Here you'll find the wiki page!
This first diagram is a thought about providing electricity to the poor, and how this would solve so many problems.
This first diagram is a thought about providing electricity to the poor, and how this would solve so many problems.
Within the big square above is a diagram of our simple automated garden as it was imagined before the 2014 season, the 2nd square to the right is an idea for a simple fix to make it run maintenance free. This represents a very simple example of how children can be given everything needed to run a garden, which requires little maintenance, while holding the cost to a minimum.
This idea worked well, but had a few major drawbacks. First we learned that flow control is a must, the water must drip slowly, rather than running quickly to reduce wasted water. The use of gravity feed eliminated the need for steady pressure, meaning the pump only runs once per day. This not only saves water, which would seep away, but also electricity. Adjustable drippers on the ends, allowed us to slow the water flow down to a slow drip. By placing a glass under the dripper for 1 hour we found that approximately 6 seconds between drops gave us a target which could be reproduced on all plants.
Our 2014 test garden had 12 tomato, 9 pepper and 2 cucumber plants as well as some herbs for a total of 30 plants. The above earth tank holds approx 80 liters, and provides more pressure when full meaning the drip rate gradually decreases as the day passes. Although our rain water is filtered before entering the tank, fine dirt still collects. Our pump takes its water from the top of the tank, so avoids most of the dirt, but our drippers would begin showing a dark film within days and after 1 week, no water came through. we were forced to clean each dripper ever few days, but the experiment lasted 1 entire growing season and we had a fantastic harvest. Sorry we didn't keep records, but we had at least the same amount as we did when hand watering, but with a greatly reduced amount of work and water. No more carrying water to the plants, just keep the ends clean, stray weeds and ant colonies away and enjoy the benefits. Compost and egg shells provided the rest!
In the fall it was clear, that next year the maintenance had to be reduced considerably, so we began the search for an open source filter which wouldn't cost much, if possible be self cleaning and still do it's job. We found this CAWST and hoped that since it could make water clean enough to drink, it may solve our problem. The main difference is that our filter is sealed, so oxygen only comes from the 80 liter tank and our filter runs 24 hours per day. We wondered if it would stand up to it and how often the drippers would clog?
2015 was an extremely dry summer, which is very difficult to plan for. We wished for a way to collect the dew which covered everything each morning, but evaporated as the sun came up. This may have been enough to get us through with 30 plants, but due to the lack of rain, our only option, once our tank was empty, was to open the tap and pay for water about 2 weeks long. This could be solved with a bigger tank, or by better utilizing what is collected. We hope experience (or you) will help here! This summer we actually went on vacation for 2 weeks and let the automation work. When we came home we only needed to harvest the ripe tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers and we were able to set some aside for winter while enjoying the perfectly ripe fruits of our labor. It really is that simple! The filter was the answer, but new problem in equal parts. The cleaning problem was reduced, but not eliminated, after 2 weeks the drippers were still dirty and some were barely dripping. Dirt was not eliminated, only greatly reduced and the midsummer drought ruined the self cleaning function of our filter, since the tap water killed the organisms which ate the dirt and kept the filter clean. This meant we lost the long term knowledge it would have provided, if it had run only on rain water the complete growing season.
For the 2016 growing season we hope to improve the filter (it's not sealed very well and drips from several places) and if there are any ZH projects near us, we hope to pay them a visit. We hope to visit each and every project which registers, but we'll see what comes. Will anyone even follow us, or are the neh sayers right and this project is only a waste of time. Only time will tell!
The improved filter allowed us 4 weeks of automated watering! This is a nice improvement, but still not where we want to be.
For 2017 a new idea will be tried out, a Swirl filter. We hope that the slow water movement will allow solids to fall to the bottom, allowing clean water to run for a longer period. Keep your fingers crossed!
My light is shining brightly and I'm certain this is the right path. Follow me, together we are strong.
This idea worked well, but had a few major drawbacks. First we learned that flow control is a must, the water must drip slowly, rather than running quickly to reduce wasted water. The use of gravity feed eliminated the need for steady pressure, meaning the pump only runs once per day. This not only saves water, which would seep away, but also electricity. Adjustable drippers on the ends, allowed us to slow the water flow down to a slow drip. By placing a glass under the dripper for 1 hour we found that approximately 6 seconds between drops gave us a target which could be reproduced on all plants.
Our 2014 test garden had 12 tomato, 9 pepper and 2 cucumber plants as well as some herbs for a total of 30 plants. The above earth tank holds approx 80 liters, and provides more pressure when full meaning the drip rate gradually decreases as the day passes. Although our rain water is filtered before entering the tank, fine dirt still collects. Our pump takes its water from the top of the tank, so avoids most of the dirt, but our drippers would begin showing a dark film within days and after 1 week, no water came through. we were forced to clean each dripper ever few days, but the experiment lasted 1 entire growing season and we had a fantastic harvest. Sorry we didn't keep records, but we had at least the same amount as we did when hand watering, but with a greatly reduced amount of work and water. No more carrying water to the plants, just keep the ends clean, stray weeds and ant colonies away and enjoy the benefits. Compost and egg shells provided the rest!
In the fall it was clear, that next year the maintenance had to be reduced considerably, so we began the search for an open source filter which wouldn't cost much, if possible be self cleaning and still do it's job. We found this CAWST and hoped that since it could make water clean enough to drink, it may solve our problem. The main difference is that our filter is sealed, so oxygen only comes from the 80 liter tank and our filter runs 24 hours per day. We wondered if it would stand up to it and how often the drippers would clog?
2015 was an extremely dry summer, which is very difficult to plan for. We wished for a way to collect the dew which covered everything each morning, but evaporated as the sun came up. This may have been enough to get us through with 30 plants, but due to the lack of rain, our only option, once our tank was empty, was to open the tap and pay for water about 2 weeks long. This could be solved with a bigger tank, or by better utilizing what is collected. We hope experience (or you) will help here! This summer we actually went on vacation for 2 weeks and let the automation work. When we came home we only needed to harvest the ripe tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers and we were able to set some aside for winter while enjoying the perfectly ripe fruits of our labor. It really is that simple! The filter was the answer, but new problem in equal parts. The cleaning problem was reduced, but not eliminated, after 2 weeks the drippers were still dirty and some were barely dripping. Dirt was not eliminated, only greatly reduced and the midsummer drought ruined the self cleaning function of our filter, since the tap water killed the organisms which ate the dirt and kept the filter clean. This meant we lost the long term knowledge it would have provided, if it had run only on rain water the complete growing season.
For the 2016 growing season we hope to improve the filter (it's not sealed very well and drips from several places) and if there are any ZH projects near us, we hope to pay them a visit. We hope to visit each and every project which registers, but we'll see what comes. Will anyone even follow us, or are the neh sayers right and this project is only a waste of time. Only time will tell!
The improved filter allowed us 4 weeks of automated watering! This is a nice improvement, but still not where we want to be.
For 2017 a new idea will be tried out, a Swirl filter. We hope that the slow water movement will allow solids to fall to the bottom, allowing clean water to run for a longer period. Keep your fingers crossed!
My light is shining brightly and I'm certain this is the right path. Follow me, together we are strong.