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Open Source Farming Robot

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Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#211

Post by bobiny »

bluGill wrote: post #203
0xffff2 wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Because it destories the root structure built up in the ground over the years. Those roots then break down quickly, and in turn the whole microbe profile is different. Sometimes tilling is still the best thing to do, but it isn't a good thing and should be avoided. Does this still apply when talking about farming? I just started growing food this year, but once I've harvested the first crop and am planting the secon…

It applies to farming in general. You really need to consult an agronomist for better answers (which can be very specific/different depending on which part of a field you are asking about ) I was hoping you would notice the exercise connection. I don't have answers to that, just an interesting consideration.

"Exercise is bunk. If you are healthy, you don't need it: if you are sick you should not take it." Henry Ford

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#212

Post by toofy »

0xffff2 wrote: post #180
bluGill wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it destories the root structure built up in the ground over the years. Those roots then break down quickly, and in turn the whole microbe profile is different. Sometimes tilling is still the best thing to do, but it isn't a good thing and should be avoided. On a different note, tilling also costs large amounts of energy. The less tilling your do, the less CO2 you are putting into the atmosphere (even if you d…

>Because it destories the root structure built up in the ground over the years. Those roots then break down quickly, and in turn the whole microbe profile is different. Sometimes tilling is still the best thing to do, but it isn't a good thing and should be avoided. Does this still apply when talking about farming? I just started growing food this year, but once I've harvested the first crop and am planting the secon…

> Does this still apply when talking about farming?

I think many farmers have moved towards using various types of something called “cover crops” rather than tilling. These cover crops have different impacts depending on which are used: some have incredibly prolific rooting systems that dig deep and break up the soil on their own; some pull nutrients from deep in the soil and grow massive green above ground so farmers let these grow to pre-seed levels and then plow it over, and leave it so it decomposes and re-releases those same nutrients to the surface, and also draws all the micro biome critters in which then fertilize the soil even more; some plants fix nitrogen levels and some bloom various types of flowers which pull in pollinators. Some do a premise mix of multiple types of cover crops.

I think tilling is still done sometimes but it’s only for certain situations but is avoided most of the time these days.

I just got into gardening a few years ago, so I’m still learning most of this as I go along, but from what i’ve read, tilling is phased out except for certain situations.

I can say with absolute certainty that by my third year of working on soil, my gardens soil absolutely does not need tilling at all, it’s fluffy and soft for at least two feet down with plenty of life in there. But much of the surrounding area is pretty clay tough. Honestly it was super easy, just needed like a season of building the soil properly.

Another Ive noticed is, many of our home/hobby gardening techniques which our parents generation adopted were really only useful for enormous factory level farms and were actually not good for small or home gardens. These two situations need entirely different things but marketing and such over the years really steered that generation into doing a lot of the wrong things.

I don’t know your situation, tilling may be the best option for you, but it also may be to just dump a bunch of compost on top, let it settle, then plant some rooting cover crops and let it do it’s thing for a couple months. The latter may be much much healthier for your soil.

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#213

Post by bobiny »

0xffff2 wrote: post #180
bluGill wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it destories the root structure built up in the ground over the years. Those roots then break down quickly, and in turn the whole microbe profile is different. Sometimes tilling is still the best thing to do, but it isn't a good thing and should be avoided. On a different note, tilling also costs large amounts of energy. The less tilling your do, the less CO2 you are putting into the atmosphere (even if you d…

>Because it destories the root structure built up in the ground over the years. Those roots then break down quickly, and in turn the whole microbe profile is different. Sometimes tilling is still the best thing to do, but it isn't a good thing and should be avoided. Does this still apply when talking about farming? I just started growing food this year, but once I've harvested the first crop and am planting the secon…

I guess it depends on a plant, but it's not only about roots. Top layer of soil has highest concentration of organic matter and it builds up over time when plants and possibly animal excrements decompose. By tiling you kill fertility a bit, that's why most farms have to use fertilisers.

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#214

Post by bobiny »

0xffff2 wrote: post #180
bluGill wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it destories the root structure built up in the ground over the years. Those roots then break down quickly, and in turn the whole microbe profile is different. Sometimes tilling is still the best thing to do, but it isn't a good thing and should be avoided. On a different note, tilling also costs large amounts of energy. The less tilling your do, the less CO2 you are putting into the atmosphere (even if you d…

>Because it destories the root structure built up in the ground over the years. Those roots then break down quickly, and in turn the whole microbe profile is different. Sometimes tilling is still the best thing to do, but it isn't a good thing and should be avoided. Does this still apply when talking about farming? I just started growing food this year, but once I've harvested the first crop and am planting the secon…

I guess it depends on a plant, but it's not only about roots. Top layer of soil has highest concentration of organic matter and it builds up over time when plants and possibly animal excrements decompose. By tiling you kill fertility a bit, that's why most farms have to use fertilizers.

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#216

Post by elmolino89 »

afrodc_ wrote: post #156
lwb wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Texas checking in -- the dirt in my backyard is full of clay and totally unsuitable for growing anything other than grass and weeds. Many places are like this.

Finally got a home and am finding the same thing here in central Texas. At least with the crap soil the builders use to form the land around the foundation. My plan is to attempt to grow more deep rooted plants so their roots can break up the soil and die off when I trim them. Then aeration and topsoil composting. Still a work in progress so I have no idea if it'll work.

The clay soil usually has a low organic matter content. So bringing mulch, grass clippings etc. does improve several key factors for the plants to thrive. The problem with putting a layer of rotting grass/weeds on the top is that at least in some locations it will make a perfect slug/snail farm. So I prefer to burry it in shallow pits/trenches. Also probably any preferably dense plant cover protects the top layer from being backed by the sun and becoming brick-like.

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#217

Post by gtyras2mrs »

xgulfie wrote: post #198
ducttapecrown wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This solves the practical problem of having a single robot that can plant, weed and water a raised bed. Looking through their twitter posts linked on the website, they've good a bunch of happy users .

"having a robot" is not a problem statement

> "having a robot" is not a problem statement

It is if what you want is a robot.

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#218

Post by WJW »

bobiny wrote: post #99
WJW wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it? The current construction severely limits the scale at which it could operate, so it will run out of work to do pretty quickly. That means it'll be idle most of the time. If you have a similar complexity robot but mobile, it could be trucking around a much larger field.

I don't think it's a problem to make this robot wider and longer if there will be demand

The problem with this type of robot is that it doesn't scale that well price-wise compared to a mobile type. You'll need longer rails on the sides and the gantry will start sagging after a certain length. Meanwhile something on wheels or tracks has a slightly higher initial investment but has almost zero extra cost for driving a little bit further.

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#219

Post by ratsforhorses »

bobiny wrote: post #172
TaylorAlexander wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This! I started bookmarking community gardens in Oakland. There’s quite a few and I hope more space can be allocated for them in the future!

My dream is to make gardens under geodesic domes. In UK there is Eden project with 2 domes: one has mediterranean climate and another tropical. Imagine being able to grow mangoes and pineapples almost anywhere (it maybe too expensive in some climates, but maybe just growing strawberries there would be nice). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWr67v620kY

On a side note, check out forest gardening, namely "Plants for a future" is an excellent reference/book pfaf.orgyou, the author whom I had the luck to meet had a "huge" garden nearby in Cornwall

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#220

Post by ratsforhorses »

afrodc_ wrote: post #202
gbrown wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It disrupts the fungal life and dries it out, while also increasing erosion and weed pressure. It’s not that you can’t ever till, but it’s generally to be avoided. In the case of clay, deep mulch will do wonders, and the earthworms will gently improve the soil over time.

I'm not sure if you know, but is there a way to promote earthworms in my soil? It's pretty compacted after the build and apparently they don't like that, so I'm trying to aerate and let my grass grow longer to break up what it can before I trim and let the roots die. For the garden I'm also planning on planting plants with deep roots, like sunflowers, to improve the soil.

Maybe try making something like a "broadfork" https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadfork

Also, try asking a coffee shop for leftover ground and sprinkle it around...

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