moths find it too difficult to land down inside the cloche, which prevents eggs from being laid and hatching into caterpillars. Similarly, I find grasshoppers and katydids don’t bother jumping in either. Slugs and snails usually opt for an easier target at ground level. Once the seedlings have established into young plants and reach the top of the cloche, they are about 20-25cm high and can resist attack.

Just remove the cloche and reuse it elsewhere.

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3) Confuse Cabbage Butterflies As a little girl, I spent a lot of time in my nana’s highly productive kitchen garden and farm. I was fascinated by her ‘eggshell butterflies.’ I thought they were garden art! Out of economic necessity and ingenuity, nana used to deter the cabbage white butterflies from laying eggs on her vegetables by making her own decoys.

DIY Plant Supports and Garden Supplies Vertical structures for climbing plants can be expensive. An economical and sustainable solution might already be in your garden. When pruning trees and shrubs, branches often go to waste or in the council recycling bin. However, I use mulberry branches to weave in and out of each other to make an easy trellis. No cost at all!

Knowing they are territorial, she broke eggshells into two butterfly wing sized pieces. She drew a black dot on each ‘wing’ and stuck them on wooden garden stakes with some putty. The fake butterflies were always in residence, so the real ones looked for new territories. Nowadays, I use blu-tac to hold the eggshell wings in place to look like a butterfly, but this simple trick seems to work! While you can buy plastic butterfly lookalikes, why not make your own for free?

Crepe myrtle branches ready for pruning into stakes Tall, straight branches from our crepe myrtle tree are easily stripped and make ideal stakes. I use these to support young plants with ties. They last at least a season.

Tall, straight branches from our crepe myrtle tree are easily stripped and make ideal stakes.

Palm branches are often the bane of many gardeners’ lives; however, they can play a valuable role. Instead of ending up in the green waste bin, I strip off the leaves from the central stem and use as mulch. Fibrous palm stems are high in lignin and cellulose, so they take longer to break down. I sharpen the end into a point with secateurs and use these as long-lasting garden stakes. Not such a problem after all!

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Mulberry prunings woven into a practical vertical structure

Simply use an electric toothbrush and touch the flower’s base at the stem to help shake the pollen from the anthers down to the stigma Electric Pollination One of the challenges with growing food is pollinating fruiting crops when there are insufficient pollinating insects, a real issue in urban areas due to chemicals and a lack of flowering species in many small gardens. Insects are also unable to pollinate when growing food indoors or in a greenhouse.

With a little creative thinking, uncomplicated old ways can be just as good as new ones, often save you money and are incredibly rewarding. 3

Some vegetables in the Solanaceae family, like tomatoes, eggplant and capsicum, require specific ‘buzz pollinators’ for successful pollination and harvests. These pollinators include solitary bees like bumblebees. As they visit the flower, they shake the pollen loose by vibrating their bodies – a process called sonication.

This ultrasonic vibration helps agitate and release the pollen, so fertilisation takes place.

How do we solve this problem? Simply use an electric toothbrush and touch the flower’s base at the stem to help shake the pollen from the anthers down to the stigma. It’s incredibly effective and fast!

Mini compost bin insitu attracting worms via holes to decompose food waste

“The technologies which have had the most profound effects on human life are usually simple. A good example of a simple technology with profound historical consequences is hay. Nobody knows who invented hay, the idea of cutting grass in the autumn and storing it in large enough quantities to keep horses and cows alive through the winter. All we know is that the technology of hay was unknown to the Roman Empire but was known to every village of medieval Europe. Like many other crucially important technologies, hay emerged anonymously during the so-called Dark Ages.”

An electric toothbrush is a low tech tool for helping pollination

- Freeman Dyson, Infinite in All Directions, 1988

Saving Water Some container gardeners use chemical-based polymer water crystals to try and hold moisture for longer. However, I prefer to use natural solutions to stop my potting mix from drying out too fast. One option is to add rehydrated coconut coir fiber to the mix. It holds up to 70% of its weight in moisture and lasts for around five years. It re-wets easily like a sponge. Vermiculite and zeolite are also natural mineral-based additions that significantly increase water-holding capacity. These are easy ways to prevent your pot plants from turning into ‘dried arrangements!

Another way to retain soil moisture is by employing worms.

Worms excrete manure or vermicast that holds a significant percentage of humidity and soluble nutrients in the soil. The minerals are immediately bioavailable. Adding organic matter and keeping soil covered with mulch provides food and a habitat for worms to work.

BIO

Anne Gibson, The Micro Gardener, is an author, speaker and urban garden community educator on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland, Australia. Anne is passionate about inspiring people to improve health and wellbeing, by growing nutrient-dense food gardens in creative containers and small spaces. Anne regularly presents workshops, speaks at sustainable living events, coaches private clients and teaches community education classes about organic gardening and ways to live sustainably. She has authored several eBooks and gardening guides. Anne shares organic gardening tips and tutorials to save time, money and energy on her popular website - TheMicroGardener.com.

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BY CHRISTOPHER SLOPER

Growing Advice:

T

here are very few hot button topics that get indoor gardeners more riled up than the concept of “perfect pH”. Some gardeners are religious zealots regarding nutrient pH; others check levels both night and day. What if I told you pH rarely, if ever, matters for indoor gardens? Would you think I’ve lost my mind?

As a trained chemist, I have conducted many experiments and preparations that required specific pH tolerances to work.

Many polymers (think nylon) won’t form if pH is not in the correct range. The solution will sit there all day and not produce a thing until a few drops of acid or base are added. So it seems logical that if pH matters in wet chemistry, it should also matter in indoor gardening. But does it?

What if I told you pH rarely, if ever, matters for indoor gardens?

Would you think I’ve lost my mind?

Outdoor Problems, Outdoor Solutions Many modern indoor gardening techniques are based on scientific papers and research about outdoor gardening. Sometimes, these techniques were brought indoors with little validation of effectiveness. While some winners have been discovered this way, ineffective indoor gardening advice has also come along for the ride.

Many outdoor challenges don’t exist indoors. Outside, soil pH can slip out of the desired range from many sources. One particular outdoor problem occurs in heavily air-polluted places: acid rain. If acid rain deteriorates statues made from stone, it can lower soil pH too. Although good soil can buffer some of this change, long term exposure has turned some regions into infertile ground.

Indoors, this is not a problem. However, if you think about how most indoor gardens operate, such as replacing the media after every grow cycle, it’s completely different from growing in Mother Earth. Modern indoor grow mixes are usually pH neutral to start.

Although soil mixes can be reused (assuming there are no pests or molds), this is seldom the case indoors. Hydroponic media, such as Rockwool, are generally designed for one-time use.

Plant Control Plants have developed many complex systems to control their rhizosphere or root zone, including altering pH. Plants attract or 56

repel the minerals they need to grow by releasing root extrudates into the soil.

These are complex sugars and starches secreted by the roots to attract (and often feed) beneficial microorganisms in the media. These beneficial organisms trap minerals in their bodies and release them to the plant upon their death.

By flexing the pH of the rhizosphere through root extrudates, plants foster communities of the beneficial microorganisms that release the specific minerals they need.

An example of this is found in the relationship between mycorrhizae and phosphorus. Mycorrhizae can convert insoluble phosphorus to a form that is available to the plant. Root extrudates and the microbial composition of the plant’s rhizosphere control pH much more than anything coming out of a bottle. If pH matters, who controls the soil pH of the redwood forests?

Easy to Believe It only takes a few minutes of searching online gardening forums to see how many people have developed complex pH schedules for their gardens. Many gardeners swear that changing the pH of their nutrients by one-tenth of a point per week (5.5, 5.6, 5.7, etc.) improves their yields. Hydroponic shops also sell dozens of pH test products and solutions. In my opinion, any improvement is probably because these gardeners are spending more time observing and catching problems earlier — not because of their fancy pH adjustments.

pH and Me My pH mindset was altered by one grow; it was my worst garden ever. Visually, it was a mess – I knew something was wrong. The plants were stunted and not developing normally.

I was aware that I was adding more pH down to my nutrient reservoir than usual but didn’t panic about that because my pH meter told me everything was fine.

REGENERATIVE GROWING AGRICULTURE ADVICE

Is pH impHortant?

Many outdoor challenges don’t exist indoors

The underlying problem turned out to be that my city imports water depending on supply and demand. When the source changes, so does the water’s ability to buffer its pH. The imported water’s higher level of dissolved solids caused it to change less in response to pH adjustments than local water.

Therefore, depending on how the city blends local/imported water sources, the buffering quality of my local water supply can shift significantly.

Root extrudates and the microbial composition of the plant’s rhizosphere control pH much more than anything coming out of a bottle

It should have occurred to me that I was adding too much pH down. With things getting worse, I finally got out my old-school chemical drops to verify that the pH meter worked. It wasn’t; not by a mile. The pH meter read correctly in the calibration solution but gave a very high reading for the nutrient solution.

Frustrated, I gave up on my pH meter and decided to listen to advice about skipping the pH step. Even though the garden was suffering, it slightly improved without pH adjustments.

Unfortunately, by the time I discovered the problem, it was too late for that garden. It produced a harvest, but its yield was off by about half. So I skipped pH all together for the next garden, and the results were better. Years later, and I don’t miss adjusting pH one bit. It’s so nice to be free from calibrating and cleaning a pH meter, and eliminating the pH up and down solution bottles is a bonus!

Experiment for Yourself

I get that I might be the only person you’ve heard say that you should skip the pH step altogether when it comes to nutrient solutions. However, many well-respected indoor gardening professionals stress the importance of correct pH. So, why listen to me?

Maybe you shouldn’t—experiment for yourself. Nutrient pH is like everything in life; you need to find what works for you. You may find some plants do better within a controlled pH range and others don’t. After trying a few different things, maybe you’ll join me on the “pH-free” side! 3

BIO

Christopher Sloper is the VP of Lighting Technologies at Global Garden, a wholesale hydroponics distributor. Additionally, he is the author of The LED Grow Book, currently in its third edition. His Bachelors in Chemistry, MBA, ownership of two hydroponics stores, and several decades of gardening experience have taught him to question the status quo and experiment for himself when gardening indoors or out. Pick up a copy of his book; it’s full of ideas like this one. Reach out to him at sloper@globalgarden.com and let him know what you think about this article or anything cultivation-related.

57

BY CAROLINE RIVARD

A Culinary Gem and Flavorful Herbal Medicine

58

ROSEMARY

M

ore people are jumping into the world of growing aromatic herbs, either on the balcony or in the garden. Home chefs creatively use

In folk herbal medicine tradition, rosemary was infused in red wine and enjoyed for heart health

herbs to enhance flavors in their meals and drinks. And while they please the taste buds, culinary aromatic herbs have much more to share with us. They are a veritable medicinal cornucopia as well! Aromatic and fragrant, the herbs offer a tremendous number of medicinal properties.

Rosemary: Springs of Goodness

Boost Memory and Alertness Some compounds in rosemary essential oil, such as 1,8-cineole, may be responsible for positive changes in memory performance.

Rosemary has a pronounced action on the brain and central nervous system. The medicine is in the potent and refreshing herbal scent molecules, so it is easy to benefit through aromatherapy. This powerful herbal tool helps clear the mind and increases mental awareness. The same essential oil is also used in aromatherapy to treat anxiety-related conditions.

With its robust and coniferous smell, rosemary is one of the bestknown culinary herbs. However, in ancient times, rosemary’s uses and purposes were plenty and not only reserved for cooking. Native to southern Europe, the herb was historically used in the Greek Antiquity and Roman times as an offering to Aphrodite, the deity of love. The resinous plant was also burned as incense to purify the air. In addition, rosemary was weaved as wreaths and worn by intellectuals who swore the herb helped boost their memories.

Early in history, wealthier people used rosemary in one of the first alcohol-based perfumes.

Herbal teas are one of the simplest methods to reap the benefits of medicinal plants. In addition to being good for your health, rosemary tea is also delicious. Take a teaspoon of fresh rosemary leaves from your garden and add them to a cup of boiled water—cover and steep for five minutes. Then, strain the leaves and add some honey or freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste.

Rosemary’s Multiple Virtues

Soothing Digestion

Rosmarinus officinalis is packed with medicinal properties has many gifts to share. The herb is an excellent source of iron, calcium and vitamins A, C, and B-6. It also has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and powerful antioxidant functions.

Rosemary is a carminative, and so an infused tea works wonders after a heavy meal. It can improve the digestive process by reducing gas and bloating and helps soothe and calm an upset stomach. The polyphenolic constituents of rosemary also balance and regulate blood sugar in the body.

Soothing Muscles and Aches

A Fragrant Cup of Tea

Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, rosemary is a great all-natural pain reliever. The twigs of the plant can be infused in vegetable oil and used to massage aching muscles. Adding a few drops of rosemary essential oil to the herbal treatment enhances the beneficial effects, treating aches, joint and muscle pain, sciatica and help muscles relax. The infused oil acts as a rubefacient as well to soothe gout, rheumatism, and neuralgia conditions.

You can massage the same infused oil preparation into the scalp to help with hair loss. For best results, use the oil over a long period.

59

BY JOANNA BERG

ROSEMARY

Some compounds in rosemary essential oil, such as 1,8-cineole, may be responsible for positive changes in memory performance Activating Blood Circulation Drinking hot rosemary tea can help warm cold hands and feet as it also enhances blood circulation.

In addition, the herb has a tonic effect on the entire cardiovascular system. In folk herbal medicine tradition, rosemary was infused in red wine and enjoyed for hear t health.

A Pampering Herb If you made too much tea and won’t drink the rest of it, use your herbal infusion as a hair rinse! Rosemary water will help with dandruff and moisturize a dry scalp, making your hair shine as well. When applied to the face, the rosemary water acts as a refreshing astringent that balances and tones the skin.

Thanks to its many benefits, rosemary is a musthave in our kitchens, on our windowsills, or in the garden! 3

Disclaimer: Used as a cooking herb, the aromatic plant is safe. However, high doses of rosemary may cause miscarriage. Therefore, pregnant women shouldn’t take any supplemental rosemary or use the essential oil. A therapeutic dosage of rosemary can also interfere with anticoagulant and blood pressure medications, diuretics, and drugs containing lithium.

If you have an allergy to aspirin or salicylate, exercise caution when using medicinal rosemary. Always ask your health care practitioner before taking rosemary supplements.

A therapist and healer for over 15 years, Caroline’s passion for medicinal plants only began after leaving the city for the quiet country life in Quebec, Canada.

Eager to learn, she’s never looked back, using forests and wildflower fields as her classroom ever since. In a time where reconnecting with plants and nature is badly needed, she spreads her love for herbalism by holding teaching workshops about the powers of medicinal herbs and natural remedies.

Bio

61

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TERRARIUMS

BY RICH HAMILTON

TRENDING TERRARIUMS Mini, Low-Maintenance Gardens

W

hen COVID-19 spread around the globe in March 2020, something changed in the world of gardening.

Online nurseries and garden sites experienced a boom in traffic; people who had never gotten their hands dir ty before wanted to find out what they could grow and how.

Being forced to remain in our homes, the practice of growing and nurturing plants became a remedy to the uncertainty and boredom of lockdown. It allowed people an escape, a way to fill time, and the chance to grow their food or improve their immediate environments with greenery. In May 2020, GlobalData market research rated gardening the second most popular lockdown pastime.

Physical and Mental Benefits There has never been more proof of the physical and mental health benefits; many converts say it helped ease the anxiety that came along with the pandemic. A recent Thrive (gardening for health charity) survey found that 43% of people agree that gardening helps their mental health, while 36% find that gardening keeps them healthy.

Another study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology (2015) states that close contact, such as touching and smelling plants, can reduce physical and mental stress. Even the soil in your terrarium can be beneficial as it contains outdoorphins. These are natural antidepressants that boost mood by releasing cytokines, which then tells the brain to produce more serotonin, the body’s ‘happy’ chemical.

An article published in 2017 by environmental health expert Danica-Lea Larcombe suggests that plants can positively change the brain’s electrical activity and muscle tension.

Being forced to remain in our homes, the practice of growing and nurturing plants became a remedy to the uncertainty and boredom of lockdown Indoor Garden Trend: Terrariums Unfortunately, not everyone, especially those living in cities, has an outdoor space for a garden. But that doesn’t mean that they have less potential to grow plants. On the contrary, houseplants and hydroponic systems flew off the shelves during the lockdown, and other indoor gardening trends have also taken off. Terrarium growing, for example, is experiencing some newfound popularity.

Terrariums are the perfect option for those just getting into gardening or who don’t have the time to maintain plants. It is possible to feel a sense of achievement from nurturing and watching tiny plants and microclimates evolve into something incredible.

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CREATE THE UNDERGROUND

QUICKEST ROOT CONNECTION, SHORTEST VEGETATIVE TIME AND GREATEST FLOWERS

PERFECT COMBO. MASSIVE ROOTS. LEARN MORE AND CONNECT WITH US @PROMIX_CANNABIS VISIT PTHORTICULTURE.COM/EN/CONNECT The information in this document was up-to-date at the time of printing. Because of its continuous improvement policy, Premier Horticulture reserves the right to halt manufacturing, change products, or revise technical data and prices without further warning or liability. Product availability may vary depending on the territory. Premier Horticulture is not responsible of the use of its products in territories where cannabis is prohibited. © 2021 Premier Horticulture Ltd. All rights reserved. PRO-MIX® is a registered trademark of Premier Horticulture Ltd.

VACCINETERRARIUMS APARTHEID

Terrariums are the perfect option for those just getting into gardening or who don’t have the time to maintain plants

GARDEN WEEDS

Sealed and Unsealed Terrariums are small, enclosed environments similar to mini-greenhouses in which you can grow a variety of things, including ferns, carnivorous plants, succulents, and dwarf palms. Terrariums are housed in glass or plastic containers and can be sealed or unsealed.

Sealed terrariums are self-nourishing and require little maintenance. They create their sustainable microclimates.

The plants release water vapor, which then condensates and collects in droplets on the terrarium walls. Water then trickles back into the growing medium and is used by the plant before being recycled again.

Open terrariums need occasional watering, but nothing too extensive. They help with natural air purification by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen through photosynthesis. Some plant species can even remove toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene from the air.

Did You Know?

We have terrariums to thank for the British tea obsession.

Before the first type of terrarium was introduced in Victorian London, it had been almost impossible to grow Chinese tea plants outside China. During the mid-1800s, however, a British botanist named Robert Fortune successfully used Wardian cases to transport tea plants to India, where the Indian tea industry took off shortly after. By the mid 19th century, tea prices were so low that it had become the most popular drink of the British working class.

Creative Control Terrariums come with many unique advantages in gardening and interior design aesthetics, making them a versatile option for all homes. Designing and creating a terrarium gives gardeners complete creative control. In addition, they are available in all shapes and sizes, from big fishbowls to tiny bottles.

Ideal Microclimates I have a sealed Biosphere terrarium that I love. It features a full spectrum LED light that mimics natural sunlight and guarantees healthy plant growth. Supplemental lighting makes the terrarium perfect for any space in the home, whether it’s a naturally sunny spot or a darker room like a bedroom or study. However, if using a terrarium without lights, many plant species will thrive in darker conditions, so no need to worry!

The microclimate you create, especially in a sealed terrarium, provides enough heat, light and humidity to allow all types of tropical plants, moss and microorganisms to thrive. To further enhance the microclimate aesthetics, add some beautiful hardscape materials such as driftwood or amazonian rocks.

When winter arrives, even the most green-fingered among us can struggle to keep houseplants alive. However, inside the terrarium (especially in a sealed environment), it is summer all year round, and plants will thrive regardless of the season.

Moving Forward The full impact of the global pandemic is still unknown.

Still, the influx of enthusiastic and creative gardeners over the last 12 months marks an exciting time for horticulture.

Let’s hope that the momentum keeps up and that we see the practice of growing plants at home, in whatever form possible, continues. 3

BIO

An industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in a variety of roles, Rich is currently a business development manager for a large UK hydroponics distributor. The author of the Growers Guide book series, Rich also writes on all aspects of indoor gardening. He is also an independent industry consultant, working closely with hydroponic businesses worldwide.

65

BY NICO HILL

Growing Under Enhanced

CO2

More is Never Enough

If you do it right, growing under enhanced CO 2 can be extremely rewarding. If you do it wrong, it can be very frustrating 66

ENHANCED CO2

W

e all want more for less. That’s how a capitalist society works. Increase growth rates and make more money by saving more on costs and streamlining processes using whatever means necessary. Even if it means removing the right to protest, the right to medical autonomy over your own body, or even

simply the right to free speech without censorship; the need for corporate profit has consistently been shown to outweigh any minor insignificance in its way.

Unlike how Technocrats and Oligarchs exude their Orwellian control over regular human beings´ lives, gardeners can get more out of our indoor gardens without subjecting our plants to an overt totalitarian dictatorship in the process. Quite the opposite; it turns out that if you give plants more than what they could ever ask for in terms of meeting their basic needs, then you will see them become much more productive as a result.

It turns out that if you give plants more than what they could ever ask for in terms of meeting their basic needs, then you will see them become much more productive as a result

One well-established way to improve your plants is through the enhanced use of a wondrous element we all know as carbon dioxide. The very thing we humans excrete as waste from our respiration system is used in the critical process of a plant’s energy production: photosynthesis. Understanding exactly how the plant uses CO2 during this process provides a good foundation for building upon when aiming for a higher production rate.

Going Deep

Photosynthesis happens in two stages: the first stage requires energy from light to split water (H20) and creates the products needed (ATP and NADPH) to complete photosynthesis in the second stage process. This second stage (the Calvin cycle) is a light-independent reaction. It simply needs products of the first stage and some CO2 to complete the process of making sugars. This means that for a short period after your lights turn off, the plant may still be temporarily completing the process of photosynthesis until it has used up all the ATP and NADPH created during the first stage, the light-dependent cycle.

Light Reaction

Dark reaction

H2O

CO2

THYLAKOID

STROMA

How Your Plant Uses It Photosynthesis is something we should all be very familiar with.

At the very least, the fact you are reading a magazine about plants implies you should have some awareness of this process.

As a quick refresher, though: using light energy, a plant combines water and carbon dioxide inside its chlorophyll to make the energy it uses to grow with some oxygen and water created as waste products. The whole process is typically represented with the following simplified equation:

SUNLIGHT 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2 This looks easy enough, right? Well, it is a bit more complex than this when you look into the nitty-gritty of it all. A bit like the ´suicide´ of Jeffrey Epstein, there are usually many more hidden truths to something that seems quite simple on the surface. A few more in-depth processes going on in the background of this equation make the whole story possible.

Sunlight

Energy As ATP and NADPH

Oxygen O2

Calvin Cycle

Sugar C6H12O6

Using enhanced CO2 levels is not good enough on its own. With (relatively) low levels of light and H2O available, your plant may not make enough inputs in the light-dependent cycle to achieve the extra production potential available with all the excess CO2 floating around. For example, suppose you increase components from one side of photosynthesis (CO2). In that case, you need to increase the elements on the other side, too (light and H20), to maintain the higher desired productivity as a whole.

67

The very thing we humans excrete as waste from our respiration system is used in the critical process of a plant’s energy production: photosynthesis

ENHANCED CO2

How High Is Too High?

Every plant is different and will need its growth rate taken into account. Fortunately, there have been a fair few studies showing how these variables inter-relate with each other, and we can establish a generalization for fast-growing annual flowering plants.

The first variable a grower can influence is the level of light.

You can see from the above graph how interlinked CO2, temperature and photosynthesis levels are. It is not as simple as raising one variable and expecting it to start showering gold in a few months. You need to carefully control all your environmental variables to make use of a CO2-enhanced environment properly.

Otherwise, any extra CO2 you do add could well be all going to waste.

Plants Respond You can see in the above graph that as you increase your light intensity alongside CO2, your potential for extra production of photosynthesis can increase. As discussed in the previous few paragraphs, if you elevate CO2 levels, you need this additional increase for the light-dependent cycle to produce more ATP and NADPH to physically make use of the extra CO2 in the Calvin cycle. Another thing you need more of (in relative amounts) is water (H2O).

Getting Hot In Here Water is taken up via your plant’s roots and supplied to the rest of the plant. As an interesting fact, less than 1% of the water that your plant takes up through its roots goes into photosynthesis. The overwhelming majority of water flow through a plant is used to keep itself cool. You do need more H2O for photosynthesis now, so you need to force your plant to cool more! Fortunately, more light usually adds more heat to an environment, so your plant has a greater water requirement to cool itself. A warmer climate means more water is demanded to cool a plant, providing extra H2O needed for photosynthesis under enhanced CO2.

If you choose to supplement with CO2, make sure you understand the knock-on consequences it will have on every other variable in your grow room. Your plants truly can grow at enhanced levels and give you enhanced yields, but it will most likely require much more care and attention in the process. It is usually best to gradually build-up to the peak of the curves on these graphs to slowly gain experience with growing at these levels and reduce the risk of failure through inevitable mistakes made from jumping in at the deep end.

For example, the first time you supplement CO2, you may well be shocked at how much more your plants can grow/stretch; a canopy can quickly get out of hand compared to your usual cycle.

If you are new to supplementing CO2, then it may be best to begin supplementing after the first couple of weeks of flowering, when the majority of the stretching period has stopped. When you become more accustomed to cultivating under enhanced CO2, you can begin dosing earlier and push your results even further.

Reach Your Limits If you do it right, growing under enhanced CO2 can be extremely rewarding. If you do it wrong, it can be very frustrating. Just don´t expect it to be an easy thing that takes no effort to accomplish, as then you would only be pulling the wool over your eyes and likely headed for disappointment. 3

BIO

Nico Hill - Hydro Nerd at InfiniteMonkey.com Nico has been a keen gardener for many moons. Bitten by the hydroponic bug back in 1998, and hasn’t looked back since! After many years as a hobby, Nico’s career in Hydroponics had its start working for Aquaculture in Sheffield, the UK’s largest and most forward-thinking grow shops of the time. He was then hired by Hydromag, responsible for the hydroponic content. From there, he has worked with CANNA, as editor of CANNAtalk, author of the research articles, and delivering seminars throughout the UK to grow shops on the finer details of cultivating in a hydroponic environment. Nico is now writing for companies in the hydroponic industry.

69

FOOD INSECURITY

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

Smartphone App Helping Small-Scale Farmers And The Food Insecure In Kenya

With the World Health Organization estimating that 790 million people struggle with food insecurity around the globe, blockchain technology is helping those vulnerable to malnutrition in western Kenya. Last May, Virginia Tech researchers deployed smar tphones equipped with a unique app in the East African countr y so that small-scale farmers can access the information they need to consume more top-quality vegetables.

While African indigenous vegetables are a healthy source of micronutrients in Kenya, unfortunately, few people eat them, especially those living in low-income households.

The project is being led by Virginia Tech’s Center for International Research, Education, and Development (CIRED) in collaboration with Egerton University in Kenya and Australian startup, AgUnity. The blockchain-based app is designed to help break down barriers to the consumption of nutritious vegetables; access for all.

With the World Health Organization estimating that 790 million people struggle with food insecurity around the globe, blockchain technology is helping those vulnerable to malnutrition in western Kenya

How It Works AgUnity’s Versio 3 App tracks the vegetables on their journey from the producer to the consumer. The technology means buyers will have a wealth of information at their fingertips, such as how the produce was grown, transported to market, and processed, thus creating a transparent local food system.

Furthermore, farmers, traders, and retailers can use the app to check prices and quantities of available vegetables and whether

growers used chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the fields.

They can also check the platform to sell their food and see what varieties people want.

“We expect that by the end of this project, producers, traders, and retailers will see higher profits from the sale of nutritious indigenous vegetables,” said Jessica Agnew, assistant director of research, operations, and program management at CIRED 71

FOOD INSECURITY

The technology means buyers will have a wealth of information at their fingertips, such as how the produce was grown, transported to market, and processed, thus creating a transparent local food system

and one of the project leads. “The increased availability, quality, and competitive prices of the vegetables will result in consumers purchasing and eating the vegetables more often. We expect that increased information about the safety of the vegetables will also encourage consumers to eat vegetables in high enough quantities to support nutrition.”

The smartphone app is proving how blockchain technology can help solve food security issues

A Step In The Right Direction The smartphone app is proving how blockchain technology can help solve food security issues. The population in subSaharan Africa is predicted to grow by 2 billion by 2050, and tremendous efforts are needed to boost nutrition and the consumption of healthy foods. Improving food safety and opening communication lines between producers and buyers are excellent ways to achieve that goal.

Betty is a small-scale farmer from Kakamega in western Kenya who was trained to use the app to connect buyers with her products.

“The training has been helpful to me as a farmer,” she says. “I will no longer use inorganic fertilizer that I previously used.

With the phone app, I will be confirming with retailers and traders if they need vegetables and how much before going to the farm to pluck, unlike previously when I would just do it blindly and not sell them, leading to losses.”

All transactions between users are securely recorded on the app, which also offers other services such as training and record-keeping.

Thus far, the rollout appears to be successful. The project is now looking at how effective the app has been in the field.

“Looking ahead, we hope to explore more how the information stored on the app can inform consumers about the quality of the vegetables and how they can be cooked in a way that best retains their nutrition,” says Ralph Hall, associate director and associate professor in the School of Public and International Affairs and one of the project’s leads.

Just one small example of how technology is being used for good. 3

Catherine is a Canadian award-winning journalist who worked as a reporter and news anchor in Montreal’s radio and television scene for 10 years.A graduate of Concordia University, she left the hustle and bustle of the business after starting a family. Now, she’s the editor and a writer for Garden Culture Magazine while also enjoying being a mom to her three young kids. Her interests include great food, gardening, fitness, animals, and anything outdoors.

Bio

Sources: • •

World Health Organization: The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2020 bit.ly/3BWC2Nf Virginia Tech: Deployment of smartphones, app aims to improve food and nutrition security in Kenya bit. ly/3lm6GJY 73

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BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

Powering the Good

I

t’s more apparent than ever that we need to take action against climate change, and the agriculture industry, in par ticular, needs a major revamp. A new U.S. cooperative fund takes a step in the right direction, offering the nation’s most farmer-friendly renewable energy loan program.

Organic Valley is partnering with Clean Energy Credit Union to launch the Powering the Good Loan Fund. This initiative provides the best loan terms for farmers wanting to reduce their carbon footprint by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources.

The $1-million fund is already up and running with expansion plans.

Beyond helping farmers move away from fossil fuels, the fund will also help reduce the energy bills for small, family-run farms that are disappearing at a rapid rate.

Available to more than 1,700 farmers from across the country, the loans will cover:

For more information: cleanenergycu.org organicvalley.coop

• • •

Solar electric systems to offset farm energy consumption.

Plate coolers, VFDs, LED lighting, insulation, and ventilation.

Geothermal systems and heat pumps for heating and cooling.

How Your Eating Habits Might Be Contributing To Deforestation

W

hether you’re a lover of chocolate,

•

coffee, beef, or palm oil, your eating

•

habits might be contributing to the

deforestation of the world’s tropical forests.

• •

A Japanese study has found that the consumption of imported commodities in G7 countries is out of control, with the eating habits in wealthier parts of the world accounting for the loss of four trees per person every year.

According to a report by CTV News, researchers looked at highresolution data on forest loss and a global database of international trade relationships between 15,000 industry sectors from 2001 to 2015. Armed with that information, they were able to see each country’s deforestation footprint based on the population’s consumption patterns:

Chocolate lovers in the United Kingdom and Germany drive deforestation in the Ivory Coast and Ghana.

In the United States, Europe, and China, demand for beef and soy products has contributed to forest destruction in Brazil.

Coffee drinkers living in the U.S., Germany, and Italy are behind deforestation in central Vietnam.

China’s imports of palm oil have contributed to deforestation in Malaysia.

Of all the G7 countries, the study found the U.S. has the largest deforestation footprint because it imports many products from other countries, including lumber from Canada. The average person in the U.S. accounts for five trees lost per year, not four.

Deforestation poses a significant threat to wildlife and biodiversity.

The study’s authors recommend that G7 countries closely look at the data and work to find solutions. They say the deforestation of tropical rainforests must be a priority over economic growth. 3

Sources: CTV News: Eating habits of wealthy countries driving loss of ‘four trees each year’ per person: study bit.ly/3ic3Hlr 77

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ALBERT MONDOR, HORTICULTURIST AND BIOLOGIST

Fantastic

Fungi Grow Your Own Mushrooms

78

FANTASTIC FUNGI

F

ungi are incapable of photosynthesis and feed on organic matter, forming a kingdom quite distinct from plants. Most fungi are made up

of an underground system called mycelium and sporophores and usually emerge from the ground with a stalk and a cap. Apar t from truffles and a few other species with underground sporophores, we most often

Most fungi are made up of an underground system called mycelium and sporophores and usually emerge from the ground with a stalk and a cap

consume the visible par ts when eating mushrooms.

Some species of edible mushrooms are easily cultivated; the fall is a great time to grow mushrooms outdoors.

Oyster mushrooms and shiitake are arguably the easiest mushrooms to grow. Those with more experience can also try hedgehog hydne, maitake, sulphur polypore, reishi and wine cap Stropharia. Fungi mycelium can be found on the market in bags, plugs, or a liquid contained in a syringe.

The easiest cultivation method is to place the mycelium outside in a tree-shaded location, shallow in the ground, with a mixture of woodchips, hardwood sawdust or dead leaves. Then, keep the soil moist by watering it two or three times a week.

Oyster mushrooms and shiitake can also be grown in textile pots. First, place potting soil inoculated with mycelium, supplemented with woodchips or sawdust, all around and against the sides of the container. Then, fill the center of the planter with ordinary potting soil suitable for edible plants. Keep the soil consistently moist. After a few weeks, the fungi will pass through the fabric; no need to make any holes! Fungi may also emerge on the surface of the soil.

These mushrooms can also be grown in a shaded area on logs from freshly cut hardwood trees. Drill holes in the logs and fill them with mycelium plugs. Ideally, cover the holes with beeswax.

White oyster, Blue oyster and elm oyster mushrooms are perennial fungi whose mycelium survives the harsh winters of northern regions such as Canada and the northern United States.

Less hardy, shiitake - a fungus renowned for its ability to increase the immune system’s strength - overwinters better when its mycelium is inserted into a hardwood tree log or textile pot in the fall, ideally a month before the first frost. Protect “the crop” with a thick blanket of dead leaves and snow.

Fungi mycelium can be found on the market in bags, plugs, or a liquid contained in a syringe

79

A CHOICE AS CLEAR AS THE VISION.

M YKOSWP

FANTASTIC FUNGI

You can find up to 100 kilometers of hyphae in one liter of soil! A single mushroom can produce over a kilometer of mycelium in 24 hours.

Mycelium network

Mushrooms everywhere!

The largest living organism on the planet is a fungus called Armillaria ostoyae that grows in the soil of the Malheur National Forest in Oregon, US. This fungus’s vast mycelium network covers an estimated area of ​​over 9 square kilometers! It is believed that this fungus is 2,500 years old.

Did You Know?

Fungi are beneficial, if not necessary, for the survival of many plants. In nature, the roots of most plants - over 80% of all species - are closely associated with fungi. The mycelium of different species of fungi acts as an extension of the root system of plants, allowing them to obtain better supplies of water and nutrients.

Some plants, such as various orchids, cannot germinate without a fungus. In return, the plants that live alongside these fungi provide them with sugars for their growth and development. This beneficial association between the roots of a plant and a fungus is called mycorrhizae. Of Greco-Latin origin, the word mycorrhiza comprises the terms myco, which means fungus, and rhiza, which means root.

Botanically speaking, mushrooms are not plants. Instead, they form a separate kingdom, of which approximately 120,000 species have been described so far. However, some scientists estimate that there are probably between 2.2 and 3.8 million species of fungi on Earth, including mushrooms, yeasts and molds.

Most fungi are made up of, among other things, an underground system called mycelium, which is a tangle of root-like filaments called hyphae. You can find up to 100 kilometers of hyphae in one liter of soil! A single mushroom can produce over a kilometer of mycelium in 24 hours.

Fungi also have structures called sporophores, which are their fruiting bodies or, in other words, their reproductive organs. In many fungi, these sporophores consist of a stalk and a cap with lamellae on which the spores are located. 3

BIO Passionate about environmental horticulture, urban agriculture and extreme landscape design, Albert Mondor has practiced his craft for over 30 years and created numerous gardens in North America. In addition to teaching courses and lecturing at conferences across Canada, his weekly gardening column has appeared in the Journal de Montréal and the Journal de Québec since 1999.

In April 2018, Albert Mondor published Le nouveau potager, his tenth horticultural book. He is a regular guest and contributor to radio and television programs and his hosting The Trendy Gardener spots broadcasted on Météo Média and online. You can also read his blog called Extreme Horticulture at albertmondor.com. Follow Albert on Facebook: fb.com/albert.mondor 81

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LED

BY BRIAN GANDY

My LED Affliction M

y first memories of Light Emitting Diodes are the HAM radio kit from RadioShack I put together in the third grade, the little indicators next to the quarter slot on an arcade game, and the red light on the

Gameboy that became an instinctual indicator of battery life. Now, I can’t see an LED without trying to

guess its wavelength within 10 nanometers.

Working in the Bio-Refinery labs on the plants. After moving to Denver in 2010, Prodding plants with south campus of the University of Georlearning to grow hydro indoors, and bediffering wavelengths gia, I worked with a team using different coming a part-time ski bum, I found myself inputs to elicit oil production out of slime. and combinations in a full circle conversation with old colMounted in a cuvette, we hit these microleagues interested in cultivating plants with of light to optimize scopic plant ancestors with blue(450nm), LED-based technology. oil production has green (535nm) and red (660nm) light to see differing rates of O2 production as become commonplace How It All Began a result of increased photosynthetic acHaving spent a few years in the mountains in the cultivation of tivity. Sure enough, there was a correskiing like a fiend and growing veggies in a medicinal plants lation, especially with the blue and red postcard at over 8000 ft, I fired up my first wavelengths. At this time, I had learned COB (Chip on Board) prototype next to about the McRee Curve in my physiology a trusty old single-ended HPS. The LED was 900 watts, using class but was not yet obsessed with it. The combination of (by today’s standards) very inefficient chips in a modified Rapthe electricity and chemistry of these monochromatic chips tor hood and forcing air over all the hot drivers and heatsinks. serendipitously lines up with the photoreaction centers that After almost burning down my beautiful house in Aurora, CO turn CO2, water and light into plant biomass. (by pulling ten thousand watts through aluminium wiring), I kept most experiments relatively small and science-minded. This first This not-so-novel part of the many oddball studies I helped trial proved two things: it is possible to grow decent plants under facilitate would turn out to become a critical inflexion point LED, and I didn’t know much about the nuance of parameter to the core of my career. Prodding plants with differing wavecontrols needed to get the most out of an LED garden. There lengths and combinations of light to optimize oil production was no VPD management, dry-backs or nutritional modificahas become commonplace in the cultivation of medicinal tion, only raw power on the canopy. Proof of principle.

83

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LED

LED technology is evolving fast; HPS, however, has not

Ever Heard of Blurple?

LED PAR Wars have

The LED Evolution

Before the full spectrum LED lights that LED PAR Wars have been raging on social been raging on social are now available across the globe, there media since they first hit the market. Mismedia since they was “blurple”. Red and blue chips were leading marketing and lies historically made the most efficient vehicles of Photosynmany growers weary of making the change. first hit the market. thetically Active Radiation (PAR). Red, Ten years ago, there was no 600W LED Misleading marketing being more efficient as a longer wavethat could replace a 600W HPS. LED techand lies historically length, can deliver more plant usable ennology is evolving fast; HPS, however, has ergy per joule or watt from the wall. PAR not. That old claim which once seemed like made many growers is measured in micromoles. Today, the a fairytale, is now the truth. But the differweary of making the efficacy (efficiency) of a horticulture lightences between these lighting technologies change ing system is usually measured in umol/J. expands far beyond efficiency.

Serious indoor garden enthusiasts have been tracking the progression from ~2.0 for HPS to 3.5+ for Growers must consider the Emerson Effect, UV, secondary LED. For a deep dive on this, check out my buddy Chris Slopmetabolites, and how Ag-funded tech innovation drives food er’s The LED Grow Book Version 3 . Or wait to see if I get the security. Spectral tuning, A.I., automation and optics are also opportunity to bore this audience with minutia and tech talk. factors to think about. We also can’t forget about package-less surface mount chip technology, the delivery of specific waveThe most common formulation for full-spectrum is some lengths of light, and how plants perceive different combinavariation of white LEDs with a high Color Rendering Indextions like we perceive pitches of sound.

(CRI), some 660nm red chips to drive that photosystem and boost specs due to their ever-growing efficacy. White chips I’ve been invited to write here as myself and as the owner of are approaching their theoretical maximums for efficiency, my firm, Sustainable Terrains, which I founded in 2014 to house but scientists keep turning over rocks and finding a little more my consulting efforts in agriculture and hort tech. My first love output and durability. We have a pretty solid understanding is food, grown in the dirt under the sun. My LED affliction has, of the importance of Far Red and clues regarding UV that fall at times, left me broke and living in a camper, running from the just outside of the PAR range (400-700nm) and their effect next startup trying to engineer their way to market or trying on plants. to pimp me for the knowledge I’ve gained.

It is essential to understand that all white LEDs are actually blue (typically 450nm, but emerging tech is moving that mark) chips with a unique phosphor coating. This takes the dense energy emitted from that wavelength range and diffuses it to lower energy forms down the line, from green to yellow to red and tailing out into far-red. This shift is due to the chemical composition and thickness of the coating over the blue-chip base. As a result, the bluer white chips (6500K) are inherently more efficient than 3000K. Look up Kelvin temps or read your LED screw in residential lamp boxes for this visual reference.

Still, I cannot walk through an airport, concert, parking structure, or holiday light installation without estimating the wavelength or combination of wavelengths that produce a color or temperature of light. I know we are just at the beginning of this exciting paradigm shift in technology and unlocking the potential of plants as a result. 3

BIO

Brian Gandy is a proud father and horticulturist with a penchant for permaculture, sustainable business, and technology.

85

BIOFLORAL.COM It all started with an idea that had the potential for something great. A vision for the future and a lot of hard work. Founded in 1999 as a labour of love by two visionaries, Biofloral has earned its title as a pillar of the indoor/outdoor gardening, hydroponic, and cannabis communities. Over the last 20 years, the Biofloral team has earned the trust and respect of Canadian growers from coast to coast by cultivating relationships, offering expertise, and supporting you, our customers.

We do what we love and we’re here to help you do the same. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for you, the people we’ve met and served along the way. We believe that fostering a cohesive, vibrant local community that unites passionate people is important to ensuring not only our community’s success but the well being of our plants.

We’re homegrown, independent, strong, and resilient just like you.

So here’s to you, the round pegs in the square holes. To the ones that can’t be ignored. The misfits. The rebels. WE ARE, and will always be the disruptors and the change makers. You see things differently, and we’re here for it.

We are here with you for you… then, now and in the future.

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87

BY PHILIP MCINTOSH

What Good Many people have applied 3D printing to various horticultural projects

is a

Printer?

88

3D PRINTING

I

n recent years, there has been a lot of hype around 3D printers, laser cutters, vacuum forming machines, tabletop CNC routers, wire benders, and the like.You can do some amazing stuff with them, for sure, such as spending a lot of time making plastic frogs and other trinkets to put on your shelf. But can we find any use for them around the garden, greenhouse or

lab? When it comes to 3D printers (and indeed the others too), we sure can.

Many people have applied 3D the really cool thing about printing to various horticultural 3D printing is you are not projects. For example, the 3Dponlimited to what others have ics project (3dponics.com) offers a complete set of 3D printable dedone. You can make stuff of signs for constructing hydroponic your own to solve problems systems. A researcher at Sony specific to your needs corporation has printed substrates for growing plants with limited tubes takes up less than success (not all materials are suitable). Filament maker Kai ParAlfalfa sprout experiment in pro0.09 m2 (< 1 square foot) thy has invented a patent-pending biodegradable material called gress in modified conical tubes of space. The entire set GROWLAY designed to support plant growth. A recent article in of screens took about an Grozine by Christopher Hansen covered some applications useful hour to design (there’s more than one way to develop a screen), in hydroponics, microgreens, and gardening. One can also find four hours to print, and used maybe a couple of dollars worth accessories for growing plants on places like thingiverse.com and of plastic, in this case, polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG). I other model file repositories. suppose one could buy some window screen material, cut it into circles and use those, but these screens are stiffer, have larger openings for easier draining, are more durable, and it was a lot Get Creative! more fun. Plus, they are orange!

But the really cool thing about 3D printing is you are not limited to what others have done. You can make stuff of your own to solve problems specific to your needs. Here are a few applicaThe Next Challenge tions that I have come up with.

In building a laminar flow hood for microbiology work, I needed a way to attach a blower duct. Sure, you can order one, wait a week, and have it delivered. Or you can design and print one yourself The Sprout Experiment in a day for about a fourth of the cost. Low cost, environmentalRecently, I did some experiments to test how different condily-friendly polylactic acid (PLA) is perfect for this job. tions affect the germination and development of alfalfa sprouts.

Sprouts are often grown in jars or special sprouting chambers, but I needed to run many samples in parallel to get statistical data, and that would have takLow cost, environmentallyen quite a few jars, quite friendly polylactic acid a few seeds, and some (PLA) is perfect for this job space.

Modified conical tube cap with 3D printed screen

So, I modified 50 mL plastic conical tubes to take 3D printed screens in the caps (Figure 1).

Only 500 mg of seeds were used in each tube, and the screen allowed for air circulation and easy rinsing and draining.

An experiment using 12

Quick and easy design for a flow hood duct flange

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3D PRINTING

Specimen jar with tight-fitting flexible 3D printed cap

One must negotiate a learning curve when delving into the world of additive manufacturing (the process where one layer of material is added to another to build a structure from the base up)

Slip-On Lids I use some small specimen jars for soaking or disinfecting seeds before germination. The jars are about the size of baby food containers. They do not have screw tops, so I have been using a combination of the few properly-sized rubber stoppers I have on hand and some aluminium foil to cover them to prevent evaporation and contamination. It works! I decided to try a flexible material (NinjaTek Cheetah polyurethane) to make slip-on lids for them.

The first version worked pretty well, but with a bit of fine-tuning, they fit snugly, are easy to clean, and will last for years. I think they look rather professional.

Seed-Sorting Sieves Being curious about how the mass of an X-59 dual-use (fiber and grain) hemp seed affects the probability of it germinating, I made a set of seed sorting sieves with different-sized openings. Tricky because the shape of the hole affects how a seed fits through. I ended up with round holes ranging from 2.5-4 mm. They were prototypes, so they were small to save time and material. It wasn’t entirely successful because it turns out that the size of a hemp seed is not necessarily proportional to its mass. I was able to sort them by size, but when checking the masses, they were not well-sorted because the seeds have varying densities. To sort them by mass, it’s going to take some time with a high-resolution scale. Live and learn.

Don’t Be Afraid!

One must negotiate a learning curve when delving into the world of additive manufacturing (the process where one layer of material is added to another to build a structure from the base up). Machines keep getting better and more user-friendly, but you should not be afraid of a bit of tinkering and trial and error before you get things running smoothly. Each time you switch to a different material, some tweaking is usually required. You can have a basic 3D printer for only a few hundred dollars these days. It won’t be the most capable machine in the world, but for the applications described here, high resolution and exotic materials are not required.

3D modeling software is a different story. A complete discussion of all the design software options would require an entire article of its own. You can spend anywhere from zero to many thousands of dollars for 3D modeling software. You get what you pay for, of course. Blender is powerful and free for both Mac and Windows if you can tolerate a steep learning curve.

Autodesk Inventor is a professional program that goes for a couple of thousand dollars a year, but educators and students can get a license for free. Another Autodesk product, Fusion, is a lot less but not free. Several more have come out in recent years in the $200-$300 range. You can sign up for a free Tinkercad account (tinkercad.com) to test the waters.

Oh, and those plastic frogs mentioned earlier? A researcher in Costa Rica uses 3D printed and motorized models painted to mimic poison dart frogs to observe and study frog behavior. You can see them in action in David Attenborough’s “Life in Color” on Netflix. We’ll have to move them out of the knickknack category. 3

Early model design of a seed sorting sieve.

The final version was made much smaller to save time and material

Bio

Philip McIntosh holds a B.Sc. in Botany and Chemistry from Texas State University and an MA in Biological Science from the University of Texas at Austin. He has been publishing professionally for over 30 years in magazines, journals, and on the web on topics relating to botany, mycology, general biology, and technology.

As a STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering, and Math) educator, Phil enjoys working with students to help them advance their knowledge and skills in relevant fields of learning.

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BY Dr. CALLIE SEAMAN

The Problem of

Mold

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MOLD

W

e’re all familiar with the blight of thrips, mites, aphids, green flies,

black flies, whiteflies, and even

caterpillars. Still, an equally effective, sometimes devastating, adversary of your cannabis sativa crop is the humble entity that we call mold.

Mold is an umbrella term for many different species – there are upwards of a hundred thousand and counting – and is essentially a type of fungus. Like other forms of fungi, mold spreads by creating a network of tiny filaments called hyphae, threads interweaving to create a dense structure known as mycelium. Mold is an essential component of nature’s ecosystem, breaking down dead organic matter. However, mold can wreck harvests and produce allergens, irritants, and in many cases, toxins that can lead to bleeding lungs, coughing, allergies, and even cancer in humans. This article looks at how industrial cannabis producers and regulatory bodies tackle the thorny issue of mold and other pathogens.

Street versus Prescription Cannabis A significant and obvious difference between home-grown, street-sold cannabis and prescription cannabis is that the latter must be tested in an independent and accredited laboratory before use. As any home grower will be aware, despite the best of intentions and following every recommended safety measure, fungus, mites, bacteria, and viruses have a knack for getting through even the most stringent of defenses.

Unfortunately, the conditions in which plants thrive tend to be equally favorable to the pathogens that can destroy them.

As any home grower will be aware, despite the best of intentions and following every recommended safety measure, fungus, mites, bacteria, and viruses have a knack for getting through even the most stringent of defences

However, despite these strict controls, contaminated products still slip through the net, as witnessed in the USA, with several outbreaks of E.coil in romaine lettuce in recent years. The spring of 2018 saw 36 states hit with 210 infected, 96 hospitalized, and five dead. In the vape pen industry, Harvard research has shown a quarter of US vaping products containing traces of bacteria, and four out of five were contaminated with fungal spores; Aspergillus niger, the cause of Aspergillosis, being amongst the most deadly. Pulmonary disease is a real risk, particularly amongst the immunocompromised.

How are CBPMs Tested?

Cannabis-based products for medicinal use are routinely tested for yeast/mold, aerobic microbes, bile tolerant gramnegative bacteria (bacteria that can survive in the stomach), E.coli, and salmonella. A typical testing method uses agar plates – effectively a petri dish containing a growth medium. A product sample is introduced, and any microorganism present will form colonies of bacteria and mold that are then counted and logged. This method produces two key figures: the total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) and the total combined yeast/

In the UK, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are governed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA ensures that Cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) follow the highest standards, so the product is free of microbes and other potential pathogens. The equivalent agencies in North America are the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States and Health Canada in Canada. Microbiology testing standards are established by the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) and European Pharmacopeia (EP) - the world’s primary reference works for the quality control of medicines. Under proper inspection, the production methods, record keeping, and product testing are held to exacting ideals that earn the manufacturer a Certificate of Analysis (COA), or equivalent – depending on the jurisdiction – for every batch grown.

93

MOLD

Unfortunately, the conditions in which plants thrive tend to be equally favorable to the pathogens that can destroy them Close up from fungus Botrytis spp. (gray mold) mold count (TYMC). These are measured in colony-forming units per gram of a sample (cfu/g) and provide a reasonable estimate of the concentration of potentially harmful microbes and molds. Inhaled products are subject to the strictest of criteria before being considered safe for consumption. They must have a TAMC of no more than 200 cfu/g, while the TYMC has an upper limit of 20cfu/g. Fungal mycotoxins and pathogens such as E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other bile-tolerant Gram-negative bacteria must be completely absent in all products designed for inhalation.

A different testing method that almost everyone has now heard of, thanks to the global pandemic, is the quantitative polymerase chain reaction, or qPCR test (better known simply as PCR). Using specific genetic markers, a PCR test, in addition to identifying viruses, is remarkably effective at identifying bacteria and molds and their quantity in a given sample.

How are CBPMs Treated to Ensure Compliance?

Sterilization and pre-treatments can minimize or eradicate the dangers of pathogens, although they don’t come without their downsides. Autoclaving (high-pressured steam), pasteurization, UV radiation, and ethylene oxide have all been shown to be effective sterilization procedures. However, the payoff is a deterioration in product quality, being especially deleterious towards cannabinoids (Ruchlemer, 2014). In addition, there has been extensive recent research on the use of gamma

radiation to disrupt the DNA of potentially harmful microbes, with Azo Hazekamp leading the way, but this has been shown to negatively impact terpenes such as myrcene and linalool in some cannabis strains. Other methods involving cold plasma and e-beam are currently being evaluated as cheaper alternatives to gamma radiation.

Why You Shouldn’t Worry (Too Much) About Pathogens Pathogens surround us, and many species can be directly damaging to the cannabis plant. We’ve all seen the destruction caused by powdery mildew, botrytis, tobacco mosaic virus, and so on. Fortunately, the exacting standards set out by the United States Pharmacopoeia and European Pharmacopeia mean mold and other harmful species are routinely removed from cannabis-based products for medicinal use. But even amongst home-grown cannabis plants, most pathogens pose no serious threat to human life and are more likely to cause mild breathing issues if inhaled. Microbes are all around us and are an unavoidable fact of life, and herbal cannabis is just as susceptible to infection as any other life form. Fortunately, most microbes are harmless, even beneficial, but others can be deadly to a crop or the consumer of said crop. Although, as the world has seen with the Unites States’ romaine lettuce crisis, we can never let our guard down, and for the immunocompromised in particular, it’s always best to remain vigilant. 3

BIO Dr. Callie Seaman is a leading expert of the UK hydroponic industry and became passionate about medicinal cannabis when she was diagnosed with epilepsy over 20 years ago. After obtaining a Biomedical Sciences degree at Sheffield Hallam University, she completed a PhD titled “Investigating Nutrient Solutions for Hydroponic Growth of Plants”. During her PhD, she became a founding director of Aqua Laboratories Ltd – a formulator and producer of specialist hydroponic nutrients. In October 2018, Callie became a non-executive director of a home office licenced medicinal cannabis facility within the UK. She consults with a wide range of other licensed producers worldwide as they look to set up their facilities.With numerous scientific articles, book chapters and peer-reviewed papers to her name, Callie is an experienced professional in the field of medicinal cannabis, cultivation and fertilizer science.

Instagram: @dr.callieseaman Facebook: @DrCallieSeaman Twitter: @dr_CallieSeaman LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-callieseaman/ Website: aqualabs-uk.com and cbdhempire.co.uk

95

Best of the Blog

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

How Hydroponics, Aquaponics, and Vertical Farming are Helping End Hunger A growing population means food production must increase, and COVID-19 has only made the issue of hunger worse.

Alternative farming techniques are the answer! Read this article and plenty more on the blog at GCMag.co.

B

efore any of us ever knew about COVID-19, we knew the world was facing a food crisis. The United Nations says a growing population means food production must increase by 60% by 2050. Meanwhile, increased urbanization

and conventional agricultural practices have usable land and water depleting rapidly. The global pandemic has only

compounded the issue of hunger, increasing poverty and inequalities around the world.

Enter Hydroponics, Aquaponics, and Vertical Farms Alternative farming techniques will be coming to our rescue. The UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) points to hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical farming as valid solutions to ending world hunger.

The beauty of these systems? You don’t need a lot of space to produce a massive amount of food! They can be used on commercial and residential levels, taking up only a tiny area of living space.

96

Alternative farming techniques will be coming to our rescue A Non-Profit Steps Up Agrotonomy Tower Farms is one of many alternative growing companies that has stepped up during the global pandemic.

Local Food Essential

During the first wave of quarantines, the vertical farming initiative donated 95% of its fruit and veggie production to low-income families. This year, it will be donating 75% of what it grows.

COVID-19 and the resulting disruptions in supply chains have made it clear that local food production is essential moving forward, and we cannot go back to the way things were before lockdown. Again, these alternative farming techniques are perfect for those living in urban areas and third world countries.

The non-profit organization has set up the first aeroponic vertical farms in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Partnering with Tower Farms, food donation programs are currently underway in Africa and Southeast Asia.

REGENERATIVE BEST OF AGRICULTURE THE BLOG

Changing The “Food Bank” Model Agrotonomy Tower Farms wants to move away from the canned and processed foods typically distributed by food banks. Its ver tical tower farms make it possible to donate pesticide-free, nutritious, fresh food to people who need it most.

During the first wave of quarantines, the vertical farming initiative donated 95% of its fruit and veggie production to low-income families. This year, it will be donating 75% of what it grows.

The Next Generation It is also teaming up with Towers Without Borders to set up aeroponic vertical farms in orphanages around the world. The initiative not only offers children in need top-quality food but also helps teach the next generation the value of food security.

Hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical farming are not only for commercial operations. There’s a learning curve, but these systems can be implemented anywhere, including a small corner of your home! 3

97

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Local

Growers WHO’S GROWING WHAT WHERE Dunham, QC

Credit: Les Jardins des Lakou

2.

USA

& Canad a

We see more bio-intensive, organic, and micro-farms pop up across North America (yay!), but those specializing in growing Afro-Caribbean fruits and vegetables are less common. Inspired by the Creole Gardens in Haiti, Les Jardins des Lakou is nestled on property belonging to the Corry family in the beautiful Eastern Townships, just outside Montreal. Farm owner Jean-Philippe Vezina has visions of a more sustainable world and healthier, more inclusive communities. He wants to help and inspire Canadians of African descent to connect with and embrace their agricultural and culinary roots. His micro-farm grows Afro-Caribbean produce like sweet potatoes, okra, callaloo leaves, and giraumon squash, all vegetables unique to North America with plenty of health benefits. Fruits and veggies more typical to Quebec, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and more, are also grown on-site. Vezina recognizes that African Canadians are more susceptible to various chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and obesity, which have strong links to fried foods, fatty meat products, and sugary drinks. By offering clean, nutritious crops not usually available in North America, Les Jardins des Lakou can help mitigate the health crisis while allowing customers to appreciate and enjoy culinary traditions from afar. The farm runs a vegetable box scheme serving the entire Montreal community and offers many recipes on its website to learn more about Caribbean cooking. Customers can also feel good about how their food is grown; bio-intensive farming techniques protect and enhance soil life, and Les Jardins des Lakou is in the process of obtaining its organic certification.

Les Jardins des Lakou

Learn more: jardinslakou.ca facebook.com/jardinslakou jardinslakou

NW, Calgary

Lil Green Urban Farm

It all began as a hobby in 2010 with a homemade 8x8 “ghetto” greenhouse near downtown Calgary. Over seven years, Trevor Anderson enjoyed growing over 200 starter plants for friends and neighbors along with fresh fruit and vegetable crops for his family. After experimenting with hydroponics, he was hooked. In 2017, Trevor turned his passion into a business, and Lil Green Urban Farm was born. The goal is to provide families and businesses in Calgary with fresh, locally grown microgreens year-round. A new and improved greenhouse stands 8x14 large and holds 200 hydroponic net pots; outdoors, grow tunnels go up in March on seven yeards within a 20-minute bike ride from the downtown core. The last outdoor harvest typically happens in November. Although not certified organic, Lil Green Urban Farm uses only natural fertilizers and organic seeds and soil. Customers order online or through a CSA program and can be sure they’re eating the highest quality produce possible.

Learn more: lilgreenurbanfarm.com facebook.com/lilGreenUrbanFarmer

Credit: Lil Green Urban Farm

1.

GROWING PROJECTS

99

GROWING PROJECTS

Local

USA

Growers

& Canada

WHO’S GROWING WHAT WHERE

3.

East Putnam, CT

Assawaga Farm

4.

Montpelier, VT

POP! Microgreens

Dylan Woodrow has been obsessed with plants, nature, and holistic living since he was a child. As a grown man, he wanted to know what he was putting into his body; understanding that much of the food we buy and eat today is nutritionally empty, gardening was a natural step. He believes the solution to many of our food issues is local sourcing, and that’s how POP! Microgreens came about. At 27, Dylan proudly grows fresh, nutritious microgreens for the community in Montpelier, VT. Microgreens were an obvious choice for him to grow, as they contain up to 40 times more nutrition than their full-grown counterparts. Dylan offers a microgreen to please every palette from Red Russian kale, broccoli greens, and arugula to Swiss chard, popcorn shoots, black oil sunflower, and more. POP! Microgreens can be ordered online and are delivered every Tuesday within his local area. You can also find them at the Montpelier Farmer’s Market and about a dozen central Vermont restaurants. Dylan says healthy food builds healthy people and communities, and he wants to help make that happen.

Credit: POP! Microgreens

Learn more: assawagafarm.com facebook.com/assawagafarm assawagafarm

Credit: Assawaga Farm

When Yoko Takemura and Alex Carpenter purchased 21 acres in the Quiet Corner of Connecticut in 2016, they knew they wanted to start a small, certified-organic farm. Originally from Japan, Takemura fell in love with vegetable growing when she joined a community garden in Brooklyn, NY. Carpenter grew up loving nature and spent many of his childhood days running through his family’s gardens. When the couple met, their mutual passion for growing healthy food led them to create Assawaga Farm.

They devote themselves to the earth and keep it intact by following organic and no-till farming practices, including the use of cover crops, farm-made compost, vermicompost, compost teas and extracts, and natural mulches. Chemicals are never used on the property, and biodiversity is strongly encouraged. Beyond “organic,” Assawaga Farm is minimizing its use of fossil fuels and plastic, which is heavily used in organic agriculture.

With a strong environmental conscience, the couple grows a wide range of vegetables and herbs on three-quarters of an acre, emphasizing Japanese varieties not commonly found in the U.S., such as Mizuna, Komatsuna, Japanese peppers and eggplants, and plenty more. Customers can purchase unique and more common produce varieties they can feel good about via a weekly farmer’s market on Thursdays, and their farmstand, open on Sundays.

Learn more: popmicrofarm.com

101

GREEN ADVICE

BY CATHERINE SHERRIFFS

WAYS

TO ADD SIMPLE TECH TO THE INDOOR HOME GARDEN Gardening and growing are primarily about understanding nature, but it certainly helps to have some gadgets to guide us through our growing ventures. Yes, technology can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! There are plenty of easy ways to include tech in your home garden, whether indoors or outdoors. The possibilities are endless, but get started with the edition’s list of 5 Cool Ways to incorporate simple technology in the garden.

1

“Quench” Your Plant’s Thirst

You might talk to your houseplants sometimes, but wouldn’t it be nice if your plants could speak to you? Now they can, thanks to an incredible tool created by Canada’s Andy Burke.

The Edmonton, Alberta native wanted a tool for those of us who might be more forgetful when it comes to watering and have lost one too many plants as a result. His brainchild is called Quench, a compact device equipped with an advanced moisture detection algorithm. Push it deep into the soil of plants that love dry conditions or shallower for thirstier ones. Select from over 10,000 unique melodies and listen for it; when you hear that tune, you know it’s time to grab the watering can again.Worried it’ll disturb your slumber at night? Not a chance; Quench knows to keep quiet when it’s dark and lights up instead. Robust and corrosion-resistant, this gadget is built to last and has a three-year battery span. Burke knows a good thing when he invents one; after putting Quench on Kickstarter, he was able to raise nearly $96,000, well above his original $12,000 goal. Goodbye thirsty plants, hello beautiful indoor garden!

Check it out for yourself: kck.st/3hwcpv2

2

Get Your Instant Pot Out

The Instant Pot is a kitchen appliance well-loved by busy people everywhere to cook delicious food incredibly fast. But could this popular gadget also be used for our home gardening purposes? Ottawa scientist Lyanne Betit made headlines earlier this year when she discovered that she could speed the germination rate of many seeds on the Instant Pot’s yogurt setting. How did she come by this cool gardening hack? Seed shortages caused by the global pandemic meant she was forced to start slow-growing peppers and eggplants late in the season. She wrapped them in damp pieces of paper towel and a ziplock bag, popped them into the Instant Pot, and enjoyed instant success! The optimal temperature of about 24°C meant all of her seeds sprouted in record time. When she posted her success story on Facebook, many gardeners in the Ottawa area tried it and experienced the same results. Betit tells CBC News she believes this gardening trick results in greater yields down the road! Talk about simple.

Read the whole story by CBC: bit.ly/3yDQNSP 102

®

®

GREEN ADVICE

WAYS TO ADD SIMPLE TECH TO THE INDOOR HOME GARDEN

3

An App A Day

Need help keeping your plant babies alive? There’s an app for that. Not sure if your little green buddy is getting enough light in that windowsill? There’s an app that will measure that for you, too.

There’s even one that’ll make you feel like a total badass regarding your houseplant knowledge.

We’ve come a long way where it comes to learning the skills needed to hone our green thumbs. There is no need for textbooks; all you need is your iPhone or tablet, and a wealth of information is instantly available to you. Of course, making mistakes is all part of the learning process, but the many apps available today can help you make sure your mistakes are few and far between. Who doesn’t want that?

Check out the App Store for a wide selection of gardening apps.

4

Vibrate and Pollinate

credit: Anne Gibson

Got an old electric toothbrush that needs repurposing? It doesn’t have to live under the bathroom sink; find it a new home in your indoor garden. As many of us look to become more self-sustainable and grow food year-round, we know depending on the help of essential pollinators indoors isn’t an option. An old electric toothbrush is perfect for the job as it gently vibrates the flowers and sends pollen adrift. If you’d rather reserve your electric toothbrush for your pearly whites, there are plenty of robotic hand pollinators available on the market that will also get the job done.They’re inexpensive, require a couple of standard batteries, and help evenly distribute pollen from flower to flower.

Enjoying a bumper crop of tomatoes and peppers year-round is possible if you have the right gadgets working for you!

5

Light It Up

Grow lights aren’t just for extensive hydroponic operations; every home gardener should have some! The sun doesn’t shine as bright or as strong throughout the year as it does throughout the summer. So you need to imitate nature’s way by offering indoor plants the light they need for photosynthesis when it gets dark. There are many easy-to-use and affordable options on the market these days; LEDs have evolved leaps and bounds over the years and offer a whole slew of benefits to our growing plants. Even better? Indoor lighting doesn’t have to suck a whole lot of energy to be effective. Many companies offer eco-friendly options that pave the way for both greener dinner plates yearround and a greener planet. Read all about these amazing products in this issue of Garden Culture! 3 104

Pioneering References

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