Open Source Farming Robot • Hacker News Board

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#231

Post by bluGill » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 6:50 PM UTC

daddylongstroke wrote: post #226

bluGill wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is e-coli (and a few similar things). Animal poop is full of it, and we don't want that in our food supply. Machines don't leave e-coli behind to contaminate our food like biological organisms do. (hint wash your fresh food!)

Hmmmm. Let me start by saying that I've been eating unwashed fresh food (plant and animal both) since I was crawling (as have most of my friends and family members) without any incidence of health issues. In fact, one of the things I couldn't understand after I moved from Poland to the US, is how come all of the American kids have routine gut and intestinal issues. Specifically, what is a "stomach flu" that these kid…

I don't know about Poland, but France has about ten times the food poising cases per year vs the US. That figure is total, but per capita. Most of the time e-coli isn't a big deal, but it can be.

I agree oil from machines isn't something you want either.

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#232

Post by bobiny » Sun, Jun 27, 2021, 1:07 PM UTC

WJW wrote: post #218

bobiny wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I see, thank you for explaining. Wheeled robot would take more space between plants and how would it carry a water hose without damaging plants?

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#233

Post by bobiny » Sun, Jun 27, 2021, 1:09 PM UTC

toofy wrote: post #210

commandlinefan wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In that case, you're better off just buying your produce at the grocery store.

i mean, how many hobbies can you say that about? most of them i imagine. hobbies are about tinkering and learning. we usually put far more in financially then we get returned financially. hobbies are expensive.

Like home made beer. Unless stuff at the store is really bad and/or super expensive. But in terms of gardening I'd bet on hydroponics.

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#234

Post by afrodc_ » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 10:07 PM UTC

gbrown wrote: post #227

afrodc_ wrote: post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems to be the case I'll have to play the long game. They bring in this disgusting but shapeable soil to surround the foundation out here in central Texas. I remember growing up finding earthworms and fishing all the time, so they should be native.

> should be native. The word you’re looking for is “naturalized”. Not native, but they’re already there, so...

Hm why do you make the distinction? Is the implication that the earthworms were brought in at some point or does native not work as a word in this context?

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#235

Post by afrodc_ » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 10:10 PM UTC

ratsforhorses wrote: post #220

afrodc_ wrote: post #202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

This broadfork is interesting. I have a garden fork that could probably serve the same purpose. I'll give it a shot.

Also thanks for the recommendation of using coffee grounds. I have a couple local shops nearby I think would be willing to offload that on to me haha.

Re: Open Source Farming Robot

#236

Post by afrodc_ » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 10:12 PM UTC

daddylongstroke wrote: post #224

afrodc_ wrote: post #202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Yes. As someone growing and raising between 60 and 100% (depending on year) of my family's food on a run-through clay and hardpan soil (150 years of cotton and tobacco did it), I can definitely say that you can turn compacted and dead clay around. Like the parent said - deep mulch is one way. In my case, leaves, grass clippings, forest duff, soiled animal bedding, etc. Really anything organic. You effectively want to…

> If you want to rebuild your soil, let the weeds grow and then either use them for compost which you'll later top-dress your soil with, or just chop them and leave them be for the cover crop effect, or work them in slightly, up to you.

This has been my primary approach. Letting the grass and "weeds" grow relatively tall then trimming them down every month or so, letting the clippings rest where they are more or less.