Agriculture Log

Sat Jan 23, 2016

Ag strategy: differentiate clearly between revenue crops and experimental, and specify which fraction is which. Sample budget proposal for ag.

• Grow 50 hanging towers in 800 sf of Aquaponic_Greenhouse_Log#Sat_Jan_23.2C_2016 - for $160-$480 revenue per week, translating to $12-$36/hour

• Risk level: risk can be minimized under the close supervision of Ron Whitehurst. Even low-end estimate appears favorable.
• SWOT: High revenue opportunity. Opportunity to document the world's first, economically sustainable, aquaponic production model. Threat: management time required for a complex system.

• Grow out 1000 chickens in a compost operation fed by offal, hay bales, and hammer-milled tree branches. See Top Heritage Chicken Breeds. Start by incubating eggs, so startup cost is $50 for incubator + 12 pullets ($100).

• SWOT: Strengths are that compost-fed chickens don't require feed, and dogs could protect them. Ability to multiply flock starting from eggs at 50 cents per egg.
• Risk: predator loss from inadequate infrastructure.
• Opportunity: at 6 lb of weight after 6 months or 4 lb dressed - absolute minimum value is $2/lb (Tyson) or $3 for organic. At minimum price of $2, that is $8k of value after 6 months, plus eggs for market.
• Opportunity: compost production for raised beds.

• Bakery: all season product - bread + cinnamon rolls.
• Rabbits

Summary budget:

• Chickens: $150 + bales + offal
• Bread: $150 for grinder and $1k for mixer.
• Greens: $50 for seeds.
• Rabbits: housing and fencing

Thu Jan 21, 2015

• 200 tiny fry appeared in pond.
• Alec - planning ag. Agree to do Ag Dev Spreadsheet.

• Tasks: industry standards for days to maturity. Validate crops.
• Validate yield projections

Wed Dec 9, 2015

Put chestnuts in fridge to continue stratifying. From Empire Chestnut. Select from Trial seedlings, Orchard x-aLarge, and Damiano Cold Hardy. 10 lb each.Orchard extra large bag was intact, but two others broke, so there are some known and some mixed. 1000 seeds total.

Nov 15, 2015

Placed hazelnuts in the refrigerator for stratification. Aquaponic workshop was from Nov. 6-11 - and I recall placing them in the fridge right after the workshop ended - meaning the fridge was empty after the workshop.