John
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 836
NorthEast PA--Zone 5
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« on: October 28, 2009, 01:58:24 PM » |
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This year, the Education Dept. at EarthBox planted and maintained a garden of 120 EarthBoxes in our parking lot. Set up on pavement, the EarthBox watering system proved to be worth its weight in gold!! From Arugula to baby Watermellon, Earthbox employees went home with an abundance of veggies, not to mention numerous trips to our local soup kitchen! "Being an unseasonably cool season here in the Northeast corner of PA, our garden thrived being on the dark pavement which reflected some heat and thus produced better crops than any inground garden in our area did."
The Education Dept at EarthBox offers educational and group facilities including non-profits special quantity discounts. We offer a series of corresponding, age-specific, standards-based curricula so teachers can use the Earthbox as an educational tool in the classroom teaching about soil, light, water, horticulture and sustainability in a group setting. Our popular "Youth Garden Guide" provides 17 practical activities focused on planting, nurturing and harvesting 21 healthy crops, while learning their nutritional value, collecting science-based data, and marketing and selling garden products; it's a popular guide with after school programs!
Here is a week-by-week preview of the garden!
WEEKS 1-4
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« Last Edit: July 23, 2010, 10:28:07 AM by John »
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"Life by the 'yard' is hard; but, by the 'inch' it's a cinch!"
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John
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 836
NorthEast PA--Zone 5
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« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2009, 02:05:02 PM » |
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WEEKS 5-8  |
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« Last Edit: October 28, 2009, 02:07:38 PM by John »
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"Life by the 'yard' is hard; but, by the 'inch' it's a cinch!"
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John
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 836
NorthEast PA--Zone 5
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« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2009, 02:08:10 PM » |
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WEEKS 9-12  |
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"Life by the 'yard' is hard; but, by the 'inch' it's a cinch!"
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John
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 836
NorthEast PA--Zone 5
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« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2009, 02:11:09 PM » |
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WEEK 13 -14  Unfortunately our season is starting to decline. You can see on the right our tomatoes are about finished. It is now week 16 and we are still harvesting some herbs, cabbage and lettuce..........Oh well, until next year! |
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« Last Edit: October 28, 2009, 02:12:51 PM by John »
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"Life by the 'yard' is hard; but, by the 'inch' it's a cinch!"
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tag
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« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2009, 02:14:13 PM » |
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Sweet setup! Lots of yummy goodness. How did you set up the AWS? I see no tubing running to your boxes. |
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"I've never met a plant that committed suicide," "There's always a reason for everything." Blake Whisenant
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John
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 836
NorthEast PA--Zone 5
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« Reply #5 on: October 28, 2009, 03:03:51 PM » |
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Hi tag, Our EarthBox Watering System was hooked up after the planting. The tubing was placed along the perimeter of the garden for those boxes. A line was run down the middle row which branched to those boxes. One regulator (which drops the psi) was used to water about 40 EarthBoxes set-up on level ground. One sensor is used per Box, this sensor shuts the water drip off when the reservoir is filled. NOT ONE DROP OF WATER WASTED! |
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"Life by the 'yard' is hard; but, by the 'inch' it's a cinch!"
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LavendulaFleur
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« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2009, 11:09:04 PM » |
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John, Seeing all those EBs is so inspiring and impressive. Really nice! WHOA!  |
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JD
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« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2009, 12:24:49 PM » |
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John,
Outstanding.
Are those herbs growing along the left side? Is that basil in the front left and in the middle of the middle row (Week 14)? Sage in that front left position (Week 13)? Ah, thus the need for just a single bar of the staking system. I have more questions but here are the final two: 1) Were the flowers grown to attract pollinators and if so, what flowers were grown? and 2) What are the circular manicured looking 'bushes' growing towards the back of the middle row (Week 12)?
Subconsciously speaking: "Honey! We need to start saving for a parking lot - 10 car minimum....Yes, New York spacing is fine with me"
JD
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The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one.
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John
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 836
NorthEast PA--Zone 5
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« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2009, 01:44:50 PM » |
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Thanks....
JD you are correct; basil in front left and brussels sprouts in the upper middle row. The petunias in the middle front were grown for our displays at various garden shows. I didn't specifically or intentionally grow flowers to attract pollinators; the variety of herbs, flowers and vegetables combined did the job well!
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"Life by the 'yard' is hard; but, by the 'inch' it's a cinch!"
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weedbreeder
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« Reply #9 on: October 29, 2009, 06:45:04 PM » |
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Very impressive! What week was week #1?
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John
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 836
NorthEast PA--Zone 5
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« Reply #10 on: November 06, 2009, 08:51:04 AM » |
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Everyone...Thanks so much for the compliments! I was very excited about the project. If I have my way, our local soup kitchen here in Scranton, PA will benefit even more next year! weedbreeder, Week #1 was the first week of June (2009); that is our official planting time for warm-season crops here in NEPA |
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"Life by the 'yard' is hard; but, by the 'inch' it's a cinch!"
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kathy
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 2137
in the mountains of PA Zone 5, almost 4
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« Reply #11 on: November 12, 2009, 04:22:02 PM » |
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I have but one comment John, I sure hope the customer advocates, the marketing dept and the production staff...don't come after you with their garden trowels and other weapons....you didn't give them any credit for all their hardwork, in the initial set up and planting. But kudos to you John for all your hardwork and diligent maintenance! You did an outstanding job, and the veggies were delectable.
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kath, gardening is my game, EarthBox is my fame
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John
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 836
NorthEast PA--Zone 5
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« Reply #12 on: November 19, 2009, 08:26:15 AM » |
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A small affordable greenhouse is possible in an EarthBox community / parking lot garden.
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"Life by the 'yard' is hard; but, by the 'inch' it's a cinch!"
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tag
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« Reply #13 on: November 19, 2009, 10:26:50 AM » |
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I like that greenhouse. Looks like you could put 6 or 8 EB's in there. Out of my price range I'm sure.
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"I've never met a plant that committed suicide," "There's always a reason for everything." Blake Whisenant
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