Garden Culture Magazine: UK 13

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IN THIS ISSUE OF GARDEN CULTURE: 9 Foreword

46 The Haber Process

10 The AutoPot Summer Festival 2016

50 Who’s Growing What Where

13 Product Spotlight

53 What Grinds My Gears

18 The Open State

56 History of Hydroponics - Part 3

22 Compost Teas and Fertilizer

62 What Is Are Calcium and Magnesium?

29 How to Grow Pineberries: Best of the Blogs

64 Perfect NPK: The Holy Grail of Gardening

32 Nano Technology

68 Biosolids: Organic BS

38 Grow Your Own: Giant Marrow

76 Light Matters - Part 3

42 5 Cool Finds - DIY

82 Art Feature

Garden Culture™ is a publication of 325 Media Inc.

Harvest season is upon us again and, like many of you, I am reaping the rewards that nature has provided me. To be truly honest, I have a real love-hate relationship with outdoor growing. Here in Quebec, the season is pretty short, but it is long enough to grow most vegetables, as long as you provide them with adequate sun, healthy soil, and water. It’s the uncertainty that kills me. Will it rain? Will it be too hot or cold?

And there are the countless, uncontrollable, environmental hazards. Like air born diseases, numerous varieties of bugs, hungry animals, and people.

Which is why I prefer my grow room, in my basement. It’s always sunny, and I am the one in control. The only one to blame when the plants go lacking is, well, me. And luckily, for people who like to grow, there is a seemingly endless number of things to explore in the indoor gardening world, each experience adding another drop into the vast bucket of knowledge, which in turn, creates better harvests.

“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” –Tony Robbins At Garden Culture, we are on a constant quest to stuff your brains with the most useful information possible. In this issue, learn how calcium and magnesium help your plants, discover the optimal layout for your grow lights, and the third installment of the History of Hydroponics reveals the roots of hydroponics leading up to WWII. Tasting tomatoes in the The emerging trend AutoPot Greenhouses. of nano technology in agriculture, the truth behind biosolids, and the composition of active, healthy soil are but a few more topics covered.

The more you know - the more you grow. 3 Eric

ED I TO RS Executive Editor: Eric Coulombe Email: eric@gardenculturemagazine.com Senior Editor: Tammy Clayton Email - tammy@gardenculturemagazine.com V P O PER AT I O NS: Celia Sayers Email: celia@gardenculturemagazine.com t. 1-514-754-1539 DESIGN Job Hugenholtz Email - job@gardenculturemagazine.com Special thanks to: Agent Green, Amber Fields, Evan Folds, Everest Fernandez, Jeff Edwards, Kevin Fortey, Rich Hamilton, Stephen Brookes, Tammy Clayton, Theo Tekstra and Jelle de Graaf.

PUBLISHER 325 Media 44 Hyde Rd., Milles Isles Québec, Canada t. +1 (844) GC GROWS w. www.gardenculturemagazine.com Email - info@gardenculturemagazine.com ADVERTISING Eric Coulombe Email - eric@gardenculturemagazine.com t. 1-514-233-1539 D I ST R I B U T I O N PA R T N ER S • Maxigrow • Nutriculture DGS • HydroGarden • Highlight Horticulture Website: www.GardenCultureMagazine.com

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n stry, one of the perks has certainly bee indu g lvin evo this of t par a be to te I have been so fortuna st of my best events and tradeshows. I have met mo in g atin ticip par and ld, wor the und aro travelling s tinue to meet new gardening enthusiast con I ugh tho and ws, sho se the at s hydro friends and allie some of the me wrong, I still love the big shows, and get n’t Do d. nge cha e hav gs thin go, I e everywher ws I attended. that same community feel of the first sho newer smaller ones, but they don’t have

l was described as an The Autopot Summer Festival 2016 festiva tertainment-hospitality-jamboree!” “all-inclusive-exhibition-business-social-en TM

things I liked And, it did not disappoint! One of the over 700 just With best about the show was the size. l stores, this people, representing almost 150 UK retai to the general was an industry only event, not open ns, organizers public. In fact, due to capacity restrictio had no choice but to cap attendance. center or busy This event isn’t held in some convention tiful English city. No, it’s held in Piddington, in the beau Farm, which countryside, on the grounds of Brill View ses, which houses Plant asia and the Autopot greenhou . The 5 acre were well worth the trip, all on their own farm was packed to capacity. there was an We “glamped” in the Bell Tent Hotel; table and LED inflat able bed with a warm duvet, a little

Our bell tent

s, toiletries, lights. Camping chairs, towel, flip-flops, mint provided by and “extra” power for our mobiles were which makes HydroGarden. The weather was perfect, e isn’t a hotel camping much, much more enjoyable. Ther that tent . in the world I would have preferred over g at the show, There were 45 or so companies exhibitin in the UK, but representing the best of what is available h, or mentality. not with their normal trade show boot fun, and more The idea behind this show is to have store owners, importantly, to say thank you to all the ufacturers and managers, and workers. To this end, man sort of game... distributors were asked to include some ball, air hockey, or other creative past time! Table foot meter, speed pool, several shooting games, punching spider mite), gun penalty shot , bull riding (but on a giant made the day and several other carnival type games really fun, maybe a bit competitive! a chili eating For the more adventurous, there was Carolina contest (6 types, culminating with the e ice cream Reaper), or you could sample soft serv down with mealworm sprinkles. And, for a little massage, time, there were 3 places to get a of liquid a “grooming” station, and samplings nitrogen ice cream. and bell There was sun, fun, beer s, busi ness , me was tent s - but one of the big surp rises for

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the food, kindl y spon sored by Gavit a Holla nd and High light Hort icultu re. My favor ite was The Devo n Chill i Man, who lived up to his name servi ng up some of the spicie st food I’ve eaten in years . It was absol utely amaz ing! He also provided us with the all impo rtant baco n burge rs at 8am. He was a lovel y fellow, and I was happy to have met him. Ther e was also amaz ing Thai food, a pig roast , wood -fired oven bake d pizza , and more . And the all impo rtant coffe e, availa ble at the Budd ha’s Tree Cafe Bus. We ate, and drank ...like kings .

The DutchPro bar, which kept everyone well hydrated, and the Grow th Technology Stage were set in a lounge

Tee-Pee, which came to life each evening with great music from UltraBeat, The Egg, Inland Knights, Mackaub, and Zion Train.

There is something to be said for small and intimate. We were all together that weekend, all united to have a good time, and connect with the people we do business with on a daily basis. We had the time and space to talk and communicate in a way that is just not possible at other trade shows.

Cheers to the Autopot crew for having the brilliant idea to take a step back, and do it old school. I can hardly wait till next year. 3

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ECOHEAT The ECOHEAT tube heater from LightHouse is available in three sizes – 45w (305mm), 80w (608mm) and 135w (915mm). It helps to keep a balanced temperature in your indoor growing environment which is particularly useful in propagation areas where a regular ambient temperature is critical.

2kw Greenhouse Heater Reliable and simple to use heater, it has a built-in fan to keep air moving over the two heating elements. It has three settings – fan only (no heat), half and full power. The LightHouse 2kw Heater is thermostatically controlled so you don’t need to keep checking the temperature or wait until you feel cold, the heater checks it for you and turns on automatically.

Oil Filled Radiators Looking for a compact but powerful radiator? Soon to be available in hydro stores across the UK, the LightHouse Oil Filled Radiators are available in two sizes – 1000w and 2000w.

With adjustable thermostats and protection against overheating these radiators will keep areas warm during the colder months. The more powerful 2000w radiator features castor wheels, two heat settings and both radiators have 9 fins. www.lighthouse-tents.com

1. Changes to Case Design: Slimmer, tougher and more functional.

Due to its new slimmer design, the case is now 30% thicker, producing a lighter, more impact resistant product. Air flow is also improved with a new hexagonal vent design above the fans, giving more efficient air flow straight out of the units.

2. MCPET Skirt MCPET is a 99% reflective material which is now used in ALL Budmaster lights. Osram lights now use an MCPET skirt encircling the LEDs to maximize light output. This is not only better for the plants but better for the units – heat and any light reflected back into the unit will ultimately lower the lifespan. An overall increase of 5% or more output simply by adding these sexy little pieces of white plastic from Japan.

3.New COB Design Traditional COB lamp design uses single 50w COB LEDs. The new design uses 12 smaller COBs in three different colour temperatures, which gives a wider spectral output, as well as an increase of 5% or more in overall light output.

The new COB board + MCPET skirts = 10%+ more light output. That is a serious improvement.

AU60 Root Repair (Kill the pests) Destroys root zone pathogens and keeps them at bay.

The breakthrough came when HID was able to isolate the very substance that plants use to fight disease. To put it simply, AU60 fights disease FOR the plant.

It is not a toxic pesticide. It’s an organic, naturally occurring substance.

STOPWILT (Strengthen the plant) Prevent the symptoms and assist in the recovery of plants attacked by root disease. STOPWILT helps maintain turgor pressure in the stomatal guard cells, thus preventing wilting and allowing the plants own immune system to do the job of combating disease. www.nulifetech.com.au

MaxiFans from Maxibright offers good quality fans with a variety of options, at an affordable price.

The cool new range includes a handy Clip Fan that will conveniently grip onto virtually anything less than 4cm wide and a 30cm Floor Fan with rotating directional airflow.

A three speed, oscillating Wall Fan with both switch and pull string controls and an oscillating Pedestal Fan with adjustable height completes the MaxiFan range.

To find your local retailer visit Maxigrow.com/where-to-buy/

and Reverse Hydrologic offers two different levels of water purification; De-Chlorification Osmosis (RO). t from tap Hydrologic De-Chlorification removes chlorine, chloramines and sedimen

water, ensuring healthy bio activity within your substrate. pure H2O. RO Hydrologic Reverse Osmosis (RO) removes virtually everything except of minerals and water provides a balanced and safe foundation for adding the exact amount nutrients for exceptional plant growth and bio activity. growth and Growing plants using unpurified tap water often results in reduced plant tap water, to added are which inactive bio nutrient solutions. Chlorine, and other chemicals substrate or kills off beneficial microbes and microorganisms which occur naturally in the growth, plant benefit will are added to nutrient solutions. Hydrologic water purification plant health, and maximise yields. . It’s only logic.

If you are serious about indoor gardening start with the purest water possible To find your local retailer visit Maxigrow.com/where-to-buy/

grow tents offer many great new standard The Secret Jardin Rev. 3 Dark Street, Dark Room and Intense range of features. e by 20%, due to negative pressure.

The Space Booster – Increases yields by stopping grow room shrinkag area.

CableIT – Keeps cables in position for added safety, away from the growing StrapIT – Support and easily adjust extraction within the grow tent.

HookIT – Quickly adjust or reposition lighting.

PocketIT – This handy pocket is ideal for keeping small but essential equipment safe and secure.

WebIT – Support your plants as they grow with this easy to install plant support .

Get these fantastic Secret Jardin Rev.3 Grow Tents from a retailer near you!

To find your local retailer visit Maxigrow.com/where-to-buy/

The world’s human inhabitants are divided, currently into 206 “states.” Some borders appear “natural” (i.e. a river or mountain range), whereas others are more obviously man-made. In any case, only 193 countries are fully recognized by the United Nations. Even within this premier league, Pakistan has disputed the formation of Armenia since it was formed in 1991, and Turkey remains adamant that Cyprus does not exist. This leaves two states (Palestine and Vatican City) in the euphemistically-named “observer” category, and eleven (Abkhazia, the Cook Islands, Kosovo, Nagorno-Karabakh, Niue, Northern Cyprus, Sahrawi, Somaliland, South Ossetia, Taiwan, and Transnistria) languishing in the even more dubious designation of “other.”

The thing is, of course, none of this matters. You don’t need anyone’s permission to create your own sovereign state—and that’s kind of the point.

Take Transnistria, for example. Known locally by its Russian name, “Pridnestrovie,” this relatively small strip of land between Moldova and the Ukraine declared its independence from the former over a quarter of a century ago with the intention of becoming a socialist republic. Around 90% of its population (roughly half a million people) hold Transnistrian citizenship, and many also hold dual or triple citizenships with neighboring Moldova, Russia, and the Ukraine.

Transnistria has its own flag, constitution, coat of arms, and a central bank, which issues its own currency, the Transnistrian ruble. Moldova (which officially claims the region) describes it almost begrudgingly as “an autonomous territorial unit with special legal status.”

Yeah, whatever—come and visit us in Transnistria, and we’ll stamp your passport, evidence at least that you can visit a country that the world claims does not exist.

Today, nation states form the alphabet of the geopolitical landscape. Sure, some lesser-known countries come and go, or change their names from time to time, but most enjoy the same epistemological concrete, not least in the minds of their citizens, as the days of the week. However,

the very concept of a “nation state” itself is a more recent intellectual development than you might think.

Prior to the 16th century, most folks spent their entire lives in their village, and associated themselves with their local tribe, or feudal master. The idea of a “nation” was perhaps just too large, irrelevant, or conceptual for most peasants to grasp. Even a tiny place called “England” was too big to fathom until Henry VII won the War of the Roses in 1485—around the same time that Spanish monarchs, after successfully purging the area of invading Moors, set to work on creating “Spain.” Later in 1638, Louis XIV declared himself the absolute ruler of some arable farmland—known today as “France.”

Nationhood’s historical novelty may seem rather quaint and parochial today, yet few of us question why we are no sooner born than registered as an unwitting “citizen” of a nation state. Throughout our lives, we are issued identity numbers, passports, and various licenses (i.e. to fish, to trade, or to transport ourselves), all pointing back to a seemingly immovable, and permanent authority—our predestined nation state. The government, freely-elected, faux-elected, or plain old-school de facto, then uses its

Does this sound like the free world to you?” citizens’ collective productivity as human collateral to rent money from central banks in the form of “treasury securities,” or “gilts” as they’re known in Britain.

Citizens, once successfully inculcated with a sense of nationality through “educational programs,” are expected to play their part and dutifully pay taxes, giving away a portion of the fruits of their productivity, or face escalating fines leading to forfeiture of assets, and even imprisonment. Does this sound like the free world to you? However, questioning the fundamental validity of the state, and its apparent monopoly over bossiness and outand-out violence is often derided as the paranoid, fringe thinking of wild-eyed, bearded men living alone in forest cabins, or idealistic liberals with overactive imaginations.

Those of us who have spent any considerable time living in foreign countries know all about the onerous registration processes associated with leaving one’s nation village.

First, there are the visas—effectively the permission to move from one place to another. Some nations, such as Saudi Arabia, require its citizens to apply for an “exit visa” before being allowed to leave. Furthermore, if you are born without a penis then your movement is even more tightly controlled. Females must obtain signed permission from a “mahram” (a close male relative such as a husband, son, or even a grandson) before they are free to travel, even within the country itself!

Cubans, also, are required to apply for state permission before leaving the island and are denied the right to return if

they stay away for too long. North Korea effectively imprisons its citizens by denying them any international movement whatsoever. Then, of course, there’s the more familiar “entry visa” which, depending on the relationship between your origin and destination, can be a friendly formality, or outright impossibility—even for a two-week vacation.

Perhaps now is an appropriate time to question—not which presidential candidate we want to vote for—but to pan back a little, and ask what this whole ‘state’ thing is. Does it still serve the people, and is there room for improvement?

Particularly in light of the global communications revolution, does the idea of the nation state need to be reimagined and reinvented? When corporations span the globe, has the governance of discrete physical territories become “passé?”

Imagine, if you will, an “Open State.” Don’t ask me for a blueprint. There isn’t one. However, one crucial aspect of the Open State is that it has no physical territory, so there is no need for an army to defend it. Anyone on Earth can be a citizen, no matter what passport is in their hand, and this citizenry is voluntary, not foisted upon us at birth.

The Open State exists, like Bitcoin, as a distributed network, entirely online. There are no buildings to upkeep, and no employees to pay. Everything is voluntary, and all of its actions are transparent and democratic. Who knows, they might include some really hippy, far-out stuff like taking care of the planet, feeding the hungry, sharing seeds, solving problems without seeking a fiscal profit, and even creating gardens. Together, millions—even billions of us—could

planet, and protect workers’ rights, then we are somewhat optimistically relying on others to do so on our behalf.

become more powerful than nation states. Not with tanks and bombs, but through sheer collective bargaining power—the ultimate “brute force,” if you will.

On a practical, everyday level, the Open State could confer to its citizens the same privileges which Google and Amazon currently enjoy, whereby our local taxes are negotiated en masse. The Open State could even assist voters in transcending the Punch and Judy show of political parties, widening the debate, helping to empower truly progressive parties.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, but I’ll put it more politely—a “pipe dream,” right? Well, if the idea of a voluntarist virtual super state seems like pie in the sky to you today, then perhaps—just perhaps—you’re caught in the parochial mindset (okay, okay, zeitgeist) of our times—that of Statism. Just as the medieval peasant could not conceive of an “England,” “France” or “Spain” (or anything beyond their village) is it so outlandish to suggest that you too might be suffering from a not entirely dissimilar lack of imagination?

It’s becoming painfully clear to a growing number of people across the world that the capitalist financial system (the profit imperative, the banks’ monopoly over the issuance of debt-based currencies, and our government’s insistence that we pay our taxes in so-called ‘legal tender’) amounts to little more than a system of modified slavery.

Thus, if we fail to take the initiative and create global organizations that truly represent us, that speak for the

Our main barrier is belief—both in terms of commission (believing in the status quo), and omission (lack of belief in the possibility of something better). Coming together, transcending the illusory divisions, isn’t just an idealistic muse. It’s our only hope of survival.

In short, we desperately need another “enlightenment.”

Either we work together for a better collective life on this planet, or we die on it, fighting among ourselves for scraps.

If they—whoever they are—laugh at our “Open State,” let them. Find your inner Transnistrian, and join anyway. Before long we will be issuing our own open currency (based on real goods and services in demand, rather than unpayable debts with compound interest), and trading both locally and internationally. Together, we can fund clean water projects, promote sustainable agriculture, and educate— not indoctrinate—our kids.

“To desire freedom is an instinct,” once wrote E.C. Reigel, “to secure it requires intelligence. It must be comprehended and self-asserted. To petition for it is to stultify oneself, for a petitioner is a confessed subject and lacks the spirit of a freeman. To rail and rant against tyranny is to manifest inferiority, for there is no tyranny but ignorance; to be conscious of one’s powers is to lose consciousness of tyranny.

Self-government is not a remote aim. It is an intimate and inescapable fact. To govern oneself is a natural imperative, and all tyranny is the miscarriage of self-government. The first requisite of freedom is to accept responsibility for the lack of it.” 3

Everest Fernandez keeps himself very busy and largely out of mischief by running the “Just4Growers” YouTube channel. Be sure to check it out.

The living organisms found in the soil are collectively called the “soil food web”, not unlike the web of life in the ocean. The big fish eats the little fish. Like plankton in the ocean the soil food web is built on the back of microscopic microbes that are so abundant a mere teaspoon of soil contains billions of tiny beings.

a real distinction between anaerobic microbes and aerobic microbes

Most people have a negative opinion of “microbes”; we imagine needing hand sanitizer or antibiotics, when the opposite should be true. We can choose to take probiotics for our health in the same way we can use compost in the garden. The compost pile is the gut of the landscape, the parallels are life.

But it is important to remember that all microbes are not the same. The species that operate in the soil are different than microbes found in the gut, or the extremophiles found in sulfur pools and hydrothermal vents. Many of these types of microbes can be used in gardening endeavors, but when it comes to microbes and getting the best results, it is not enough to simply go through the motions.

compost available on the market, or in Big Box stores, is no more than aged manure, or mulch with some fertilizer in it.

This is actually why worm manure (casting) is so valuable relative to animal manure from cows or chickens. Animal manures become most valuable through the nutrient cycling capacity of microbes, but earthworms live in the soil, their gut microbes are soil microbes, so the end product is humus.

Different ecosystems have overriding characteristics that define the species of microbes found. But these conditions may change over time, such as bacterialdominant grassland turning into a fungal-dominant forest over generations. Or the conditions could change more suddenly, such as in the maturation of a compost pile over months, or the daily tides on the coast.

Ecosystems are resilient and dynamic through what are called “facultative microbes” that are proficient in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and not restricted to a particular function or mode of life. In fact, some of the best compost

Let us make a real distinction between anaerobic microbes and aerobic microbes. The soil is dominated by aerobic organisms that require oxygen for respiration, which is why we till and aerate the soil, or turn the compost pile.

Anaerobic means “living without air,” and is defined by an absence of oxygen. So, the life mode of microbes found in extreme environments, or anaerobic habitats, like marshes or bogs, are different than those of aerobic organisms in the soil that require oxygen.

Let’s compare manure to humus. The end result of aerobic composting is called humus. Think of it as perfect plant food, it is why the forest can grow huge trees with no fertilizer. However, the gut, being responsible for manufacturing manure, is a highly anaerobic environment.

They are different materials, yet most of the commercial

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can be made by not turning the piles, and developing the “life experience” of these facultative friends.

Ecosystems are resilient and dynamic through “facultative microbes”

There are many useful and popular techniques that involve the use of anaerobic microbes, such as using “effective microorganisms,” or steeping nettle or comfrey in water; but they generally do not involve aerobic soil microbes. They may contain some facultative microbes, but they are generally products and techniques of nutrient extraction performed “without air,” and do not operate within the sweet spot of the soil food web.

The most effective way to “grow soil” is to work with aerobic soil microbes found in humus. Composting is the method of making humus out of spent organic matter through the digestive ability of soil microbes. True humus contains an unknown diversity of soil microbes, and is accomplished passively in Nature where soil microbes have not been disturbed.

The composting process is leveraged and concentrated even further by brewing “compost tea.” Many consider compost tea to be the leachate that comes from a compost bin or worm farm, but these are actually what are called “extracts.”

Extracts are biologically valuable, but low in microbe numbers compared to aerated brews. There are many extraction units on the market that claim enormous amounts of finished “compost tea” in hours, but they are merely running water through the compost to extract

dormant microbes, they are not aerating and growing soil microbes in any way.

The best way to grow massive numbers of soil microbes is actively aerated compost tea, or AACT. When soil microbes from diverse farm-based humus are added to aerated water in the presence of organic food sources like fish, kelp, molasses, or bat guano; soil microbes grow to extraordinary concentrations - beyond what Mother Nature can accomplish on her own. This allows us to play catch up, and regenerate inert or chemically treated soil.

Aerated compost tea is a living solution. The microbes found in the humus inoculant are reproducing by digesting the food sources provided, and turning them into highly bioavailable perfect plant food. This represents yet another way AACT is superior to extraction.

Think of soil microbes like construction workers, the organic food sources are the building materials, and you are the contractor. The more often you bring your workers to the job site and the more you bring at one time, the faster they build the neighborhood. In my experience, the consistency of application – apply weekly, or at least monthly - is more important than the concentration.

The strength and potential of microbes is in diversity. This is where discernment towards the microbial inoculant being used is helpful. Many growers use anaerobic microbes in aerated conditions, and others are using strains of microbes that are either lacking diversity, or serve no purpose in an aerated compost tea brew like mycorrhizal fungi.

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Compost Tea Brewer

Top view Compost Tea Brewer

Air Stones A fascinating part of the compost tea conversation is how to utilize specific food sources to grow certain trophic levels, or life levels, of microbes. Many are familiar with the concept of sugars, such as molasses or sucanat growing bacteria, and micronized grains and fish stimulating fungal growth. Anecdotal reports claim an increase in protozoa when using micronized feed hay, and others have reported an increase in beneficial nematodes when using the horsetail plant (equisetum).

In the book The Secret Life of Compost by Malcolm Beck, it is explained how legumes, which create a direct symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria rhizobia, when fed a sugar source, can fix up to twice the amount of nitrogen. There is certainly much to be researched and discovered.

Some are taking this a step further by creating plant food in closed systems using microbes. Aquaponic growing, where fish waste is converted into plant food by microbes, is an easy example of this concept. But an urban farmer in Texas named Keith Johnson is taking this to another level.

He wanted to grow crops in his hydroponic systems using compost tea, but found that basic recipes don’t provide enough nitrogen for hydroponics, unless you make them so thick and dense they would plug the system up.

His research led him to the work of a Japanese researcher named Makoto Shinohara, who coined a term “Multiple

Aquarium pump for bubbling air

Parallel Mineralization” to describe the positive influence of microbial diversity in suppressing common disease issues.

Mr. Johnson followed the guidelines worked out by Shinohara, and has developed a system that requires no electricity, and will begin to generate usable nitrate nitrogen after 4-5 days.

Join his “Organic Hydroponics” group on Facebook for more information.

The exciting part of this concept is that there has been very little research done in this arena. Many progressive growers are successfully using “no till” approaches, and re-using their potting soil using targeted inputs, and diverse aerobic and anaerobic microbes, but we have only scratched the surface of the potential. Concentrating the right microbes, food sources, and processes can make nutrient cycling a conscious part of the farm or garden. The sky’s the limit.

Growing organically is about feeding soil microbes, but the microbes have to be there to be fed. This is the part most don’t have access to, and fail to consider. The right microbes are not there by default, and they can change everything in the garden, in a big way.

All basal organisms are responsible for nutrient cycling and recycling organic matter into a form that life can build on, they do the work for you while you are away. Get brewing, grow life. 3

Perhaps the best way to get started here is going about getting real pineberry starts. Don’t get taken for a ride by people selling Pineberry seed. Better yet, ignore the black and blue strawberry seeds! The images are photoshopped on the latter, and you can’t get pineberry plants from seed.

No, this isn’t a cross between a pineapple and a strawberry, nor is it genetically modified. A pineberry is known in nomenclature as, Fragaria x ananassa. It is a conventionally created cross between two distinctly different types of strawberries, a.k.a. a hybrid, which will never reproduce true from seed. Perhaps on a rare occasion, but don’t ever count on it. Growing pineberries from seed will give you an assorted lot. The majority of your seedlings will be U.S. native Fragaria virginiana, or the Chilean Fragaria chiloensis strawberry.

The fruit in that image to the left are white alpine strawberries, Frageria vesca var. albocarpa, but these aren’t pineberries. Note the white seeds? They are also much smaller fruit, and look to be about the size of a dime when ripe. The variety known as “Anablanca” falls into the F. vesca type. One perk of this white berry bearing type is it will produce fruit in partial sun outdoors, meaning that you can get a harvest with less energy hungry grow lights. But, as with all crops grown indoors, the stronger your light, the heavier your harvest will be.

True pineberry fruits are larger – about the size of a U.S. quarter, but there are 3 different pineberry varieties. The one known as “White D” has a bit larger fruit than the other 2 named varieties; “White,” and “White Carolina”.

You can get pineberry plants from mail order seed houses in both the UK and US. Stock is generally available for fall shipping. Because these are still a novelty in the gardening world, you might think the price for 3 bare-root starter plants ridiculous. Part of this has to do with being in short supply, and the price isn’t that bad considering you will be able to start new plants by the boatload once your first crop begins shooting out runners. In fact, unless you commit some unpardonable grower’s sin in the eyes of these rugged plants – you’ll never have to shell out another penny to increase your pineberry crop. So, it’s really a very inexpensive investment in fresh deliciousness for many years to come.

Growing Pineberries Pineberries are everbearing strawberries. This means that you will have an almost continual supply of fruit. However, it’s been noted that they will stop bearing if the heat index soars. If you’re going to grow them outdoors, it’s something to be aware of, as is the need to mulch the crowns with straw or grass clippings in winter to protect them from excessive temperatures.

Indoors you can use traditional container growing methods, but do be sure you have good drainage, as strawberry plants are notorious for root and crown rot in conditions that are too wet. If you discover belatedly that you’ve erred in gauging the potting mix’s drainage capacities, you might still be able to save the crop. One time I ordered strawberry starts and, they arrived long before it was safe to plant outdoors. Then they got forgotten in the back of the refrigerator, and by the time I found them, they were rotting, and growing mold. I decided to plant them anyway… the worst that could happen was absolutely nothing. Guess what – they grew. Amazingly, even the biggest mistakes are sometimes correctable.

You can use hydroponic and aeroponic methods to grow strawberries, so pineberries are the perfect crop for a tower or vertical garden. They are low growing plants whose fruits hang down, making them a great choice for growing overhead too.

They will prefer cooler grow room temps, so keep the environment at about 70°F (21°C) degrees. You want your pH at 6.0-6.5, and an EC of 2-3ms. Give the plants 5-6” (13-15cm) spacing – they don’t do well crowded. They need 10-12 hours of daylight with low humidity. Runners root best right after fruiting.

Where To Buy Pineberry Plants US • Stark Brothers • Burpee • Tractor Supply

CANADA • Lowes

UK • Crocus • You Garden • Sutton’s

pineberries are perfect for towers or vertical gardens If you miss out on your shipping season, most of these places will have new stock for spring. You can place your order in midwinter to secure your pineberry plants before they sell out again. Finding them in huge supply won’t be possible for years, and the price they command in the markets will remain high for a pint of the berries.

They aren’t rare. They are just still in short supply. 3 - Originally posted in HOW TO on November 1, 2013 Visit our site regularly for new and informative posts, like this one!

Update Birds and wildlife don’t eat them, because the fruit is white. Each cultivar has a slightly different flavor.

You know the fruit is ripe when the exterior seeds turn red. Remove flowers the first season to build stronger plants.

White D has larger berries than White Carolina.

Both types need pollinator plants, as does White Dream sold in the UK. A new trademark variety, “Wonderful” is said to be self-pollinating, but a bigger harvest comes with growing pollinators too.

This one is available online, and was sold locally at Tractor Supply stores across the US in 2016, and at Lowes Canada too.

Now there is a June-bearing plant, “Natural Albino.” This improved variety is sold in the US and UK. It has the largest berries, sweetest flavor, and needs a pollinator plant nearby.

There has been a lot of research on nanoparticles over the last 16 years, but only recently (2008) has there been research on nanoparticles and their influence on plants; something we will refer to as phytonanotechnology. Questions we aim to answer in this article: • • • •

What benefits will phytonanotechnology have?

Will there be negative associations, such as bioaccumulation?

What impact will phytonanotechnology have on the environment?

What is the future for phytonanotechnology?

With a relatively new technology, concerns are often raised, but we shouldn’t let these innate apprehensions cloud our judgement. So, we’re going to let science do the talking instead.

Introduction Nanoparticles are particles that are anywhere between 1 and 100 nanometers (nm) in size. To give this some comparison, you could fit 1 million nanoparticles (1 nm) into this full stop here. A typical nanoparticle of fertiliser will be between 10-20 nm, so you could fit between 50,000 and 100,000 nanoparticles of this size into this full stop.

You could also fit 100,000 nanoparticles into the width of a human hair... Nanoparticles are incredibly minute, and it’s a small miracle that we have learned to manipulate and adapt them to cover a wide range of beneficial products.

The reason they offer exciting advances in horticulture, as well as other industries, is because at the nano level, molecules will act differently than their larger bulky counterparts, and have unique physiochemical properties such as size, chemical composition, surface structure, relative surface area, stability, and shape.

Some of the areas where nanoparticles are currently used include; automobiles (made lighter), clothing (stain resistance), sunscreen (increased UV protection), surgery (synthetic bones made stronger), mobile phones (lighter materials), glass packaging for drinks (decrease gas permeation), and in sports (durable equipment such as tennis and golf balls).

oxide (ZnO), and copper oxide (CuO), along with gold and silver nanoparticles (Au and Ag). There are many more being investigated, but these are the elements with the most amount of research around them.

Iron (Fe3O4) has had a lot of research recently. One study by Zhu et al. (2008), showed that the nanoparticles are directly taken up, and translocated in pumpkin (Curcurbita maxima) with no toxic effects at concentrations of 0.5 g/L (1).

Silica (SiO2) has had good work done by Slomberg (2012) showing silica nanoparticle phytotoxicity to Arabidopsis thaliana, a popular plant model for plant biology and genetics. No toxicity was found at doses up to 1 g/L(2).

Advances and Advantages The benefits of phytonanotechnology are wide and varied according to the research that’s been conducted so far.

Phytonanotechnology can deliver fertiliser, pesticides, and herbicides to targeted sites, and can be released ondemand for nutritional needs or pest protection. This would reduce the requirement for repeated application of fertilizer/pesticide/herbicide, lessening the negative effects on the environment.

What are they doing in horticulture?

A recent review of nanotechnologies in plant sciences by Wang et al. (2016) report that phytonanotechnology can:

The research in horticulture has been varied and consistent over the past 8 years. The main nanoparticles being tested for horticultural viability include iron (Fe3O4), silica (SiO2), cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4), titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc

1) Reduce applications of plant-protection products; 2) Decrease nutrient losses from fertiliser; 3) Increase yields through optimised nutrient management (3).

The most important aspect for commercial growers is the increased yield due to the lower energy required by the plant to uptake nutrients. The nanoparticles are so small they require very little to no energy from the plant via passive transport to pull the nutrients into the vascular system. The plant therefore has more energy for other processes such as fruit/root/flower formation, and production.

Reasons for Concern One of the concerns about phytonanotechnology is the effect of bioaccumulation in plant material being passed to herbivores, insects, birds, and carnivorous animals. If the nanoparticles accumulated, and were eventually consumed by humans, what impact would this have on the food chain and human health?

This question has been looked at by numerous studies (4, 5, 6 & 7 ). The nanoparticles studied were Au (gold), CeO2 (cerium oxide), and La2O3 (lanthanum oxide). Although they did not find accumulation of nanoparticles, there was some trophic transfer.

Therefore, human exposure to nanoparticles via food dietary uptake, or food chain contamination, needs to be considered when these phytonanotechnologies are developed.

at the nano level, molecules will act differently than their larger bulky counterparts

Leaf tissue analysis indicates that one of the benefits of using nanoparticles of iron (Fe3O4), compared to iron chelates, is the increased uptake of other nutrients.

The reason is thought to be because of the increased chlorophyll production in the leaf, which increases the amount of light harvested, and therefore, the increased nutritional demand. This was verified by leaf tissue analysis, which saw higher amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and other micro elements, compared to a control without nanoparticles.

Observational studies have shown an increase in oil production in tobacco plants when using iron (Fe3O4), although this needs further testing and analysis to confirm findings.

Over the coming years, there will undoubtedly be a plethora of benefits coming from phytonanotechnology, but there are concerns over the effect on the environment, and the living species within it. However, Nottingham Trent University has carried out aquatic Ecotoxicology studies with Gammarus pulex (common freshwater shrimp).

Results show concentrations up to 40 mg/L of iron and calcium nanoparticles have no detrimental behavioral or toxic effects.

This trophic transfer is very good news when developing nanoparticles to correct dietary deficiencies, such as iron deficiency anemia. But it also shows we need to be careful about what nanoparticles are used, and how much research has been conducted before using them. You are, in fact, already using products with nanoparticles without even realising it‌ every time you take a shower, brush your teeth, use deodorant, apply sunscreen, or add coffee creamer .

The Environment Research by Scherzinger in 2008 (8), reported that current nanoparticles pose little risk to the environment, though possible problematic nanoparticles require further research. Ultimately, to make a definite statement, we

need to assess all nanoparticles, as they will have different effects depending on size, composition, and surface treatment.

Increase yields through optimised nutrient management

The Future Phytonanotechnology can present revolutionary ways of increasing crop yield, health, and human nutrition, along with safer methods of applying pesticides and herbicides.

Current phytonanotechnology research and product availability focuses on iron and silicon, Fe3O4 and SiO2 respectively, which has found no detrimental effects on ecosystems or the natural environment. However, phytonanotechnologies such as gold, silver, titanium, etc, will require more research and testing before being used in agriculture.

According to Karen Davies, of the School of Science and Technology at Nottingham Trent University, “trials applying nanoparticle formulations of iron and calcium to potatoes have not only improved the uptake of those elements – they have led to earlier flowering, brought harvest forward by two weeks, produced more uniform tubers, and raised yields and dry matters.�

As a relatively new technology, researchers and scientists must look further into toxicity and trophic transfer of nanoparticles; in environments that are similar to those that they will be used in, to establish wide acceptance by the public, and to reduce the fear that people can have with new technologies such as this.

The future for nanotechnology in horticulture looks promising indeed. 3

References (1) Zhou, H. et al. (2008) Uptake, translocation, and accumulation of manufactured iron oxide nanoparticles by pumpkin plants. J. Environ.

Monet. 10, 713-717 (2) Slomberg, D.L and Schoenfisch, M.H. (2012) Silica nanoparticle phytotoxicity to Arabidopsis thaliana. Environ. Sci. Technol. 46, 1024710254 (3) Wang, P. et al. (2016) Nanotechnology: A new opportunity in plant sciences. Trends in plant science. TRPLSC. 1423, 1-14 (4) Judy, J.D et al. (2012) Bioaccumulation of gold nano materials by manduca sexta through dietary uptake of surface contaminated plant tissue. Environ. Sci. Techno. 46, 12672-12678 (5) Unrine, J.M et al (2012) Trophic transfer of Au nanoparticles from soil along a simulated terrestrial food chain. Environ. Sri. Techno. 46, 9753-9760 (6) Hawthorne, J. et al. (2014) Particle-size dependant accumulation and trophic transfer of cerium oxide through a terrestrial food chain.

Environ. Sci. Technol. 48, 13102-13109 (7) De la Torre Roche, R. et al. (2015) Terrestrial trophic transfer of bulk and nanoparticle La2O3 does not depend on particle size. Environ. Sci. Technol. 49, 11866-11874 (8) Scherzinger, M. (2008) Nanoecotoxicology: environmental risks of nanomaterials. Nat. Nanotechnol. 3, 322-323

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In the last edition, we talked about the history of giant veg growing, and the current competition platforms.

Now we’d like to share the secrets behind our success, and some tips for growing record breakers. Let’s start with marrows, also known as zucchini in the US and Canada.

The current World Record is held by Brad Wursten in Holland, who in 2009 grew a marrow weighing just over 206 lbs (93.7kg). In 2010, we grew the 2nd largest marrow in the world weighing 171 lbs (77.56kg).

into pots, and then moved to a heated greenhouse/shed/ growroom.

To grow a giant marrow, you will need the right seed – an ordinary strain will never achieve the required size.

Soil Preparation Some soils need a rest to recover from constant cultivation.

Planting a green manure (cover crop) helps soil fertility and structure with very little effort. Green manures can be left in for a year or more, but in domestic gardens or allotments, it’s generally a winter thing.

Germinating the seed We start our marrows in a heated greenhouse at the beginning of May. Due to the freshness of the seeds, they germinate with ease. However, as a precaution, we use sandpaper on the edges to speed germination.

The marrow seeds are planted in two ways.

One method is in pure vermiculite. Using this method, the seeds take 7–10 days to germinate at 21°C (70°F).

Another method is known as chitting. The seeds are placed on damp kitchen toweling, placed inside a box, and left in a warm room (airing cupboard) for about three days. As soon as the tap roots appear, the seeds need transplanting

In September, we broadcast green manure seed mixed with Hairy Winter Vetch onto the growing area. These are known as nitrogen fixers, and saves having to cart 20+ tonnes of cow manure around the garden. Green manures have deep penetrative roots that open up the soil as they grow. This is an advantage in heavy soils, as it allows drainage to occur more freely. On lighter soils, the particles of soil can bind together better, improving moisture retention. It also adds organic matter to all soil types.

In early March, the green manure is cut down, and the organic matter is dug into the soil.

In early May, we prepare the two marrow beds by rotovating the soil. Each bed measures about 8m x 5m (26’ x 16’), and is planted with two marrows. Providing sufficient space for both plant and root development is crucial, if you are to grow a giant marrow.

Pre-Planting Soil Feeding A week before planting, the bed is prepared with a dry base fertiliser at approximately 170–225g per m2 (6–8 oz per yd2).

vines were buried - because marrows root along all leaf joints. This helps stabilise the plant, and promote growth.

Planting Out

We’ve been developing our strain over the past twenty-five years, and for consistent genetics, we always ensure that the male and female flowers are covered the evening before they start to open.

This prevents bees and pollen beetles from open pollinating the marrows. A bee will travel up to four miles searching for pollen, and one pollination glitch is that a bee could have landed on a number of other plants growing in other gardens. Hand pollination is always recommended.

In late May to early June, when all danger of frost has passed, it’s time to plant the marrows in the patch.

For the past few years, we have been using our own brand of mycorrhizae at planting, sprinkling 10g (1/3oz) around each plant’s roots. Mycorrhizal fungus helps to create a huge root mass, and we believe this was one of the key ingredients to our success in recent years.

As a precaution, we position a mini-tunnel over the plants to give them a head start. This provides wind shelter, and keeps them warm during the cooler nights. On strong sunny days, covering the tunnel with a sack prevents scorched leaves and overheated roots. The mini-tunnel is removed in mid June.

Setting Fruit The plants are allowed to grow to about 4.5m (15ft) long, with the fruit being set on the main vine at about 3–3.5m (10–12ft). The side vines were stopped at about 1–1.5m (3–5ft), and the main vine and side

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In our experience, pollination is best carried out early to mid-morning. We pollinated our marrow forty-five days before the Malvern Autumn Show, covering the female flower with a plastic bag secured by a rubber band for two days after pollination. It reached 77.5kg (171lb) in approximately seven weeks. We also avoided growing table marrows and courgettes, as there’s always a risk of crosspollination.

marrows on top of a polystyrene board, believing that this will help to avoid differences in temperature, and prevent excessive growth spurts, which would cause splitting of the fruit.

You may have heard rumours that we wrap our marrows in a duvet towards end of the growing season. It’s true!

Once the skin becomes hard, a marrow stops growing. This duvet trick prevents that hardening, allowing the marrow to continue its growth.

Maintenance of Plants Throughout the growing season, we add bimonthly scatterings of poultry pellets, and weekly foliar feed with a seaweed-based organic product.

We also regularly spray the leaves with SB Plant Invigorator to help to prevent/control powdery mildew – if not controlled, this will kill the plant. The delicate leaf tissue will absorb whatever it is that you’re applying, putting it to use immediately for increased vigor in growth and fruit or flower development, and improved resistance to insects and fungal issues.

This year we have also been working with Nottingham Trent University, and the marrows have been fed with a specially formulated feed. So far, they are loving it.

Supporting the Fruit The growing marrow needs to be supported to avoid too much stress being put on the fruit. We rest the developing

Until the First Show…

We have 5 marrows growing in 2016. All we need this season is continued spells of sunshine, and lots of luck. Last year at the UK Giant Vegetable Championships, Dale Toten from Ston Easton Park Hotel won first place with a marrow weighing around 140 pounds. This year we hope to push our UK record that has stood since 2010.

You can attend a number of Giant Vegetable Shows throughout the UK. The shows are all listed on our Facebook group: www. bit.ly/giant-veg-group. The biggest giant vegetable show in the UK is held at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern. This is possibly the biggest show in the world, attracting over 68,000 visitors over 2 days.

For more growing advice, head over to our Facebook group, where there are over 2500 members from all over the world talking giant veg. 3

Sometimes the simplest things for the garden or growing are hard to find, or totally nonexistent for a reasonable price.

Check out these DIY projects where creative minds have crafted an inexpensive solution using PVC plumbing supplies.

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SU CC U L E N T POTS

PVC pipe couplings and caps used to give you a clean white container perfect for plants that love a drier situation with infrequent watering.

DIY How-To: www.bit.ly/pvc-pots

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P L U M B WA L L PLANTER

Common sense tells the experienced grower that these 28mm pipes do look great, but plants will be happier longer with roomier accommodations. Use larger pipes.

Leave the bottom open for drainage, or add a valve for manual draining indoors. Spray paint it your favorite metallic.

DIY Instructions: www.bit.ly/plumb-planter

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3

4 P O R TA B L E H OS E C A D DY

Still dragging extra hose around in a tangle? Keep it in a manageable coil on wheels with a hose caddy you can build in an afternoon.

Schedule 40 PVC is some rugged stuff.

DIY How-To: www.bit.ly/pipe-caddy

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ST U R DY TO M ATO S U P P O R T

Container gardening is great, but trussing up the weight of an abundant tomato crop hasn’t been well addressed. The one picture is attached to a small raised bed, and uses PVC pipes and metal bracing.The same forum page shares a similar freestanding tomato support system in use with an army of tote planters.

DIY Discussion: www.bit.ly/pvc-support 3

HANGI NG GARD EN

A discontinued retail kit you can easily make at home with 100mm PVC pipe, slotted or perforated drain caps on the ends, and coated wire. Two-toned paint plays a bright base color against a brushed shimmer or metallic. The succulents chosen really makes each color pop.

A Closer Look: www.bit.ly/pipe-planter

Ever wondered why there is synthetic nitrogen fertilizer? Yes, giant corporations make a killing producing mountains of the stuff every year, but that’s not why it exists. If it weren’t for the invention of synthetic nitrogen though, the world would be a very different place.You and I might not exist.

Nitrogen fertilizer made using the Haber Process is credited with feeding half of today’s world population. Both crop output and the number of people on Earth skyrocketed because of the ability to fix nitrogen on demand.

But synthetic nitrogen has big consequences… Negative effects on soil. Serious nitrogen cycle imbalances. Ocean dead zones. Water quality problems. Huge fossil fuel consumption.

HOW IT BEGAN Natural nitrogen fertilizer was all that existed during the 1800s.

Major countries supported agriculture by importing guano and saltpeter from South America. These trade relationships with Chile and Peru were hugely important to food security, and politically significant too.

BASF bought Haber’s process, handing the challenge of recreating it in commercial scale to their own chemist and engineer, Carl Bosch. A successfully functioning prototype, requiring high temperatures (400-500°C) and high pressures (200-300 atmospheres), took until 1913 to complete. The massive machine produced 198 pounds of ammonia per hour.

Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer production was underway. But not for long.

WWI changed everything, and the factory started making munitions from highly explosive ammonium nitrate. Bosch’s fertilizer plant is responsible for prolonging World War I, and making World War II possible. Explosives made from the Haber Process have been used in bombs ever since.

BACK TO FERTILIZER As you might suspect, being finite resources, they were getting scarce by the end of the century. Not good. People were multiplying. Someone had to find a new source for fixed nitrogen. A challenge went out to scientists... figure out how to make nitrogen fertilizer from the air.

German chemist Fritz Haber accomplished the feat in 1908.

His solution was a table top device that could synthesize a cup of ammonia in two hours flat. He combined nitrogen with hydrogen using high pressure, heat, and an iron catalyst.

The world at large knew nothing about the existence of synthetic fixed nitrogen until after WWI ended. But it wasn’t until the 1950s that the Haber Process really impacted agriculture. The blessing of increased food production is said to be the reason some 7 billion people inhabit the planet today. Many believe that without synthetic fertilizers there would be mass starvation. But synthetic nitrogen is causing bigger problems.

NITROGEN CYCLE BALANCE Carbon is the poster child of climate change, but in truth, man’s impact on the nitrogen cycle is much greater. We convert far more N2 gas into fixed reactive nitrogen than all of this planet’s combined natural processes. By 1993, humans were adding 140 million metric tons of NH3 to the environment, and 80-100 million of those tonnes arise come from Haber Bosch Process chemical plants. The rest is due to nitrogen fixing crops, vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions.

So much for everyone’s obsession with carbon. Why are they ignoring human impact on anything in the red zone? Certainly worth investigation.

The paper suggests our fixed nitrogen additions from synthetic fertilizers and car exhaust be reduced to about one-third (35 million tonnes).

UNSUSTAINABLE Science shows that in the nitrogen cycle fixed nitrogen molecules can also become unfixed. Denitrifying bacteria and nitrogen fixing bacteria in Nature both have balanced populations - roughly equal in number. Natural fixed nitrogen might increase over time, but without man’s tampering, it’s a slow shift. There is no denitrification with additions of reactive nitrogen from the Haber Process.

An article published in Nature (2009) discussed planetary boundaries. Climate change was included, but surprisingly the scientists’ diagram shows we are barely beyond the safe zone of the CO2 boundary. Meanwhile, the nitrogen cycle disruption is five levels higher than the safe zone!

Making synthetic nitrogen fertilizer consumes a lot of energy.

On top of the excessive temperatures and pressures of the process, the hydrogen involved comes from natural gas. This industry uses 5% of global natural gas production... that’s 1-2% of the total yearly energy consumption worldwide.

Yes, natural gas is more plentiful than petroleum, but the current fertilizer production level can’t be perpetually sustained. Furthermore, as global oil reserves deplete, fertilizer costs will skyrocket. Food prices will rise with it, and the fertilizers so many farmers depend on will no longer be economically viable.

SOIL BALANCE

THE NITROGEN CYCLE DISRUPTION IS FIVE LE VELS HIGHER THAN THE SAFE ZONE

NITROGEN MOBILITY

Maintaining the health of soil organisms depends on a balanced diet, which is 1 part nitrogen to 20 parts carbon.

Adding synthetic nitrogen fertilizer creates a nitrogen surplus, causing the microbes to binge on carbon. As a result, they deplete the soil’s carbon and humus reserves.

The average application of synthetic fertilizers is excessive plant nutrients available all at once. While plants can absorb synthetic nutrients, most of it is wasted. With nitrogen, the crop will only take up 10-50%. It’s very rare that over half the fertilizer is used by the plants.

The soil crashes once all the organic matter is gone. The organisms die from starvation. Functions they performed disappear with them: fixing nitrogen, storing phosphorous reserves, and providing plants with immunity to pests and diseases.

Unabsorbed synthetic nitrogen is highly mobile - passing into groundwater, and joining surface water as it runs off into drainage ditches and waterways. It pollutes wells, lakes, rivers, and streams. Together with other fertilizer elements, the runoff causes algae blooms and ocean dead zones.

With the caretakers vacant, the criminal element takes up residence, and the neighborhood goes to hell. Topsoil erosion increases, pests attack unhampered, and disease spreads.

Crop production, being all about maintaining high yields, farmers seek solutions in chemical corrections. With every quick fix application, the problems in the soil grow.

DAMAGE CONTROL

Recent research by Dr. Jennifer Fox at the University of Oregon found that pesticides and herbicides damage communications between nitrogen fixing plants and nitrogen fixing bacteria. The study covered over 50 agrichemicals, and details were published in Nature (2001), and Environmental Health Perspectives (2004) journals. As a result, reduced natural nitrogen fixing takes place, leading to increased synthetic nitrogen use.

Like the microbes in the soil, the planet cannot make use of anything not present in its original design. Expecting it to do so is a time bomb in itself. Adding compost and organic matter builds healthy soil loaded with organisms eager to perform the functions that support plant life. Natural fertilizers enhance and maintain the balance that sustains living things.

Conventional growing is the synthetic result of the industrial age, which would be great for a synthetic planet populated by robots. But the Earth and its amazing variety of life forms are natural, and dynamic.

For 4 billion years the planet created and produced its own fertilizer, that is, until industry challenged science to figure out how to pull fake nutrition out of thin air. 3

1) Campbeltown, Scotland

Removing Barriers Campbeltown Community Orchard & Garden is open to the public, and offers much to all in the largest town on the Kintyre peninsula. The registered charity’s amenities include a great spot for enjoying loch scenery, buying locally-grown organic produce, planting a plot, or getting involved in programmes.

Totally run by volunteers, CCOG is a social initiative started by the Kintyre Environmental Group, and funded by donations and harvest proceeds. The focus is about renewal and sustainability through permaculture, biodiversity, and enriching the lives of residents in one way or another.

The accomplishments list is huge! Learn more: www.ccog.org.uk

2) Hay-on-Wye, Powys

Bypassing Roadblocks Facing an allotment plot shortage so dire that people are stuck on long waiting lists? The highly compelled to grow their own make it happen anyway. In Hay-onWye, a small group of friends rented one-half acre of local farm land with pooled funds. That was 2010. The Hayfield Community Gardens group has grown, and formed a Community Interest Company.

The organic garden is worked by volunteers using permaculture principles, and includes a children’s garden space. Gardeners take home their share of the harvest, but the rest is sold locally to reinvest in the garden.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Learn more: www.hayfield-com.

3) Glasgow, Scotland

Commonwealth Orchards Every community has at least one school at its core shaping the minds of tomorrow’s residents. What better place to plant and nurture a community fruit orchard? It teaches kids where fruit comes from, provides healthy snacks, and once established, produces local food every year.

John Hancox at Scottish Fruit Trees came up with the idea of Fruitful Schools several years ago. Since then he has helped a growing number of communities plant, and learn to care for heritage fruit trees that thrive in the northern climate.

Children’s orchards... a treasure for the common good.

Learn more: www.bit.ly/fruit-orch.

4) Market Drayton, North Shropshire

Credit: Fordhall Farm

Saving An Organic Original Fordhall Farm has a history stretching back hundreds of years. It’s also the first organic farm in England. No agrichemicals have been used here for over 65 years.

Third generation farmers, Ben and Charlotte Hollins recently saved the farm from developers by selling shares to the public. It’s now the first community-owned farm in England too.

Ben is tenant farmer, rearing organic, free-range cows, pigs, and sheep on year-around green pastures developed by his father using biodynamic concepts. Charlotte now manages Fordhall Community Initiative with recreational, educational, and care programmes that benefit local residents, glamping yurts, a market shop, and a farm cafe.

Over 8,000 landlords worldwide, and going strong.

More Info: www.fordhallfarm.com 3

In this column Theo Tekstra discusses observations in the indoor garden culture. There is sometimes so much urban legend and so little science in this industry. It is time to “myth bust” some of these urban legends and have a fresh breeze move through the industry.

You may not know it, but you are suffering from a serious condition. It influences your decisions, can cause wars, lead to the extinction of mankind as such, and makes you buy the wrong stuff. Caught your attention? It is called confirmation bias, and yes, you have it!

You may not know it, but you are suf fering from a serious c ondition

What is confirmation bias? A good definition is this: “Confirmation bias is a phenomenon wherein decision makers have been shown to actively seek out and assign more weight to evidence that confirms their hypothesis, and ignore or under weigh evidence that could disconfirm their hypothesis.”

So, basically what happens is that if you are looking for answers and searching for evidence, you’d rather search for, and believe data that supports your beliefs or current knowledge. There are enough articles on the internet to support any (even crazy) belief or opinion, so finding out what is really true can be a daunting task.

An example: On stage, at an international event, I hear the presenter (a well respected editor of

a magazine) say to the 500 in the audience that plants do not use green light, as plants are green and reflect it. See? It is green. Therefore, it reflects green light.

When you look up “leaves reflect green light” on the internet you will find many scientific articles about absorption of colors and reflectance of color, and they make a strong case for “plants don’t eat green.”

Furthermore, you can see it yourself! So it’s a nobrainer, right? Look at the research of McCree, and you can clearly see plants don’t like green as much as red or blue. So here come the red and blue LEDs for example. Right?

Wrong.

Pe ople who ac tually know the dull f ac t s seldom reach the front page

Think about this: it is very strange that plants would not use green light efficiently. The most abundant color in sunlight is green (Yes, green! Not yellow or red), so it would defy evolution theory if plants would not be able to use that efficiently.

And, in fact, surprise surprise: plants probably do use green light very efficiently in high intensity white light. At least, according to scientific research from 2009, which is very plausible. Look up: Green Light Drives Leaf Photosynthesis More Efficiently than Red Light in Strong White Light: Revisiting the Enigmatic Question of Why Leaves are Green. You would not easily find it if you were to look for “leaves reflect green light”.

for the opposite of your belief might open your eyes.

It may be hard to find, but it is out there if you look for it. Do you realize that people who actually know the dull facts seldom reach the front page? It is not spectacular enough. The people who shout loudest, and most often, get a lot of coverage and following online.

Finding out what is really tr ue c an be a daunting t ask

If you look for “how is A better than B,” I am sure you will find confirmation of the fact that A is indeed better than B. You will find compelling articles in great numbers in your Google results. It might be though that you are looking for the wrong thing. Try to reverse the search and look at the results again. Or look for a more unbiased comparison: “How do A & B compare”.

Now, take into consideration that many, if not most, of these “publications” are biased opinions.

Nowadays anyone with a blog is a publisher, and you were not looking for the right information in the first place. In a world where opinions are often mistaken for facts, it is good to realize that searching

A good way to discard irrelevant data is to always check your sources well. When your source is also reporting on “Aliens ate his dog” and “Elvis spotted in Wendy’s” - it might not be such a good idea to refer to it in your Facebook post to support your argument. Use Google Scholar for your search in order to find more scientific documents.

But first, and foremost, look for contradicting opinions or findings, and have an open mind to them. Research both sides, and be aware... be very aware of your confirmation bias. It has much more influence on the decisions you make in daily life than you think. Being aware of your weaknesses and pitfalls is a great step to enlightenment. Stay curious. Be an independent thinker. Now, switch on those blue and red LEDs. 3

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Skeptics “Some of the popular articles on the water-culture method of crop production are grossly inaccurate in fact and misleading in implication. Widely circulated rumors, claims, and predictions about the water-culture production of crops often have little more to commend them than the author’s unrestrained imagination.

Erroneous and even fantastic ideas have been conceived that betray a lack of knowledge of elementary principles of plant physiology. For example, there have been statements that in the future most of the food needed by the occupants of a great apartment building may be grown on the roof, and that in large cities “skyscraper” farms may supply huge quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables. One Sunday-supplement article contained an illustration showing a housewife opening a small closet off the kitchen and picking tomatoes from vines growing in water culture with the aid of electric lights. There has even arisen a rumor that the restaurants of a large chain in New York City are growing their vegetables in basements.”

Sound familiar? The previous paragraph is from the introduction to Circular 347, entitled The Water-Culture Method For Growing Plants Without Soil, written by Dennis Robert Hoagland, a Professor of Plant Nutrition and Chemist, and Daniel I. Arnon, Junior Plant Physiologist, at the University of California at Berkeley, College of Agriculture. Circular 347 was published in December of 1938. [www.bit.ly/WC-hoagland] The paper was published by the University after being overwhelmed with thousands of requests for more information about work by their associate, Dr. William F. Gericke, who for the past decade had conducted research about the commercial application of water-culture, a developing science he named “hydroponics” in 1937.

Capturing the imagination of the public and the press, Gericke’s work was much publicized… and ridiculed, even before he adopted the term hydroponics. While his research was primarily geared towards the commercial applications, his earlier emphasis on nutrient salts added to water as “plant pills,” gave the misimpression to many in the press, and by extension, the public. Hydroponics could be carried on by most anyone as a hobby! So, by the end of 1938, over 40 different companies on the west coast alone were offering hydroponic chemicals and supplies to the public.

Yet, Gericke wasn’t ready to share his work publicly. He wanted to make sure all aspects of hydroponic cultivation were researched and tested before making any of the specifics available to the public. His focus was on commercial applications, and he emphasized with his superiors that his work was

incomplete. Gericke wanted more time to fully research and understand every aspect of this developing science before allowing others to emulate it.

As research was being conducted under the auspices of the University, administrators felt compelled to release the results for the benefit of the more than 30,000 requests from around the world for more information. Before doing so, they assigned Hoagland and Arnon to review the work conducted so far, and create a report that checked Dr. Gericke’s research, while including the nutrient salt formulas and design schematics for the equipment developed to date. To Gericke and others, however, Circular 347 seemed written more to undermine the developing technology than promote it by ignoring many of the ancillary benefits of hydroponics, while emphasizing that the authors were able to grow equivalent crops side by side in soil and soilless media, albeit in a greenhouse environment.

Much of Dr. Gericke’s research at that time was being simultaneously conducted at his home, and shortly after the publication of Circular 347, Dr. Gericke terminated his relationship with the University, continuing his research independently in his greenhouse. Prior to his departure, however, several important experimental projects had been initiated as a result of his work.

Wake Island and Pan American World Airways In 1934, Pan American World Airways decided upon Wake Island as one of several stops en route to the Far East for their fast growing seaplane fleet, stops that also included Honolulu, Midway Island, and Guam. The air service was launched in 1935, and by the end of 1936, small hotels had been built on the islands to accommodate air clipper passengers and crew while planes were serviced after flight from one island to the next. Each of the hotels included a restaurant to feed the travelers.

Half of the islands used for these intermediate stops were little more than rocky atolls, lacking space to cultivate any crops in traditional ways. The regularly scheduled supply ship, Tradewind, only visited every 6 months, delivering very little food. The clipper ship airliners were reserved primarily for passengers, and due to the long distances traveled, only essential freight was allowed to fly along to conserve fuel. The one exception was dairy products, due to their perishable nature, as none could be produced on the islands.

In December 1937, newspapers announced that 23-year-old Lamory T. Laumeister, a senior at the University of California’s Department of Agriculture, who worked closely with Gericke, traveled to Wake Island to set up a farming experiment using soilless techniques. Hired by Pan-American, the goal was to produce fresh vegetables for the islands’ 35 permanent inhabitants. This included the Pan-American Hotel manager, Charles Jenkins, his wife, and the air passengers arriving once each week. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins also served as the chefs for the hotel restaurant.

Lamory quickly set up the tanks and equipment sent to the island on the supply ship, and by the middle of February 1938, he had produced his first radish crop. Other crops were challenging,

with many growing lush vegetation in the tropical sun, but bearing little fruit. Minor changes to the nutrient solution, and erecting shade cloth solved the problems. A month later he provided the restaurant with lettuce, cucumbers, and carrots. Once fully operational, weekly yields were reported at 30 pounds of tomatoes, 20 pounds of string beans, 40 pounds of sweet corn, and 20 heads of lettuce.

While he was initially scheduled to spend six months on the island, he successfully lobbied to stay an extra year, during which he continued to tweak his 230 square feet of redwood growing tanks. In June 1939, Torrey Lyons, a University of California graduate with experience in culture solutions, replaced Lamory as head hydroponicist. Taking over the garden, he quickly learned that the number one issue Lamory had was not being able to grow enough to satisfy the regular demands of his small but growing number of consumers, even when he intercropped his growing beds.

Pleased with the results, Pan-American decided to increase the growing capacity sufficiently to keep the airbase fully supplied. To supplement production of the original facility, they approved the construction a new “hydroponicum” - the term Gericke adopted to fight the press’ tendency to label them “bathtub gardens.”

The new growing beds, four times larger, were constructed of concrete, offering 1,000 additional square feet of growing space.

Torrey successfully grew many crops, experimenting with many different vegetables.

On December 8th, 1941, the Japanese attacked the island along with Pearl Harbor, the date not matching due to the international date line.

Afterwards, all U.S. personnel were immediately evacuated. On December 9th, the Japanese attacked again, destroying the Pan American Hotel and the island hospital. The hydroponicum survived the attack, and was reportedly used by the Japanese during their occupation of the island.

The Agricultural Experiment Stations Dr. Gericke’s early publicity piqued the interest of agricultural scientists worldwide. Many began experimentation of their own - independent of Dr. Gericke’s work. By 1939, H.M. Biekart and C.H. Connors of the New Jersey Experiment Station had been growing roses and carnations on a commercial-scale using a nutrient culture method with pure sand as the growing media for almost a decade. Other contributors from the NJ Experiment Station included R.B. Farnham, who created a watertight bench system in 1936, along with a subirrigation method of delivering the nutrient solution to plant roots, and Dr. J.W. Shive, credited with developing a drip irrigation method of nutrient delivery in about 1927.

Biekart and Connors proved that carnations grown in sand, and fed a liquid nutrient solution had the same characteristics as their soil-grown counterparts, with respect to appearance, size, and longevity after being cut - yet, they were grown for a lower cost. These cost savings are realized by reducing the need for fertilizer applications, and by eliminating the need to manually water, weed, and cultivate the plants. They also found that there were fewer issues with diseases and insects.

Robert Withrow, of the Purdue University Experiment Station in New York, developed an even more practical subirrigation system in late 1939. His design placed the tanks beneath the benches with nutrients delivered to the watertight benches via centrifugal pump, allowing it to drain back into the tanks using gravity. This technique initially was known as the Withrow method, but has since become more popularly identified as the “ebb and flow” or “ebb and flood” method. This method suited itself ideally to much larger applications, thus improving the commercial potential of hydroponics.

J.P. Martin, the head pathologist at Honolulu Experiment Station, began conducting experiments growing sugarcane in sand culture in 1932. Cornell University built a hydroponic research greenhouse. Other Agricultural Experiment Stations that provided key research for the soilless growth of plants included Ohio, Maryland, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Internationally, the British Ministry of Agriculture took notice of hydroponics, promoting the technology during the Grow More Food Campaign before and during the war. Professor Shinichiro Kasugai with the agriculture department at Tokyo Imperial University was the first agrobiologist to succeed in growing rice, sweet potatoes, and melon plants to harvest via soilless methods without supplemental aeration. By 1940, experimental hydroponicums were established in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Israel, Japan, India, Russia, Germany, and South Africa.

In the next installment, we’ll look at how hydroponics went viral despite Gericke’s reservations, and events during the war years. 3

The reason for covering these two elements together is due to how they work and interact synergistically with each other in the plant. There are plenty of cal-mag additives on the market, so we’re going to look at what they are supposed to be used for, what calcium and magnesium do within a plant’s system, and what happens when deficiencies occur.

THE ELEMENTS Calcium (Ca) Number 20 in the periodic table, calcium is a soft, shiny, and reactive metal. Silver-grey calcium is rarely encountered in its pure form. Instead, this reactive element is a great builder, readily forming ionic salts.

Calcium is the fifth most abundant element in the earth’s crust, and is found mostly as calcium carbonate in limestone (i.e. the chalk rocks, as in the White Cliffs of Dover). The calcium you find in your bones is from calcium phosphate, over a kilogram of it in fact, and quicklime is created by heating calcium carbonate to form concrete cement.

Calcium dissolves easily in water, especially when it is slightly acidic (pH less than 7). In the UK, water quality varies; some areas have soft water (less than 100mg/L of calcium), and others have hard water (above 200mg/L of calcium). As a grower, it is very important that you know what type of water you have. This is easily checked on websites such as www.bristan.com/ watermap.

The reason for hard or soft water is due to areas that have limestone. Acid rain will dissolve the rock, producing calcium cations, which are released into the water table making it ‘hard’ water, and this can lead to limescale deposits on kettles, or a resistance to making suds with soap.

Very hard water areas will benefit from a Reverse Osmosis machine to remove the excess calcium and other particulates to start fresh at a low electrical conductivity level - from here you can add specific amounts of calcium and magnesium. Very soft water areas can benefit from adding a little extra calcium and magnesium to buffer the stock solution, and prevent big swings in pH. Within the plant, calcium plays a big role in maintaining cell strength, and the permeability of the membrane. It assists in the activation of certain enzymes for cell growth, and is thought to help with protein synthesis, and carbohydrate transfer.

Calcium is an immobile nutrient, meaning that once it is incorporated into a cell, it cannot move. For this reason, calcium deficiencies will show up on new growth first.

A deficiency can manifest itself in several ways: 1. G rowing tips of roots and leaves may turn brown and die.

2.

T he leaves will curl, and the margin can turn brown.

3. H igh incidence of blossom end rot, especially in tomatoes.

The reason for a calcium deficiency is usually due to over fertilising with a PK additive, or using a high magnesium fertiliser. Resolve this issue by leaching the plant of excess nutrients with a flush, and adding extra calcium with a calcium nitrate solution, or a cal-mag fertiliser.

Magnesium (Mg) One of my favourite high school chemistry memories was being in the lab, and burning ribbons of magnesium.

The blinding white light that flares up like a military flash bang as the metal ignites, was the highlight of the day - before getting back to balancing equations, and making Oasis jokes about Van der Waals forces. Absolutely hilarious when you’re 12.

Scarily, magnesium is nearly impossible to extinguish.

This is due to the the magnesium reacting exothermically with oxygen, but also nitrogen and water. Unfortunately, this reaction was used to devastating effect during WW2, as it was incorporated into the casings of incendiary bombs.

Magnesium is abundant in the earth’s crust and mantle rocks, but more importantly, it is an essential element in biology. Its integral role in plant chlorophyll, the genetic DNA and RNA molecules, the energy-giving ATP compound, and many enzymes - give it a claim at being the most important element for life on earth.

Magnesium is a mobile nutrient within a plant, so deficiencies usually occur on older leaves. The symptoms of magnesium deficiencies manifest themselves as the following: 1. Yellowing of the leaf or interveinal chlorosis.

2. As the deficiency becomes more severe, the yellowing will appear on the younger leaves.

3. Possible necrosis in very severe deficiencies.

The reason for a magnesium deficiency can be due to a high calcium fertiliser, or during the high PK part of the flowering cycle. Other factors for deficiency include a cold root environment, or the pH is too low (anything below 5.5 reduces magnesium availability). Resolving these issues is somewhat similar to the calcium deficiency. Leach the growing medium with plain water, and try a foliar feed with epsom salts at about 2-3% solution. Increase the root zone temperature to 18°C (64°F), and keep the pH balanced at around 5.8.

TWO FINAL POINTS 1. T here is no such thing as a cal-mag deficiency. You either have a calcium deficiency, or a magnesium deficiency, or both at the same time - if you’re really unlucky - but they are not the same thing. Just because there are cal-mag additives, that does not mean there is such thing as a cal-mag deficiency.

2. Using cal-mag additives during heavy periods of PK fertilisation will assist in the uptake of PK fertilisers.

They’re not essential to use, but through personal experience, and as a shop manager, I have only seen positive observations of using a cal-mag during high PK fertilisation.

Hopefully, you find the ‘What is’ articles beneficial, and an enjoyable read. We would love to go into more detail, and delve into the science of uptake of nutrients, but we don’t want to get bogged down in tedious details, so this has been our brief article. If you wish to learn the more scientific and in-depth side, let Eric know, and it will be my pleasure to write that series for you. Thank you for taking the time to read, and we’ll be back with the next What Is chapter on Sulphur, and its role in a plant. 3

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PERFECT NPK

I GARDEN CULTURE

I’ve been growing for a long time, everything from my own fruit and veg, to herbs for natural remedies to help my family in times of illness. I’ve used pretty much every nutrient on the market, and some that aren’t. Is there a perfect NPK ratio, a set of magic numbers, the key to getting the best crop ever? The holy grail of NPK, if you like. All the nutrient companies’ NPK ratios are different, so they can’t all be the best, or even equal, for every variety of plant, can they?

If I didn’t love indoor gardening as much as I do, and enjoy the quest for growing perfection, I would have given up years ago, picked my favorite brand, and stuck with it.

1 BASIC NPK R ATIO CANNOT BE OPTIM AL FOR OVER 750 0 DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF TOM ATOES

Let’s take for an example, tomatoes. There are over 7,500 varieties of tomatoes, and the most common fertilizer sold for tomatoes in garden centres has an NPK value of 5-10-10. It doesn’t take a plant physiologist to work out that 1 basic NPK ratio cannot be optimal for over 7500 different varieties of tomatoes. It just can’t be!

That’s just the NPK, let’s not forget about all the other nutrient variables, like the 8 micronutrients, and the 3 non-fertilizer elements: hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen.

There is an overwhelming choice of nutrient brands available. My local hydroponics stores have shelves upon shelves packed with different brands of nutrients, several of which advertise that their product is the best. Some guarantee 10%, 20%, even 30% on your yield, which is just untrue. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Especially if the product literature or sales rep cannot really explain to you how the product accomplishes these miraculous results.

There can be a heavy debt to be paid when using improperly labeled super products. If you give harmful systemic chemicals, PGRs (plant growth regulators), or hormones to your plants to boost them, or kill pests - then yes, you might get huge, healthy looking fruits and flowers, but the crop will likely be contaminated with chemical residues. It is the unknown that scares me, playing Russian roulette with our health, and the health of others. So, in my quest, I exclude shortcuts and miracle products. I am looking for the perfect balance of nutrients.

Going back to NPK, if we are saying that you can’t just have one ratio of NPK that will get the best out of all varieties, then it follows that there must be a perfect mix for each strain of plant. The exact requirements for that specific type of crop, including the perfect growing environment and conditions. Surely, there is a scientific formula that would produce perfection every time. Why haven’t some chemical geniuses scientifically researched and documented this? Imagine a perfect chemical blend that really WOULD deliver the results you want. They would make a fortune! Or is it really that simple? After all plants have been evolving over millions of years to grow to the best of their potential in their own unique outdoor

environment. Am I underestimating the power and mystery of nature... and the plants’ “X factor” by thinking that it can be unraveled in a lab and replicated by man? Maybe that’s it, maybe it’s not the best that you can get out of the plant, but the best the plant can get out of you.

S U R E LY, T H E R E I S A S C I EN T I F I C F O R M U L A T H AT WO U L D P R O D U C E PERFEC TI O N E V ERY TI M E

Think of plants as being kind of like music. Every song has an ideal set of levels on the graphic equalizer to make it sound perfect. Some tracks need more bass, some less.

It’s the same with plants, and strains of plants from the same species. Some strains will like more potassium than others and so on. So, it’s how far you want to go down the rabbit hole. On my stereo at home there are only 3 options on the graphic equalizer, much like the 3 primary nutrients. So if I’m only able to change 3 factors, I’m never going to get the best out of my broad taste in music. If these factors are fixed (like the NPK ratios in a brand of nutrients) then there’s no way that they can cater to and bring out the very best in all the different species, and/or different strains of the same species.

My brother, however, is crazy about music, and has a graphic equalizer with 6 dials/options on his ridiculously expensive stereo, kinda like the primary and secondary nutrients: nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, and calcium. So, with more control, he can get better sound quality out of more tracks… well, to his particular taste. I think that plants are the same, the more options you have, the better you can refine a feed range, and thus, get more out of a plant. If you think of this on a larger scale, imagine a music studio with hundreds of

options that can be changed as the music plays in order to enhance its sound throughout, what if plants need the same fluid variety options of care throughout the different stages of their life in order to get the most out of them.

So, what is the conclusion? Unless all combinations of NPK are tested, with every different factor accounted for, we will never know. The variables are so wide, that by the time you would have finished painting the Golden Gate tomato bridge of NPK perfection, some of the variables would have changed, and you would need to start again.

What I can surmise is that my personal path for NPK perfection will always be shorter behind me than in front of me. In a nutshell, I think that there is no one perfect solution. One nutrient line might be best for one plant variety, and another brand better suit the growing needs of that variety’s close cousin.

More isn’t always better, less isn’t always more... you can control the growing factors, but it’s more of a case of balance between the plant, the environment, and you - ‘the grower.” The key is understanding your plants’ needs, and being able to give them what they want, when they want it. Unfortunately, we are still trying to figure out the “what” and “when” part.

The other dimension is that as I’ve matured, my tastes have changed, and the purposes I grow for has also evolved, much like my taste in music. So, my quest for my NPK Holy Grail continues. 3

For all the outcry over the mountains (or cesspools) of animal manure generated in farming today, many overlook the fact that people create tons of the smelly stuff too. Highly toxic. As guilty of greenhouse gas emissions as a cow pie. But, as it swirls away out of the toilet bowl, we are relieved to have seen last of it. Out of sight, out of mind. Unfortunately, like history, when no one pays it any attention - it keeps repeating itself.

Calling the chunks and scum from sewage ‘biosolids’ is certainly politically correct. Nothing like greenwashing a whole lotta shit. Even ‘sludge’ lacks candor. At least the British term ‘humanure’ is somewhat honest. But it’s largely carnivore manure loaded with harmful bacteria and disease pathogens.

Modern life and sewers pile on the extras.

Sludge contains everything flushed down a toilet, ground up in the kitchen garbage disposal, or washed down a drain.

It’s not just home waste. Sewers service hospitals, morgues, undertakers, businesses, etc. Add whatever runs off the sidewalks, streets, and landscaping.

Sewage is laced with heavy metals, and 170 known organic and synthetic chemicals: pesticides, pharmaceuticals, illegal drugs, antimicrobials, hormones, antibiotics, steroids, cosmetics and personal care products, detergents and cleaning solutions, sealants and plasticizers, automotive and manufacturing solvents... And they are still present in the processed sludge, as metabolites or fully intact.

If it’s in food or medicine, and the body does not absorb it, it ends up in the sewer. Along with many of those 82,000 synthetic chemicals in use today. Scientists don’t know something is present in sludge until they test for it explicitly.

MOUNTAINS OF TOXIC SOLIDS

IT’S MAGIC

A city generates an amazing amount of sewage solids every day. A huge portion of which is incorporated into home gardens and food production. Rising fertilizer costs are causing steady increases in sludge land applications.

No matter what country you’re in, sludge production has three phases: primary, secondary, and tertiary.

S o m e h o w it ’s no longer hazardous waste, u n s a fe i n a landfill

How much is a ‘huge portion’? Annually, the U.S. generates over 8 million tonnes (metric tons); 60% is spread on farmland, forests, and land reclamation projects. Of the 1.3 million dry tonnes collected in Canada, 50% or more is applied to agricultural lands. The UK produces over 1.4 million dry tonnes every year, and 62% is ‘recycled’ in agriculture.

They sell sludge to home gardeners too. As organic fertilizer, as cheap peat-based compost, and in low quality potting mixes.

If the OIM or OMRI seal isn’t displayed, the product’s ‘organic manure’ could be human.

Tertiary treatment is rarely done in the U.S. Totally opposite of the humanure used in UK agriculture, where most of it is processed in the third stage, and must test 99% pathogen free in secondary treatment, and 99.999% in tertiary treatment. And in the US? Class A pathogens aren’t gone, just below detectable levels.

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CLEAN WATER = DIRTY SOIL Halting raw sewage disposal into waterways and the ocean was a huge necessity. Regulating the containment and treatment of the toxic stuff, however, spawned the lucrative Big Sludge (B.S.) industry, which in the US enjoys government influence.

Whether owned, managed, or serviced by B.S. - thousands of wastewater plants eagerly cash in on sewage solids. Some wastewater companies are multinational, operating in the US, Canada, and the UK.

In the United States, Class A biosolids can be applied to home gardens, and human and animal food crops. Fields have crop and grazing restrictions when applied with Class B. Bare soil applications in the US must be injected. It can be surface applied to growing crops.

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Class A - < 1,000 MPN per gram fecal coliform density of dry solids, and < 3 MPN Salmonella bacteria per 4 grams of dry solids.

Class B - < 2,000,000 MPN fecal coliform density per gram total solids

Canada has no national regulation. It depends on the province or territory. Some use the U.S. Part 503 Rule, while others write their own regulations. Scientists worldwide defer and refer to the EPA and the 503 Rule.

PERFECTLY SAFE Proponents of B.S. preach that using human manure as crop fertilizer is an ancient practice. True, but usually mixed with animal manure. Except in China. Somehow it’s no longer hazardous waste, unsafe in a landfill, but as safe today as it always has been. Opposed? You suffer from poop phobia.

Toxin contamination is abundant in sludge, but most of it is largely ignored. The risk is claimed insignificant to humans, and the environment. Many sludge toxins accumulate, especially the metals, which they say will take almost a century to build to harmful levels in soil. And then what?

UK literature reminisces on humanure being part of Britain’s 1930s war effort. Briefly. Before medicine and industry had tens of thousands of chemicals at their fingertips.

The US tests for 9 heavy metals, the UK tests for 7, and Canada is likely similarly regulated. Yet, there are actually 27 metals present.

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria... How did 45 million pounds of flour at General Mills get contaminated with E. coli? Not a trace was found in the plant that made the flour. Food recalls due to pathogen contamination are very common in the U.S, as is sludge crop fertilizer.

They do use heat, and add tons of lime to “stabilize” sludge. Maintaining pH at 12 for several days kills Salmonella, and reduces remaining pathogen load. Detectable levels of Salmonella survive at pH 11.

the 5 0 3 Ru le is bas e d on falsifie d “slud ge magic” s cience

Scientists in France discovered that even though sludge tests show no detectable Listeria, it multiplies over time - in storage and soil. A study in The Netherlands found that rainfall moved freshly applied sludge contaminants off crops, and across bare soil. They also found it could easily enter shallow groundwater, traveling great distances.

That in itself is certainly a red flag. As is its odor.

SOMETHING SMELLS

Dr. David L. Lewis, one time EPA microbiologist, was involved in the scientific testing of sludge that led up to the 503 Rule. He says that the stench during application is a sign of incredible toxicity.

Lewis was fired for going against the squelching of undesirable testing results within the EPA. He is also a credible defense witness in lawsuits over damages it causes on farms.

In 2014, Dr. Lewis published the details in his book, Science for Sale: How the US Government Uses Powerful Corporations and Leading Universities to Support Government Policies, Silence Top Scientists, Jeopardize Our Health, and Protect Corporate Profits.

Lewis reveals that the 503 Rule is based on falsified “sludge magic” science.

BEYOND MICROBES While Milorganite, and other sludge peddlers get away with marketing Class A biosolids as organic fertilizer to U.S. consumers - no organic farm would dream of using it. They would lose their USDA National Organic Program certification.

The same is true for UK and EU organic farms.

A lot of conventional European farmers have grave concerns over sludge. Switzerland has banned land application over fears of harming soil complexities, as has The Netherlands. France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Luxembourg farmers worry about the persistent PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and other organic contaminants.

There are farmers worldwide who grasp the importance of protecting their arable soil. It’s a priceless, finite resource.

Imagine the devastation to farms whose soil is one day deemed polluted with heavy metals, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or other non-removable contaminants.

Del Monte, Heinz, and Kraft Foods have no problem with GMOs, but they draw the line at biosolids. Not one of these food conglomerates will accept anything grown with sludge.

Promoting biosolids is extremely important at the EPA, and the USDA. The top sludge scientist at the USDA said in a 2009 trial deposition: “... any peer-reviewed scientific articles claiming that land application of biosolids poses a risk to public health or the environment must be false, because no scientists funded by the US government and other reputable institutions have documented adverse effects from biosolids since the 503 sludge rule was passed in 1993.”

But it did fail to pass scientific peer review in the EPA Office of Research & Development in 1992. Lewis wasn’t the only one to find dangers in land applications.

SPOT ON Years later, a judge in Georgia would find the “reputable institution” safety evidence from the University of Georgia in a 2008 farm contamination lawsuit “unreliable, incomplete, and in some cases “fudged”. The court found the damage to be acute.

Two years earlier, the court awarded another Georgia dairy farmer damages when 30% of his herd died from eating sludge fertilized hay. This was 10 times the “normal” rate.

An Associated Press investigation found that nerve-damaging heavy metal thalium in the herd’s milk was 120 times higher than the level allowed in drinking water.

The best quality sludge is also awash in neurotoxins, carcinogens, mutagens, PCBs, and dioxins. Some of the pathogens are drug-resistant. It kills many forms of wildlife in forestland applications.

A 2013 lab analysis of sludge compost sold to Georgia home gardeners in one county uncovered the presence of arsenic, mercury, lead, fluoride, and the antibiotic-resistant Stenotrophomonas pathogen. Billions of dollars are spent each year battling superbugs in the US. At least 23,000 cases result in death. More than one of this class of pathogen is found in wastewater and biosolids.

happening using biosolids as farm fertilizer and home garden composts.

Prion contamination is not degraded in wastewater treatment.

These virtually indestructible rogue proteins cause brain infections like Mad Cow Disease, and Cruetzfeld-Jakob Disease in humans. Yes, they’re still present in biosolids.

ORGANIC COMPOUNDS Imperial College London environmental specialist S. R. Smith published a paper on the problems with organic compound contaminants (OC) in sludge recycled on lands. Wherein he states that: “the UK, USA and Canada, have therefore argued that there is no technical justification for setting limits on OCs in sludge, on the basis that research has shown that the concentrations present are not hazardous to soil quality, human health or the environment.” In the next few sentences he describes the limitations imposed in Germany, France, and Denmark where their persistence is a problem. (Royal Society Publishing, 2008)

For farmland application, the EPA requires the primary anaerobic treatment and high heat. Heat does not kill all forms of bacteria. Especially superbugs, which are exposed to many different antibiotics in sewage.

Sewage sludge produced in different countries all have a consistent chemical composition. OC regulating is sure to emerge as a controversial aspect in revising safe sludge rules.

DANGER CATEGORIES

SOIL CONTAMINATION

Water Technology Engineering, a Yorkshire, UK sewage equipment company, lists 3 main categories of danger: hormones, prions, and toxins.

It is assumed that as long as it’s not sandy, soil ties up sludge contaminants. Surprise! Chemicals and pharmaceuticals in biosolids travel in approved soils. In a 2014 Colorado study, federal scientists found 57 emerging contaminants that are increasingly showing up in the environment had mobilized to a depth of 7-50 inches... 18 months after sludge application.

Hormone contamination from contraceptives was traced to high incidences of farm animal abnormalities at the University of Aberdeen in 2012. Synthetic birth control, alone or mixed with natural estrogen in human excrement, caused changes in mature sheep bone structure and the brain. It also affected the structure or function of reproductive systems. Further changes were found in the thyroid and adrenal glands of their unborn offspring, and later in the behavior of the lambs.

The sewage sheep study was done to investigate the impact of long-term exposure to low concentrations of chemical mixtures on animals and humans. And that’s exactly what’s

The highest concentration was the widely used antibacterial Triclosan at 156 ppb in 7-14” deep soil. The compound has been linked to thyroid hormone alteration, and estrogen issues in animal reproduction. They also found prescription blood thinners and anti-depressants.

The potential effects of traces of these compounds will have on humans or the environment could be devastating. The FDA now raises concerns that sludge is breeding antibiotic-resistant

bacteria. Movement in the soil indicates these pollutants are also making their way into groundwater and drainage systems.

One would think that these U.S. Geological Survey discoveries would prompt a speedy revision of the 503 Rule and regulation.

Yet, nothing has changed. Applications of the same old sludge increase annually.

DRUG MAGIC Wastewater treatment systems aren’t designed to remove thousands of contaminants. Last year in Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin researchers discovered that microbes used to clean the water in the secondary phase were actually making medicine from its degraded parts. It’s the only way that the cleaned water could test higher than the raw sewage.

Carbamazepine (anti-epileptic) rose 80%, and ofloxacin (antibiotic) by over 120%.

The head technologist at US wastewater facilities leader, Carollo Engineers, says wastewater treatment plants aren’t acting like pharmaceutical factories. The same thing could happen in the environment from effluent discharge. But is it, and at the same rate?

This isn’t a first. In 2008 at the Peterborough, Ontario plant carbamazepine doubled from raw content to cleaned water.

They passed off the event as error. The 2015 find can’t be explained away. It’s a strong study. Scientists found 48 of the 57 prescription drugs they were looking for.

“Cleaned water” is clear, but retains many such pollutants when returned to the local water source. Many common drugs are damaging, even lethal, to fish and aquatic life.

Still, there’s no urgency for upgrading treatment plants, says Benjamin Blair, the Milwaukee study’s lead author. There are no U.S. regulations for prescription drugs in water... or in soil.

earthworms in sludge-applied soils contained antibiotics, antibacterials, and other synthetic compounds. The concentrations were low. Harm to worms? Unknown. His bigger concern was what the contaminant accumulations mean to us humans at the top of the food chain.

WHAT REGULATION? Murray McBride, soil contaminant researcher at Cornell University, finds the sludge rules protecting people and the environment aren’t even remotely adequate. Indeed.

Ex-EPA scientist David Lewis tells Motherboard’s Peter Hess, “What the EPA regulates is negligible.” In fact, the EPA 2008 Sludge Survey revealed 92 pharmaceuticals, hormones, and steroids commonly present. The risks they present remain undetermined... 8 YEARS LATER. So, only detectable pathogens and 9 metals should be of concern, and those won’t accumulate to dangerous levels for about a century. Really? Then explain this...

A 2015 Arizona State University study found that one year’s sludge from cities with a population of 1 million contains up to $13 million dollars worth of metals - including $2.6 million in gold and silver. And the remaining $10.4 million? A significant amount of metals from all groups. One U.S. ton of sludge holds a minimum of $280... measuring only 13 more valuable metals.

BIG BROWN MARBLE The planet is just one giant dump? All these contaminants are accumulating, creating resistance, or new problems.

In water. In soil. In crops. In animals. In us. They’re not tied up, or insignificant.

Crops have trouble regulating them too - drugs have been found to cause hormone and nutrient imbalances in vegetable plants.

But unless the point source of contamination can be identified without question, Big Sludge will continue their magic carpet ride until the last flush.

Environmental chemist Chad Kinney at Colorado State University - Pueblo, did a study in 2012 that found the

Huge subject! Google deep to learn more. 3

Some Sources: • • • • • • • • • • • •

www.bit.ly/science--4-sale www.bit.ly/lewis-excerpt www.bit.ly/listeria-france www.bit.ly/seattle-sludge www.bit.ly/oc-controversy www.bit.ly/drugs-in-soil www.bit.ly/remaking-drugs www.bit.ly/poopy-idea www.bit.ly/golden-sludge www.bit.ly/gas-from-poo www.bit.ly/toxic-metals www.bit.ly/pipe-dreams

In the series “Light Matters”, Theo Tekstra discusses the different aspects to lighting, such as quantity, quality, efficacy, special applications, new developments, and the science behind it. In this third episode, we focus on space optimization.

How about if I tell you that you can get 25% more yield from your current lighting solution by just optimizing your space? Would you be interested in that? I bet you would! There are many growers who actually throw away 25% or more of their light. They put their plants in the most unfavorable positions in the room and waste expensive energy lighting the floor. Now this will not apply to every grower, but for many, it will.

Light Positions First, let’s look at how we light a room. Yes, how we light a room, not how we light plants. We do not light plants, we light a room! By putting the fixtures at specific positions in the room we create overlapping lights, enabling uniform lighting, and good horizontal crop penetration.

We cannot just put a light over a few plants, and expect optimal, uniform light. To create uniform light from one fixture, you would need a special reflector, and lose the advantage of the plant penetration from all sides by the overlapping lights. Most reflectors are designed to use in a larger lighting plan, so they would overlap to create uniform lighting.

reflector advice. He had been using them for about 4 years already, and was wondering if new reflectors would give him better efficiency. This is Joe’s current configuration:

Plant Positions I see a lot of people use 1.2 x 1.2m (4’ x 4’) trays straight under one lamp. They put a lamp over every tray, and create paths between for easy access. There are a couple of problems with that: 1. An HPS lamp does not have a square throw, but a rectangular throw. A 1000W HPS lamp does not light a 1.2 x 1.2m space. Please read my previous article to learn more about light spacing (available on the Garden Culture website).

2. The best possible lighting will occur just between the trays, where you have the overlapping light!

Joe Grow Let me introduce Joe Grow to you. He has been growing plants for many years, and has this nice, clean and tidy room for his crop. He works on rolling 1.2 x 1.2m (4’ x 4’) tables, and he gets excellent results. Joe contacted me for

The room is about 4 x 5m (13’ x 17’), the four 1.2 x 1.2m (4’ x 4’) tables are low. Above every table there is a 1000W lamp at a 0.9 m distance from the crop. The walls are painted white, the room height is about 2.75m (9’).

The green crosses in the above drawing represent the measuring grid, where my program calculates light levels.

So, let’s have a look where all that light is going in this room.

This is the light distribution in the room:

The average light intensity is just 495 µmol m-2 s-1. Still, most of the light goes to the table. So now, we zoom in on one table:

Now, I calculated this with NEW reflectors. Joe’s current reflectors are 4 years old, already become a bit worn and dull, and reflect about 7-10% less light. So, in reality this is a very positive estimation.

You see that a lot of light ends up between the tables.

However, as this comes in at an angle, much of it will still be intercepted by the plants on the tables. But look how much light is going to be lost around all those tables! The maximum intensity on the plants will be about 650 µmol m-2 s-1.

If we just look at the growing space, this is what you will get: There are a few interesting observations you can make: 1. The highest light level is NOT straight under the lamp, but where the two lights overlap.

2. At the outer side, light levels are much lower.

3. The uniformity is really bad (just 75%).

Obviously, this is not an optimal situation. Much light is lost.

Actually, I calculated that at least 30-40% of the light would never get intercepted by the plants, but lost on floors and walls.

A Better Configuration How do we optimize this? Joe really wanted access to his plants, of course. He liked the tables, and the fact that he could access the plants from all sides. Having this space in the room seemed like it would be an ideal way to grow. For grow comfort, it probably is. But for optimal yield, it isn’t.

I recommended that he should shield part of his room for growing. Based on his fixtures, I recommended a room size

So in the end, Joe Grow’s space would look like this:

of about 2.2 x 3.6m (7’ x 12’). I also calculated what would be the best position for his lights, about 10 cm (4”) higher than previously. This was the result:

Note that his grow space was about the same (4.6 m2, about 50 ft2), but his average light level increased to almost 900 µmol m-2 s-1! That is a huge increase in intensity, and because the light is also reflected from the walls, the outside of his crop will get light from the side as well. Note the scale on this calculation: each color only represents 20 µmol m-2 s-1 difference, which is really hard to even measure. Light uniformity is 94% (!) at 1m (3’4”) from the crop, on the complete crop. That is a huge improvement, and will certainly result in a much better yield.

Lessons Learned

So, in that space, by just putting in a few faux walls with reflective foil (I recommended Orca all around as this reflects more than 10% better than his white walls), the light levels increased dramatically. As he wanted some space to get access to his plants, I recommended that he build a few plateaus on wheels, or two rolling benches, so he could create a path between his plants for access. About 60 cm (2’) would be enough for access on all sides, and the walls could just be some hanging foil to reflect the light. It needn’t be a fixed ceiling to floor wall. That way he could easily roll it up and have all the access that he wanted. It also helps with the ventilation to not completely enclose the grow space.

So what do we learn from this?

1. We do not light plants, we light rooms.

2. Positioning of your lights is most important for good light levels, and optimal uniformity.

3. Do not over-size your room, as this leads to a lot of light loss, and a waste of valuable energy. All light on the floor is wasted.

4. A 1000W HPS light does not light a 1.2 x 1.2m (4’x4’) or 1.5 x 1.5m (5’x5’) space. It is much more rectangular, and the lights need to overlap for optimal crop penetration and uniformity.

5. Always position your plants in the centre of the room, as near the walls the uniformity and light levels will be less. That also enables the light to penetrate your plants from the side by reflection off your walls. 3

Jelle de Graaf, designer and sculptor, transforms old plastic bottles into extraordinary creaturesâ&#x20AC;Ś Which inspired Dutchpro to give a second life to those green bottles, and commissioned de Graaf to let his imagination run wild.

One creation was featured at the Autopot Summer Festival, greeting everyone as they walked on site.

Others can be found in public spacesâ&#x20AC;Ś if you know where to look! jellemartijndegraaf.nl

Innovators, not imitators Introducing the all new HydroCoco 80/20 Mix...

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Grow Slab

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