Futuristic Farming

These vertical farming  designs are one thing I think of when I think industrial organic. For this climate we would  need a sprawling Frank Lloyd Wright type of design, with greenhouses in rotation. If they can grow pineapples at Heligan...
The same principle applied  on a smaller scale for the backyard gardener, and community gardens? Imagine the LU Garden taller than the Hangar.
Oddly, I didn't see any of this sort of thing in the scenes of Firefly.

Further Reading:
The Vertical Farm:
Reducing the impact of agriculture on ecosystem functions and services

An essay by Dickson Despommier
Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Mailman School of Public Health
Columbia University
60 Haven Ave, rm. 100
New York, New York 10032
ddd1@columbia.edu

the ram pump and some Google Earth images

The gardens of Heligan inspired me to want a hydraulic RAM PUMP for the FSRN garden. The Conservation Authority replied and said there is nothing preventing us from pumping water from the McIntyre River for our garden project. I have sent a proposal to engineering - there's a student project opportunity here.

Of all the possible resources for water near our garden site, the river makes most sense. I would still like to prospose something to administration about a grey water system out of the Fieldhouse (especially considering the upcoming renovations to the pool); but the ram would be a great example to communities wanting to learn - easily implemented, simple design, everyone wins.

There are three huge piles of delicious soil and manure on site. Were it not under a downpour I would have climbed it.
The fencing is in, thanks to Connie - now ...to install it. No buttons! ;)

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

I'm currently lost in the gardens of Heligan, thanks to another book my mother gave me:
Smit, Tim. The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Orion, London 1997. 978-0575402454

I encourage everyone to look up this garden restoration. In Cornwall county, UK, the Heligan estate, home to the Tremayne family for many generation, fell in to ruin with the onset of WWI. Generations of gardeners from thisfamily and the area contributed to this masterpiece over hundreds of years.
Tim Smit writes a well told story of his role. His passion for his project is evident in his language. I love this book.


Next, I have in my hand here - a *murder mystery* set in the Lost Gardens of Heligan. :D