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Planting the Self-Watering Container A Frost-Free Community Solar Greenhouse
Garden Videos Seeds Sunspace Gardening Make Your Own Self-Watering Container
By Pat Baumes
Imagine.. environmentally friendly weedless gardens grown anywhere.
Even in your Solar Sunspace!
This may be achieved by using the EarthBox®.
Note - I have purchased 5 EarthBoxes since writing this a few years ago. One I keep planted full time with herbs and the others I rotate plants in, spring and summer. I am still as happy with them today as I was when I first heard about them. A stand is now avaliable to hold the EarthBox. No bending over, and great for keeping the bunnies, etc. away from the plants.
The EarthBox® - developed by farmers in Pennsylvania, is a very exciting and a care-free way to grow food. It is being used not only in the US, but around the world by way of “The Growing Connection” (TGC)
(TGC, a grassroots project developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and supported by a progressive group of private and public sector partners.)
I first became aware of the EarthBox® while watching a TV program about Google's corporate campus- Googleplex, in Mountain View, CA.
It was wonderful to see all of the great things Google is doing to connect energy independence with care of our Earth. The whole friendly green atmosphere they have created on their campus, gave me such a joyful heart that I felt like running out there and joining the team! My thoughts, “They are the forerunner… a great business model for how a business should be constructed and run in today’s world”. They have inspired me to do greater things myself... I was then blown away when I saw the EarthBoxes used to grow organic vegetables for their cafeterias, which feed their employees free no less.
The Garden is in the Googleplex, “The Growing Connection Gardens" in cooperation with --- The Growing Connection, and Master Gardner's of Santa Clara County.Videos about this are linked at the end of the article.
Happy Plants – higher productivity.
Less pollution - Carbon footprint reduction. Turn your landscape into eatable gardens.
Moisture – I have heard that EarthBox® water requirements are only about 20% to 40% of what you would normally use to water your plants. Because of the unique wicking system over watering also does not take place. The water reservoir is contained under the soil grid. There is an airspace between the water and the grid which is necessary for the health of the plants. The plants are also planted through a plastic cover which holds in moisture.
The reserve is filled through a pipe at the top of the box. If you have many EarthBoxes you also may hook up a spaghetti tube watering system.
Soil – forget about poor soil and unwanted soil born pathogens. Organic or regular potting mix is suggested, and only needs changing about every 5 or 6 years. For more detail about potting mix please read, Planting the Self-Watering Container.
Fertilizer – eliminates fertilizer run-off and the requirement is less. Special dry fertilizer comes with most kits.
Mobility – Great for your Solar Sunspace. Also, place it anywhere… rooftop, patio, greenhouse, basement under grow lights, empty building lots, unplantable areas and anyplace in your garden. If you attach the casters, of which two are locking, you may roll it about. Out in the daytime and in at night, as I will do in early spring. Or, grow the plants year round. Out in the summer and move them into your Solar Sunspace for the winter.
Construction – rugged… well thought out construction, casters very mobile, staking system very sturdy.
Instructions – very thorough and detailed… easy to follow with diagrams also showing how to plant and how many plants are needed per box for each variety.
The EarthBox® and supplies may be purchased in various colors and kit forms. Check them out. You may find them locally, at earthbox.com or below at amazon.com.
Celebrate someone special with an EarthBox or Gift Card!
Happy Planting!
Planting the Self-Watering Container A Frost-Free Community Solar Greenhouse
Garden Videos Seeds Sunspace Gardening Make Your Own Self-Watering Container
rev.3.19.11