Portable pump distributes transplanting fluid
When we transplant, I use a submersible pump plus 30 m hose to distribute fish fertilizer to our seedings (in the hole, then around the seedling). I run an extension cord (many sometimes) to whatever part of the farm, run a hose to the barrel and fill it up and mix the fish fertilizer. In goes the pump, and away we go. It allows us to transplant a large number of seedlings with far less effort to fertilize.
We usually use two barrels so that while one is being used, the other can be restocked with water. If we're transplanting near the washing station, we use this system in tandem with our stop-gap measure for wash water drainage. When our drainage pipes got full of mud, I put large plastic barrels beside each sink. Wash water is emptied into the barrels, which get emptied periodically using another submersible pump. We can pump the old wash water into the fertilizer barrel and reuse it for transplanting seedlings. This is probably not the most efficient drainage system for wash water, but it does allow us to recycle it for irrigation and lets us recapture the soil that would otherwise go down the creek.
Heather Ramsay, Uminami Farm, Metchosin, BC
Heather Ramsay and her pump-powered transplanting system.
Pallet power!
Owning a greenhouse is super fun! You can start your own plants in it, grow mega veggies and just chill in its calming atmosphere (perhaps that's an oxymoron). The trouble with having your own greenhouse is deciding what type of beds you want or need. There are wood beds, Adobe beds, brick beds and even plastic beds, not to mention all of the colours, textures and hues you want! The costs start to add up.
Don't worry you can keep your meat and money and just use the common pallet. The pallet already comes preassembled, you can get them free, and most come in manageable sizes. Just measure, cut, place and then tie in with a top and bottom plate, or make your own designs!
It's pallet power!
Shem Vaughters, Melfort, SK
