Posts regarding ‘Land Use’
Permaculture in a Nut Shell
December 12th, 2009 by brinkerGreening the Desert
December 12th, 2009 by brinkerBiochar From Waste Lumber
November 28th, 2009 by SeldomWe’re using our dimensional lumber scraps to sequester carbon and build topsoil. In this video Peter Hirst of New England Biochar shows how it’s done.
Composting Greenhouse
February 5th, 2009 by Seldom
This is the composting greenhouse built by the New Alchemy Institute in the early 80s.
Commercial greenhouses rely on fossil fuel heating rather than using passive solar design because they want as much light as possible for maximum growth rate. Blocking the north with insulation and mass results in a significant reduction. This design has the benefits of more light, but uses the compost process to provide the heat.
There are series of compost compartments along the north wall of this greenhouse accessible from outside. The compost provides CO2 for plant photosynthesis and helps heat the greenhouse. However, it also elevates the nitrogen level and the ammonia given off can burn the plant leaves. Therefore, they used small (40 watt) fans to blow the compost off-gasses thru 4″ perforated pipes and up thru the soil to use it as a biofilter. Bacteria in the soil turn the ammonia into nitrates which the plants then turn into amino acids.
The Composting Greenhouse at New Alchemy Institute
