How To, soil moisture, water valve, light sensor How To This section has various tutorials on the different components you might need to build a garden monitoring system. The entire how-to section is organized by modules -- each kind of sensor gets its own module. The overall concept is that you will generally have a microcontroller (like Arduino) hooked up to sensors (like soil moisture) and actuators (like a water valve). If we think of the whole system as a robot, then our microcontroller is our brain. Because of the long distances in volved in automation of even a small garden, some of the modules (like the soil moisture sensor) are bound to be physically far away from the brain. Throughout these tutorials I use the term local circuit. The Modules Running wires to remote modules To connect the various remote modules (like the control panel or the garden station) to the brain, you will need to run wires -- some very long wires. Probably the cheapest option is to purchase a roll of 6-strand phone wire (see the parts page).
Growduino smart garden I've been toying with so many ideas of things to automate, but with the long days and an approaching 2-week trip and two young plants at home, I started working in earnest on a garden control project last night. "Growduino" seemed like the obvious name... ;D This is the simplest possible version-- just an automated watering system, with the nutrient solution pumped up from a reservoir in the tub with a submersible pump. Here's a shot on Flickr: from the description: The "growduino" smart garden project will, um, grow to include more sensors and controls, but watering on a schedule seems like a good starting point since I'll be leaving the rig alone for 17 days starting Friday. The program's main parameters are pump period (time between pumps) and pump duration. Note: the "plans" are in (roughly) increasing level of complexity/desirability-- not sure about aiming or CO2 scrubbing (?!)
Green Roof Growers: How to Make a Two Bucket Sub-Irrigated Planter (SIP) This is a simple, easy-to-do project that will let you grow your own food wherever there’s enough sunlight--on your roof, balcony, back steps, driveway, or vacant lot next door. It doesn't take any special skill and the materials are all readily available. A diagram showing what's going on inside a SIP is here. The fundamentals are the same whether you use buckets, tubs, or Earthboxes. Once you make one, it will produce beautiful food for years to come. Many of the photos here are from this second SIP run on the roof, and the pretty yellow pickle buckets are courtesy of Bruce's neighbor who drives for Chicago’s own Vienna Beef (Thanks, Rey! While these instructions are full of details, what you want (a healthy, productive plant) doesn't depend on following them exactly. If you've got hole saws it's far easier to cut the two big holes. View this quick video for a sense of how the whole thing comes together. So now you're ready to make one. This is the fun part. Look what you can grow
Wired.it-Tutorials/201104_giarduino/README.md at master · mbanzi/Wired.it-Tutorials NEW! How To: V3.0 MAMA w/participatory instructions (beta) We are pleased to announce the V3.0 release of the windowfarms community’s latest windowfarm design, the V3.0, the Modular Airlift Multicolumn Array, or MAMA! quietereasier to set upmore elegant, but still do-able with all recycled water bottlesmore plants for less electrical input (up to 32 plants on one air pump if you do Rama’s double plant mod)modular, meaning you can supply proper nutrients to vegetative, fruiting, and flowering plants all in one system. No more airlift issues with the new tubes. And we have finally achieved some serious height!! Achieving height means you can grow more plants with the same pump so it is way more efficient in terms of the amount of nutritional calories per fossil fuel calorie used in powering the pump. This design described in the free how to is basically the same as the new Classic kit. We decided to release this as a participatory web guide that captures ideas, questions, sketches, discussion, & issues for R&D-I-Y while you build.
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HarvestGeek -- Brains for your Garden by Evolved Agriculture The local food movement has been steadily picking up momentum. Across the country small scale agriculture has been springing up in backyards and rooftops, basements and attics, abandoned warehouses and vacant lots. HarvestGeek is building a comprehensive set of resources for the Urban and not-so-urban Farmer. The Modern Farmer's Almanac. We've built a sophisticated, yet easy to use device that will help remove the guesswork for new farmers and provide automation and optimization features for those more experienced. HarvestGeek is your key to unlocking plant yield potential. Once configured HarvestGeek will automatically notify you based on the information being received from HarvestBot. For example, you can set the desired temperature range and turn on a fan should temperatures get too high, or off should they get too low. While HarvestGeek is inherently a tool for research and the free exchange of ideas, we understand and respect our users wishes when it comes to privacy.