Raised Stawbale Culture Bin
Contents
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
