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 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 comparing-four-ultra-low-cost-season-extension-structures-on-a-missouri-farm Comparing Four Ultra-Low-Cost Season Extension Structures on a Missouri Farm Wintergreen Farm is a family operation on 5 acres, with about 2 acres in vegetable production. The Grabners use unheated hoophouses, large coldframes and small high tunnels to grow cool-season greens and vegetables throughout the fall, winter and spring. They have grown more than 30 cool-season crops, including greens, root crops, herbs and others. A […]
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 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 […]
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 constructing-a-high-tunnel Constructing a High Tunnel This Rutgers University website features detailed information on high tunnel construction and use, including site selection, design, cost, crop rotation and a list of additional resources.
www.sare.org resources organic-broccoli-production-manual Organic Broccoli Production Manual Each summer, the Twin Cities experiences a shortage of locally grown, organic broccoli. So a team of local, organically-certified farmers worked to scale up organic broccoli production to meet the needs of wholesale accounts in the region. This guide provides steps that the Twin Cities farmers took in an attempt to scale up organic broccoli […]
www.sare.org resources constructing-a-low-cost-high-tunnel Constructing a Low-Cost High Tunnel This fact sheet by Utah State University Cooperative Extension includes specs, diagrams, photos and key considerations when constructing a high tunnel.
www.sare.org resources tomato-grafting-for-disease-resistance-and-increased-productivity Tomato Grafting for Disease Resistance and Increased Productivity Researchers around the world have demonstrated that grafting can protect plants against a variety of soil-borne diseases in various climates and conditions. Grafting has been successfully implemented in many countries to battle diseases such as Verticillium and Fusarium wilt, corky root rot and bacterial wilt, among others. Along with maintaining high fruit quality, tomato grafting […]
www.sare.org resources design-and-construction-of-a-high-tunnel-in-west-virginia Design and Construction of a High Tunnel in West Virginia This fact sheet from West Virginia University Extension describes details of high tunnel design and construction, with specific considerations for West Virginia.
www.sare.org resources greenhouse-energy-conservation-strategies-and-alternative-fuels Greenhouse Energy Conservation Strategies and Alternative Fuels Includes curriculum materials, extension bulletins, resource lists, and a greenhouse energy model that were developed with the intention that educators can use the materials in full or part to deliver programming on energy management and conservation for greenhouse production. Presentations were developed with the assistance of an NCR-SARE Professional Development grant for the education of […]
www.sare.org resources thermal-banking-greenhouses Thermal Banking Greenhouses At Minnesota’s latitude, farmers who can extend their growing season have a distinct advantage in the marketplace: By offering a product outside the “normal” growing season, they can often receive a higher price. That’s what Steven Schwen (Earthen Path Organic Farm) has done with his greenhouse, starting earlier in the year with seedlings of warm-season […]
www.sare.org resources thermal-banking-for-cold-storage Thermal Banking for Cold Storage The thermal banking technology that Steven Schwen uses in his innovative greenhouse (see Sustainable Energy: Thermal Banking Greenhouse Design) applies not only to conservation of heat, but to cold storage and refrigeration. In this short companion video, Schwen discusses his plans for an ice house at his farm in Minnesota, and how this project is […]