Hello everyone,

Although I have already submitted one post to the challenge blog I really like this title format. I've seen a couple of other challengers use it and it looks very good to me. My first post was simply a design overview with not much to it. Now I'll start my official challenge blog. I am also busy starting a technology blog/aggregator site called Tech You Say. So I'm looking forward to getting a good bit of practice here, as I have never really "blogged" before. I guess you could say I'm a blogging virgin if you will. So, any suggestions on structure or style are more than welcome.

A little bit about how I intend to approach the blogging aspect of the challenge... I would like to provide more than just a constant stream of what I'm doing for the challenge. I will certainly cover that, but I'm also going to tr and provide some additional content I feel is relevant to the challenge and may help other challengers. As well as some fun, but relevant, content I find based on my design research. There are a huge numbers of innovative soil and soil-less farming methods being explored today. Some of them are absolutely fascinating. And many of them I had no idea existed until I started doing research for this challenge. Some incorporate vertical farming styles and other's not so much. I think it's all very interesting and worth taking a look at as we go forward with this challenge.

That said, I intend to break my blog posts down in sections as follows.

Section 1 : Recap - This section will contain content relevant to the previous blog(s). It will address mainly any ongoing unresolved issues with the project. As well as issues that have been resolved and the solutions implemented.

Section 2 : New Business - This section will contain progress reports on work completed since the last blog post. This can be actual physical build information or information on any new documentation that's been generated. Physical work will be accompanied by images and documentation work will be provided as attachments to the blog post.

Section 3 : The Stormy Brain - This will likely be the most unintelligible section of my blog posts. It is generally understood that I'm about half crazy and suffer from some pretty serious AADDHD. This tends to lead to myriad tangential ramblings any of which may or may not be relevant. To anything. So venture into the storm forewarned and at your own risk.

Section 4 : The New Farm Almanac - This section will be chock full of all things "New Farming Methods" related. Anything cultivation related that doesn't involve a tractor or a plowshare is likely to show up here. I am no expert on farming or cultivation, so I'm here for the big learn. Even though I live in a rural setting with farming and cattle ranching all around me I've always been more drawn to geekdom. So that's where I have resided for most of 57 years. Now I intend to marry the two every possible way I can. Life is not getting any less expensive and food is an absolute must. So, maybe I can come up with some solutions that will help feed the planet in the coming decades. Or maybe I'll simply do my part to become less of a burden on the systems already in place. Either way, I'm trying. And that's the first thing we all can do.

With that out of the way, let's get started!

Stacked Container Hydroponics for Vertical Farming : Blog 1

Section 1 : Recap

Not much to report here since this the first official blog. However, all of my design documentation so far has referenced Styrofoam planting containers. I'm not sure these will actually be used in the implementation. They do serve the purpose but because of their basic shape they seem to yield a relatively small growing area for each container. And they are pretty deep. The dimensions being 9.25" square by 8.5 inches deep. As I look at them it seems there will be a lot of wasted space and it may make grow medium management a problem. So, I have located another candidate to use as planting containers. These are designed specifically for the purpose at hand and can be acquired for around the same cost. I have included pictures of each below. Any thoughts or suggestions on this matter? The image on the left is a small set of the Styrofoam containers. The next two images are top and side views of the preferred container.

Section 2 : New Business

As for new business, I decided to delve into the world of graphic arts and documentation, neither of which am I in any way shape or form proficient. So BE NICE! I have started a detailed design document. In which, I am attempting to create something anyone could use to implement my design. That said...

On the cultivation side of things

Drawings are not to scale and include no dimensions. The basic dimensions should be somewhat obvious as they relate to the chosen planting containers.And the documentation is my best try at describing the various pieces and assemblies required to build what I call a Complete Cultivator Unit. I am considering this piece of the document completed as of now and will begin on the automation detailed design section next. Hopefully, that will be completed enough to include in my next blog. A .pdf file containing the work to date is attached to this blog post. Please feel free to peruse and make any suggestions you deem pertinent.

On the automation side of things...

Well, I have managed to download and successfully install SimplicityStudio. I have also downloaded all the pertinent documentation for each device included in the challenge kit.

SimplicityStudio is Silicon Labs development platform configurator and IDE. So far so good. it's based on some flavor of Eclipse, which I have a good bit of experience with. The plugins and extensions SL has added work quite well and I was able to open and successfully build several of the EZ32 example applications. Everything went quite smoothly I must say. I can't wait to get my hands on the devices themselves and see how the programmer and debugger work. They include a basic transmit, SLWSTK6222A_ezradio_direct_tx,  and receive, SLWSTK6222A_ezradio_direct_rx, examples. These are the example applications I will use start my development. I have not done any work in the detailed design document concerning automation.

Section 3 : The Stormy Brain

Ah the musings of a stormy brain. This section is always going to be hit or miss. I include it because sometimes, I do honestly come up with what I believe to be a good idea. Just out of thin air. The operative phrase being "I believe". And then sometimes it's a vast barren wasteland up there. Barely usable to keep a hat off the ground. Not a lot going on topside this time but one thought. Here's my basic philosophy on life... What if first, we all took the absolute best care of ourselves that we could. And then we all took the best care we could of those with which we are immediately contact. If everyone did this, everyone would be taken care of. Sounds simple don't it?

Section 4 : The New Farm Almanac

Ok, There's just so much great stuff out there concerning new farming and gardening methods. This will mostly be links to sites and videos I've found along the way while doing research. Or links that friends have found and sent to me. I have several great video links for this post. Only one of the three videos addresses vertical farming specifically. But what everyone of these folks has achieved, I believe, is absolutely remarkable.

Video 1. - Vertical farming: 60 sq meters producing 2000kg fodder a week

We have three horses and this video interests me to no end. I honestly believe I could make a go of making this idea profitable where i live. The cost of feed and hay does nothing but climb around here. And if we hit an off season the cost of hay can go through the roof. This is definitely a vertical farming video. But it relates to feeding your animals instead of your humans. So I guess it's related to feed your humans as well, just indirectly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5i7zn0zt5U

Video 2. - 3 Boys Farm, Award-winning Organic & Hydroponic Vegetable Growers

This video is not related to vertical farming but what this guy has achieved is absolutely amazing. I believe there are ideas we could surely all use. I had no idea something like this existed in FL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnRpv4rlClg

Video 2. - 1 MILLION pounds of Food on 3 acres. 10,000 fish 500 yards compost

Again, not related to vertical farming but just an incredible example of the power of aquaponics, a little know how an a whole lotta motivation. Just an amazing person.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV9CCxdkOng

Well, that should just about wrap it up for this post. Hope all, or at least some of you enjoy this format and the content. Don't forget to take a look at the attached .pdf version of my detailed design document. Sorry for some of the wonky formatting. This HTML editor is pretty unpredictable. Most of them are.

Cheers, good luck on the challenge and happy farming! 

Rick

Attachments:

Detailed Design Document 1.pdf