Raised Stawbale Culture Bin

Design Rationale

Fibrous biomass is something that many agricultural products produce as a by-product. This material can also be used as a media for growing many things from edible fungi to various vegetables that do not do well in other fertigation-based medias as well. Additionally, as strawbales are used in insulation applications as well, but degrade over time, this provides a means for recycling this material.

Function

A strawbale is soaked with compost tea. It composts heavily over a couple week period, and then rapidly slows its decomposition. At this point, it is useful as a media for cultivation. The fluid that drains through can also be recaptured and integrated into other nutrient streams. Typically, each bale can be cultivated twice. The CEB stands serve a few purposes; they allow for cultivation to occur at waist level for ease of work, they also function as a drain fixture for the excess nutrient-rich fluids that drain through, and also provide thermal mass to the greenhouse environment.

Inputs

• Strawbales
• Compost Tea
• Seedlings
• Edible fungus cultures

Outputs

• Edible fungus
• Vegetable
• Nutrient-rich fluids for compost tea production
• Fibrous biomass for compost tea production

Materials

• CEB blocks
• Various ABS plastic parts