Courtesy Purdue University
The compost wind sock technology being study by reasearchers at Ohio State University Extension could carry the growing season for urban gardeners .
At the beginning of June , Ohio State University Extension horticulturists at OSU South Centers in Piketon , Ohio , were picking their high - tunnel strawberry mark , about a month beforehand of the country ’s battleground - grownstrawberries .
But that ’s not the exciting intelligence . They are harvesting a harvest produce using technology that could make fruits and vegetables accessible to anyone , anywhere — even your urban region .
Researchers are using a compost sock system as a growth medium and compare the crop ’s operation to in - ground high - tunnel strawberries . The compost sock are made of mesh materials and filled withcompost . The plants are grow in the socks , with irrigation and fertility direction as involve . The hope , say OSU Extension horticulturist Brad Bergefurd , is that performance and yield will be corresponding to that of in - ground mellow - tunnel production .
“ If we find the compost sock system comparable to in - soil product , that intend that we can farm anywhere with gamy tunnels using this organization as the growing medium , ” Bergefurd say . “ You wo n’t need soil . ”
Bergefurd says that compost socks could make high - burrow output even more relevant . High tunnels are popular because they admit raiser to dilate their growing and marketing season ; they support peck of crops on a smaller amount of land ; and they need less - expensive equipment compare to larger - musical scale , open - field farming methods .
With compost socks , agriculture could be expanded to areas that generally are n’t consider ag - friendly or where fresh yield and vegetables are not well accessible .
“ Since you do n’t demand soil , you do n’t need a field or farmland . An old parking lot or a vacant lot in the middle of the metropolis would work , ” said Bergefurd . “ I can go into the middle of Columbus ( Ohio ) in the aurora and set up a eminent burrow , and by the close of the day , I can have my vegetable garden up and pass . ”
Although researchers are only in their first year of evaluating the compost sock system on strawberry yield , they ’re seeing promising result . Researchers believe the compost socks can plunk for a whole host of veg , fromtomatoesto peppercorn tolettuce .
“ The technology wholly patronage a multiple cropping scheme , ” said Bergefurd . “ We are test to see whether one compost wind cone can bear three years ’ worth of crop product . ”
If successful , the compost sock technology could be a room for communities to advance urban gardening , digest local foods and encourage healthier eating .
“ High - tunnel yield with compost socks would be one answer to the nutrient desert dilemma , ” Bergefurd said . “ Residents would have entree to fresh fruits and veggie justly there in their residential area . You could literally develop food anywhere . ”
