www.sare.org resources best-practices-for-the-sustainable-urban-farm Best Practices for the Sustainable Urban Farm For decades, urban farms and community gardens have helped meet the demand for fresh, local produce. Urban farms are diverse and adaptable, ranging from small farms on repurposed vacant lots to multilevel vertical farms and rooftop gardens. Often, they combine ecological farming practices with some form of infrastructure. Urban growers make clever use of their […]
www.sare.org resources sustainable-production-and-use-of-on-farm-energy Sustainable Production and Use of On-Farm Energy High and fluctuating energy costs have caused economic challenges for many of the country’s farmers and ranchers. For this reason, more producers are seeking alternative energy sources to improve their energy independence and revenue. Vermont farmer Roger Rainville, for example, learned to produce biodiesel for under $2 per gallon. His savings and profit margin will […]
www.sare.org resources high-tunnel-growing-is-it-right-for-me High Tunnel Growing: Is it Right for Me? This 17-page project report provides information and data to help farmers evaluate whether high-tunnel growing is right for season extension and potential increased profit. The guide includes farmer profiles, a self-assessment worksheet, market data, research and findings from the Mid-Ohio Valley in West Virginia.
www.sare.org resources high-tunnels-and-other-season-extension-techniques High Tunnels and Other Season Extension Techniques A condensed version of the content on this page is available as a PDF download, High Tunnels and other Season Extension Techniques. Or use the Order button on this page to order free hard copies. This page was created to provide information for producers and educators interested in generating more income by extending the growing season. […]
www.sare.org resources organic-winter-production-scheduling-in-unheated-high-tunnels-in-colorado Organic Winter Production Scheduling in Unheated High Tunnels in Colorado Colorado State University researchers and five collaborating farmers explored winter production scheduling for hardy organic vegetable crops in unheated high tunnels. The objective was to establish optimal timing for the greatest yield of marketable produce during the winter and early spring. The participating farms represent a diversity of climatic regions around Colorado, ranging in altitudes […]
www.sare.org resources grafting-for-disease-management-in-organic-tomato-production Grafting for Disease Management in Organic Tomato Production Come learn about tomato grafting and how it can be utilized to manage diseases in organic open-field and high tunnel systems. Frank Louws of North Carolina State University and Cary Rivard of Kansas State University will provide information regarding rootstock selection as well as the grafting procedure itself. The webinar will be recorded and will […]
www.sare.org resources how-to-graft-greenhouse-tomatoes How to Graft Greenhouse Tomatoes This 20-minute video, produced by the University of Vermont Extension, features farmer Mike Collins taking viewers through each step of the grafting process. Grafting with the rootstock of varieties that have strong resistance to soil-borne disease can improve yields.
www.sare.org resources rainwater-catchment-from-a-high-tunnel-for-irrigation-use Rainwater Catchment from a High Tunnel for Irrigation Use This Iowa State University Extension video describes how to build a system to catch, store and reuse the rainwater for irrigation in a high tunnel. The cost of installing rain gutters, rainwater storage tanks, and an electric pump is estimated at $1,200. A solar-powered pumping system will add approximately $700 to that cost. An associated […]
www.sare.org resources moving-nursery-producers-toward-sustainable-practices-fact-sheets Moving Nursery Producers Toward Sustainable Practices Fact Sheets In recent years, there has been increased interest in sustainable production practices among nursery producers, primarily for economic reasons. Conventional nursery production relies heavily on the use of plastic containers, chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and imported substrate (“potting soil”) components. These fact sheets and handouts were developed by a team lead by University of Florida […]
www.sare.org resources kansas-state-high-tunnel-video-series Kansas State High Tunnel Video Series A high tunnel is a freestanding or gutter-connected covered structure used for crop production. This high tunnel video series features Cary Rivard, Kansas State Research and Extension fruit and vegetable specialist, and was produced by Kansas SARE coordinator Kerri Ebert. This high tunnel series includes videos on the following topics: High Tunnel Overview | Designing a High Tunnel […]