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Post by Magnet Man on Mar 17, 2006 19:04:45 GMT -5
Large scale greenhouses provide solutions primarily in areas where high land costs, volatile climates, poor soils, water restrictions, or insect damage, necessitate the development of alternative farming techniques. These conditions are rapidly increasing worldwide. "The greatest single problem hampering the implementation of a radical change in international attitudes is the problem of denial..." When you say large scale, how large do you mean? Are there any out there? Or is greenhouse farming still done on a small scale? Again it seems only natural to not to have to contend with nature for all time. Israelis pioneered large-scale greenhouses in the Negev Desert thirty years ago. Spain has several million acres under polyethylene. China is planning to put a million acres a year under plastic cover. All large scale agriculture will go under cover in permanent glass skyscrapers in the future. It will end the ancient Bronze Age practice of relying on weather conditions to determine the size of harvests. Droughts will be a thing of the past. Trying to feed the exponential population growth of the coming decades will ensure that. We envision high-level greenhouse farming; glassed sky-scrapers souring several thousand feet. Mirrors will reflect the sunlight deep into each story. The advantages of controlled large-scale indoor farming are multi-faceted. Reductions of the areas needed for agriculture; Recycling water; No frost damage; No fruit blossom stripped by high winds; No more salt build-up in the soil via field irrigation; No pesticides to control air-born infestations . Larger yields per acre Organic mulching The hot air expelled can generate enough draft to drive turbines and generate electricity. |
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Post by Tourniquet on Jun 16, 2006 0:09:28 GMT -5
When you say large scale, how large do you mean? Are there any out there? Or is greenhouse farming still done on a small scale? Again it seems only natural to not to have to contend with nature for all time.
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Post by Trivium515 on Feb 5, 2008 19:07:17 GMT -5
Also wouldn’t the exponential issue of disease caused by toxic farming be solved with the idea of greenhouses? Chemicals are sprayed on fields to induce bigger better crops, and pesticides to kill bugs that threaten them makes for more efficient farming since there is less and less farmland each year as the population increases. But considering the environment inside a greenhouse is completely controlled there is no longer a need for chemicals/pesticides, right? Also after doing a bit of research on larger scale green housing I found that one of the biggest problems with them is energy for cooling/heating. There’s this idea I came across on the internet the other day that sounds good for large scale greenhouses. The basic concept is that they construct the greenhouses around a power plant. The greenhouses draw the CO2 emissions in to feed the plants, and use the excess thermal heat made by the power plant that would otherwise be wasted to warm the greenhouses. And seeing as most power plants are located next to water sources, you have available water for the plants. The full article can be found here to all those interested. alamaro.home.comcast.net/~alamaro/GreenhouseConcept.pdf |
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TarotDragon
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Post by TarotDragon on Feb 13, 2008 20:09:09 GMT -5
That idea sounds pretty hot, Glacier. But they only mention coal plants. Do you know if they work on any other power plants, such as nuclear or geothermal? Or do they need the emission of carbon dioxide to function?
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Post by Trivium515 on Feb 15, 2008 20:15:34 GMT -5
To give you a thorough answer TD I’d have to do a bit more research, but I do know that greenhouses can benefit from geothermal, as they sometimes use this to heat greenhouses, and that this cuts their energy costs (in some cases) by a considerable margin. Also, see pages 11, 12, and 13, at www.nrel.gov/docs/fy00osti/27820.pdfits just a site about geothermal energy in general.   |
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TarotDragon
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Post by TarotDragon on Feb 16, 2008 21:29:25 GMT -5
Interesting sight there, though it'll take me a while to read through it all.  One thing I wonder though, is why they don't use those greenhouses for something other than flowers. Most the stuff I've read about greenhouses has to do with f lowers. What's up with that?  Nothing against the pretties, but couldn't we use greenhouses for something a bit more practical? Like veggies and fruit? |
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soulatom
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Post by soulatom on Feb 22, 2008 17:17:23 GMT -5
Interesting sight there, though it'll take me a while to read through it all. One thing I wonder though, is why they don't use those greenhouses for something other than flowers. Most the stuff I've read about greenhouses has to do with f lowers. What's up with that? Nothing against the pretties, but couldn't we use greenhouses for something a bit more practical? Like veggies and fruit? Good point TD, from what I have read there is alot of good news on this front. Many do selected crops in greenhouses like "hot house tomatoes" and more fragile veggies. But most crops have been adopted to the outdoors through the high bred seeds etc. Of course there was a whole lot of woodland mowed for these crops and now housing is encroaching upon that. Obviously as problems compound we will have to go to more arid and rugged areas for our farming needs and then greenhouse should be a natch. I have read recently where In America and more predominantly in Europe small scale greenhouses are being incoporated into the family home and the village so that families can be self sufficient. And they are using renewablke energy technology and recycled water etc for these projects. And hey we still need our pretties but they should be planted outdoors for the purposes of bees and pollination and habitat for useful little insects.  |
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TarotDragon
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Post by TarotDragon on Feb 25, 2008 14:58:50 GMT -5
I have read recently where In America and more predominantly in Europe small scale greenhouses are being incoporated into the family home and the village so that families can be self sufficient. And they are using renewablke energy technology and recycled water etc for these projects. That's pretty cool. Its kinda funny that we're coming full circle. There used to be a time when everyone needed a garden to survive, not just as a hobby. Guess we're getting close to that again.  I like it. Make those pretties work.  |
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Post by johnb1 on Mar 2, 2008 12:13:42 GMT -5
large scale? just like Chem Trails Procedure. OH Brother' I worry about how Man and kids Lives in the Next years Generation and the The Chemical Genetic effects in our human bodies? Hmmm  Even if the sun refused to shine Even if we lived in different times Even if the ocean left the sea In the dark of the darkest night We always knew from the very start We would find a way Even if the sun refused to shine Even if we lived in different times Even if the ocean left the sea Even if the clouds would shed no tears Even if tonight was just a dream  Love Above All I Hope this quote Gives some Idea Not to Be Overburden about it because in our time it is now Inevitable. Planing If GOD has A GOOD Plan for us also Satan has good evil Plan for us too. Planning Advance 1 day or 1 Week Plan -----> Who? 1 month Plan -----> Who? 1 year Plan -----> Who? 5 years Plan -----> Who? 20 years Plan -----> Who? 50 years Plan -----> Who? 100 years Plan -----> Who? 1000 years Plan -----> Who? Infinite Plan -----> Who? |
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soulatom
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Post by soulatom on Mar 3, 2008 21:24:02 GMT -5
large scale? just like Chem Trails Procedure. OH Brother' I worry about how Man and kids Lives in the Next years Generation and the The Chemical Genetic effects in our human bodies? Hmmm I think that we have to believe in the goodness and brilliance of humanity. Hopefully we can adapt and keep up with the changes taking place in our environment that we may live another day to seek the truth and explore the universe further. I'm glad to see this discussion area of large-scale greenhouse farming taking place because it seems to be one of those viable solutions for the future of our children. Chemicals I figure are going to be an ongoing challenge to us as we have become so prolific in them, there is virtually nothing that goes untocuhed. Research tells us they are already affecting DNA. I would guess that if we keep our food less contaminated ....greenhouses....and keep our bodies in a state of flush ....exercise... we can keep the scales at a balance that keeps us healthy. |
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Post by Trivium515 on Apr 4, 2008 14:26:24 GMT -5
Well, also more and more people are trying to grow their own food organically, and while this isn't possible for many, it is encouraging to see people trying to learn to be more self sufficient. Many old techniques are being revived to organically prevent disease and pest issues, methods that were used before chemicals were even invented. Like for instance the practice of never growing the same crop in the same area two years in a row, as this increases chances of disease and infestation. Or whats called companion planting, simply planting two different crops in the same area, they help each other because each wards off pests that the other is vulnerable to. It's good to see people realizing that what we put in our bodies is important, and to see them doing something about it.
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Post by metta on Oct 14, 2010 6:05:04 GMT -5
Large scale greenhousing on the Vertical Farm: www.verticalfarm.com/Bullet points: Advantages of Vertical Farming Year-round crop production; 1 indoor acre is equivalent to 4-6 outdoor acres or more, depending upon the crop (e.g., strawberries: 1 indoor acre = 30 outdoor acres) No weather-related crop failures due to droughts, floods, pests All VF food is grown organically: no herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers VF virtually eliminates agricultural runoff by recycling black water VF returns farmland to nature, restoring ecosystem functions and services VF greatly reduces the incidence of many infectious diseases that are acquired at the agricultural interface VF converts black and gray water into potable water by collecting the water of evapotranspiration VF adds energy back to the grid via methane generation from composting non-edible parts of plants and animals VF dramatically reduces fossil fuel use (no tractors, plows, shipping.) VF converts abandoned urban properties into food production centers VF creates sustainable environments for urban centers VF creates new employment opportunities We cannot go to the moon, Mars, or beyond without first learning to farm indoors on earth VF may prove to be useful for integrating into refugee camps VF offers the promise of measurable economic improvement for tropical and subtropical LDCs*. If this should prove to be the case, then VF may be a catalyst in helping to reduce or even reverse the population growth of LDCs as they adopt urban agriculture as a strategy for sustainable food production. VF could reduce the incidence of armed conflict over natural resources, such as water and land for agriculture. (*I think this is means Least Developed Countries) |
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Post by metta on Oct 14, 2010 6:15:23 GMT -5
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Post by lavender1 on Jun 24, 2013 11:41:14 GMT -5
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Post by lavender1 on Aug 5, 2015 9:00:23 GMT -5
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