Organic Farming & Applied Design

As Ben Hartman is fond of saying, “eliminated waste equals capacity”. One of the most prevalent forms for waste for early stage farmers like myself (who are still figuring out their production systems), is wasted time through repetitive and unnecessary movement. Towards reducing this form of waste, I’m building and sharing tools created to increase our capacity.

Along with growing mixed veggies on our organic farm in southern Maine, we have a small apiary, laying hen operation, and create our own forest cultivated log mushrooms.

Mushroom Wax Gun

Our mushroom wax gun applies molten beeswax to 3-ft hardwood logs to seal in mushroom spore/sawdust mix for the final step in mushroom inoculation. A stainless steel Venturi valve at the end of an air gun pulls melted wax from a stainless culinary piston funnel (wrapped in heat tape) through a food-grade silicone hose. Pressure can be finely controlled at the air compressor, and on the air gun, to dose wax atomization. Silicone tape helps to hold heat tape wrapped around the silicone hose, ensuring the beeswax remains liquid at cold ambient temps. Inoculation takes place in our Mush Room.

Vacuum needle seeder for soil blocks

Using a pneumatics inflator developed for soft robotics, I’m creating a vacuum seeder based on this design that can sow multiple soil blocks simultaneously. Rather than using a treadmill to advance the tray beneath rotating seeding head, the vacuum seeder under construction will travel along a 1000mm linear rail until above the blocks to be sown, and will have two foot pedals - one to pick up seed, and one to blow air (to clear out the needle in case of clogging). The vacuum seeding head will travel to a seed container, which vibrates when vacuum needles are directly over seed to ensure strong seed-to-needle suction.

The following video shows the current pick ‘n place capacity using a single stainless steel dispensing (blunt) needle; the vacuum is strong enough to simultaneously pick up multiple seeds, depending on needle diameter.

We are currently seeking funding opportunities to bring this design to other farmers to improve sowing efficiency, and will publish the design and code for others to replicate / make it their own.

Grow lamps + auto Irrigation

Last year, I spent many an hour each day watering our seedlings by hand. This year, I ran PEX under our grow lamps and linked them to a few solenoids to automate watering (watering all seedings takes me 2 minutes and 30 seconds). Here’s the overhead watering setup, followed by the bottom watering setup (as soil blocks take up as much water as seedlings require). Irrigation tubing is pressure fit into PEX.

The overhead system links PEX and irrigation tubing to a ball valve atop the grow lamp. The curve of the irrigation tubing allows the grow lamp to be raised / lowered without affecting performance. These grow lamps are supported by adjustable ball chains for precise height adjustment. Magnets hold a water shield in place to direct water to plants / to drainage system, reducing ambient moisture. A drain valve empties the line when water pressure drops below 2 psi to prevent drip damage to seedlings.

The bottom water system is similar, but carries water only where it’s needed. Each level of the growing trays has its own ball valve, such that water can be selectively turned on /off. The individual white watering hoses depicted can also be uniquely shut off to restrict water, as fewer trays are in use earlier in the season (e.g., leeks, onions and other transplants with longer days to maturity).

Foot control watering, for potting bench & sink

Foot control opens up both hands for more efficient potting, and washing trays. Ball valve at end ensures water is not sprayed if foot pedal is pressed accidentally. Magnets keep ball valve out of way when not in use.



AUTOMATED MICROGREENS, SEED TO HARVEST

Video forthcoming.

tote & tray washer with soap injector

Video forthcoming.

food grade barrel washer (no wood) redesign

Video forthcoming.

suspension bridge tomato trellis

Video forthcoming.

linked heated cold frames with duct work

Video forthcoming.

rotisserie egg washer

Video forthcoming.

mushroom innoculation blaster

Video forthcoming.

auto window opener to control propagation house temp using linear actuator

Video forthcoming.