Clarkson University Engineering and Management students analyzed an organic farmers root vegetable bedlifter. We have attached an analysis as well as some improved designs to benefit other farmers.
Where: Smiling Hogshead Ranch, 26 Davis Court, Long Island City, NY 11101 When: Sunday, April 14th 2013 from 9am-5pm Who: Farm Hack NYC Community, Green Phoenix Permaculture, The Newtown Creek Alliance Green Infrastructure Working Group, Urban Green Emerging Professionals What: Rain Water Harvesting Structure Community Build Wh
DB Co-op: appropriate mechanisms tailoring design for human power -- specifically wet material / weed shredder
Gowanus Canal Conservancy: in need of a weed shredder and compost sifter. As well as volunteers to propose projects that will trap and treat storm water - revitalize the gowanus canal community
Ellis of Build it Green!: Looking for people to propose projects for material waste re-use. Example was using wood from scaffolding to build raised beds in community gardens/urban farms/schools. BIG! acting as a resource
Interesting organizing idea outside of Philadelphia
A group there is bringing together landowners and potential farmers to help young/new farmers gain access to land leases to get their operations up and running.
That's all well and good for our suburban/near-rural friends, but what about the city? Our land access issues are a little more extreme, if you asked me...
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/keith-hayes/matireal-a-creational-trail
I came across this concept for upcycling used rubber car tires. I wanted to share with the group as we talked about the abundance of car tires and lack of upcycle salvage options. Perhaps Gowanus Canal Conservancy could integrate this concept into the geurrilla gardens at street ends, or a path along the canal that connects the street end gardens.
Issue: In the context of highly limited space (urban gardens, community gardens), physical barriers are the most efficient and effective way to address rodent issues. Rodent Repellent Plants are too space and resource intensive, and don't necessarily guarantee unwanted guests.
Parameters: Cannot be too porous but needs to allow for light and access and water. Rats can jump and climb 3' high, burrow past 1 inch of space around plant base, chew through most organic material, landscape fabrics, etc. Rat Information Portal : http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/rats/home.shtml
The Doe Fund is beginning to work with urban farmers in NYC to explore the feasibility of developing a compost collection and delivery service. The service would operate as a social enterprise work program for homeless and formerly incarcerated men and would link growers in the city/region with restaurants and institutions interested in diverting their organic waste stream toward productive and environmentally/socially beneficial uses. We are early in the process and very interested in developing the project as a collaborative effort.
NYC has a near infinite waste stream we growers can pilfer from for use on our farms and gardens. Much of the organic waste can be composted, but certain things we've found good used directly in certain applications.
-Cacao bean husk can be applied as a mulch. Applied 1-2 inches thick and watered, it forms a hard crust, gets good and moldy beneath, and encourages annelids. Nitrogen and other nutrients are released over time. Great for leaf vegetable crops especially.
Rooftop growers encounter weeds just like in-ground growers. Managing weeds efficiently is currently difficult to do given open flame bans (no flame weeders allowed) and impossibility of bringing up tractors. How do we deal with weeds at commercial scale without spraying, flames, or tractor-based mechanical tillage?
Wind on city rooftops is stronger than at ground level. Vegetable crops beaten by wind are sometimes dwarfed, toughened, and stressed.
Ideas: -Monitoring to document predominant wind patterns -Exploring cost/feasibility/ of infrastructural improvements like mounted windbreaks -Vs. living breaks?