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 sustainable-pest-management-in-greenhouses-and-high-tunnels Sustainable Pest Management in Greenhouses and High Tunnels Growers using greenhouses in which temperature, light and relative humidity are controlled have relied for many years on releases of natural enemies to manage aphids, thrips and two-spotted spider mites. However, many of the natural enemies used to manage these pests in heated structures are too sensitive to swings in air temperature and relative humidity […]
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 success-basics-in-high-tunnel-production-three-maryland-case-studies Success Basics in High Tunnel Production: Three Maryland Case Studies This three-year, SARE-funded study based in the Mid-Atlantic region involved five innovative farmers in building high tunnels to investigate best practices in high-tunnel construction, tomato production and factors influencing profitability. Project coordinators used a case study approach, hiring technicians to help construct, and produce in, the high tunnels. The technicians then observed how the different […]
www.sare.org resources on-farm-fertigation-trials-in-kansas-city-area-organic-high-tunnels On-Farm Fertigation Trials in Kansas City-Area Organic High Tunnels Five certified organic farms in the Kansas City area did one-year comparisons of the use of compost, fertigation and foliar feeding on high tunnel tomatoes, with respect to quantity and quality of yields. The fertilization treatments they tested included foliar feeding and fertigation with fish emulsion, and chicken-litter compost. Each farm developed its own comparison, […]
www.sare.org resources organic-heirloom-tomato-production-in-high-tunnel-and-open-field-systems Organic Heirloom Tomato Production in High Tunnel and Open Field Systems Organic heirloom tomatoes are a high-value product with a growing demand but there are many challenges to successful cultivation. High tunnel systems may help farmers supply a growing regional market for high-value horticultural crops and take advantage of the lengthy, sub-tropical growing season (USDA hardiness zone 7b-8a) in eastern North Carolina. For this reason, a […]
www.sare.org resources developing-an-energy-efficient-solar-heated-greenhouse-in-maryland Developing an Energy Efficient, Solar-Heated Greenhouse in Maryland The lack of year-round availability of locally grown food and food processing infrastructure are the greatest barriers to increasing the consumption of local food in western Maryland. If an economical, year-round or extended food production system could be developed, it would lead to increased demand for locally produced food, which in turn would foster the […]
www.sare.org resources new-york-farmer-uses-hanging-gutters-to-utilize-overhead-space-in-hoop-house New York Farmer Uses Hanging Gutters to Utilize Overhead Space in Hoop House This project looked at increasing the productivity and cost effectiveness of growing more crops in a hoop house by utilizing the overhead space. Farmer Kurt Forman, of Palmyra, N.Y., and Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Specialist Robert Hadad looked at using a hanging gutter system to raise selected crops over the existing in-ground crops. They looked […]