Comments for Happy Farming . com http://happyfarming.com How to Grow Your Own Food Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:50:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on Looking for a Heirloom Peach Seed by Thomas W. http://happyfarming.com/2010/02/21/looking-for-a-heirloom-peach-seed/#comment-261819 Thomas W. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:50:42 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=1148#comment-261819 @G Reesor: Good luck with your project! Pictures are welcome ;-) It reminds me: I think I still have a few peach seeds stored in the bottom drawer of our refrigerator... Better go have a look. @G Reesor: Good luck with your project! Pictures are welcome ;-)
It reminds me: I think I still have a few peach seeds stored in the bottom drawer of our refrigerator… Better go have a look.

]]> Comment on Soil Moisture Sensor Circuit Explained by Thomas W. http://happyfarming.com/2009/05/03/soil-moisture-sensor-circuit-explained/#comment-261817 Thomas W. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:38:04 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=550#comment-261817 @Hazil: Yes - the voltage across R2 could be measured by the input of an opamp comparator and then a switch actuator could be added like in this circuit: http://66pacific.com/ph/phschematic.htm (Valve solenoid = relay coil) An extra 555 IC can work as a timer IC: http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/555timer.htm#monostable @Hazil: Yes – the voltage across R2 could be measured by the input of an opamp comparator and then a switch actuator could be added like in this circuit: http://66pacific.com/ph/phschematic.htm (Valve solenoid = relay coil)
An extra 555 IC can work as a timer IC: http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/555timer.htm#monostable

]]> Comment on Looking for a Heirloom Peach Seed by G Reesor http://happyfarming.com/2010/02/21/looking-for-a-heirloom-peach-seed/#comment-261775 G Reesor Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:09:13 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=1148#comment-261775 Apparently, peaches are NOT like apples and trees grown from seed will resemble the parent plant's fruit. I am just about to endeavour on a peach tree propagation adventure, with the help of a Mother Earth News article. (Google search Mother Earth News peach tree and it should come up) I'm soaking the seeds as we speak and they will find a place in my root cellar for a few months. Apparently, peaches are NOT like apples and trees grown from seed will resemble the parent plant’s fruit. I am just about to endeavour on a peach tree propagation adventure, with the help of a Mother Earth News article.
(Google search Mother Earth News peach tree and it should come up)
I’m soaking the seeds as we speak and they will find a place in my root cellar for a few months.

]]> Comment on Soil Moisture Sensor Circuit Explained by hazil http://happyfarming.com/2009/05/03/soil-moisture-sensor-circuit-explained/#comment-261770 hazil Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:07:51 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=550#comment-261770 sir, can relay switch and timer can be added to this circuit? sir, can relay switch and timer can be added to this circuit?

]]> Comment on Soil Moisture Sensor Circuit Explained by Thomas W. http://happyfarming.com/2009/05/03/soil-moisture-sensor-circuit-explained/#comment-261768 Thomas W. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:11:19 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=550#comment-261768 @Hazil: I think you can control 1-Wire devices with the Arduino board. I'm using NSLU2, but a SheevaPlug or FitPC should be able to control it to. http://diagramtips.com/2011/08/31/automatic-temperature-measurements-using-nslu2/ @Hazil: I think you can control 1-Wire devices with the Arduino board. I’m using NSLU2, but a SheevaPlug or FitPC should be able to control it to.
http://diagramtips.com/2011/08/31/automatic-temperature-measurements-using-nslu2/

]]> Comment on Soil Moisture Sensor Circuit Explained by hazil http://happyfarming.com/2009/05/03/soil-moisture-sensor-circuit-explained/#comment-261758 hazil Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:25:43 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=550#comment-261758 sir..how i want to control the soil moisture sensor?can i use the microcontroller?can u recommended what type of microcontroller?my project is about solar system for irrigation that using soil moisture sensor.. sir..how i want to control the soil moisture sensor?can i use the microcontroller?can u recommended what type of microcontroller?my project is about solar system for irrigation that using soil moisture sensor..

]]> Comment on Six Reasons to Harvest Rainwater by Reasons to Harvest Rainwater « Gardora.net http://happyfarming.com/2011/08/24/six-reasons-to-harvest-rainwater/#comment-258906 Reasons to Harvest Rainwater « Gardora.net Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:46:48 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=3184#comment-258906 [...] is a good time to install water butts to collect rainwater! 6 reasons to harvest rainwater: http://bit.ly/nC8zTWTwitterFacebook [...] [...] is a good time to install water butts to collect rainwater! 6 reasons to harvest rainwater: http://bit.ly/nC8zTWTwitterFacebook [...]

]]> Comment on Aquaponic Tomato Plants by Thomas W. http://happyfarming.com/2011/08/06/aquaponic-tomato-plants/#comment-258673 Thomas W. Sun, 18 Sep 2011 20:28:52 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=3148#comment-258673 @Mike: I can think of two things that could be the problem here, and yes, one is too much water. The problem I have is that the holes I have drilled in my EVA foam floats are too big, causing the net pots to sit totally submerged in water: http://happyfarming.com/images/2011/eva_foam_float_3_inch_net_pots.jpg My water is also constantly contaminated by coconut growing medium because of this. I would have to buy a new set of mats to change this, which is holding me back right now. I have seen pictures of floats made from 5 cm (2") thick polystyrene sheets - I don't think the growing medium is soaked in the same way as here, as the medium would have to suck up the water instead. Did you build your system according to a written guide or did you design it yourself? The other thing I'm working on changing, that could be causing problems, is the pH level. The efficiency of nutrition uptake by plants is dependent on the pH value. If you have a wrong pH value some essential nutrients might not even be collected by the plants. Murray Hallam uses lemon juice to lower the pH. @Mike: I can think of two things that could be the problem here, and yes, one is too much water. The problem I have is that the holes I have drilled in my EVA foam floats are too big, causing the net pots to sit totally submerged in water: http://happyfarming.com/images/2011/eva_foam_float_3_inch_net_pots.jpg
My water is also constantly contaminated by coconut growing medium because of this. I would have to buy a new set of mats to change this, which is holding me back right now.
I have seen pictures of floats made from 5 cm (2″) thick polystyrene sheets – I don’t think the growing medium is soaked in the same way as here, as the medium would have to suck up the water instead.
Did you build your system according to a written guide or did you design it yourself?
The other thing I’m working on changing, that could be causing problems, is the pH level. The efficiency of nutrition uptake by plants is dependent on the pH value. If you have a wrong pH value some essential nutrients might not even be collected by the plants. Murray Hallam uses lemon juice to lower the pH.

]]> Comment on Aquaponic Tomato Plants by Mike http://happyfarming.com/2011/08/06/aquaponic-tomato-plants/#comment-258633 Mike Sun, 18 Sep 2011 15:04:36 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?p=3148#comment-258633 I am having the same problem with my setup. I am starting to believe that it is some how too much water. Should my roots be higher above the water? It was suggested to me that I put the roots 6 inches above the water and wrap them in wicking cloth (like cheese cloth). Any suggestions? Anyone have a better diagnosis? Thanks. I am having the same problem with my setup. I am starting to believe that it is some how too much water. Should my roots be higher above the water? It was suggested to me that I put the roots 6 inches above the water and wrap them in wicking cloth (like cheese cloth). Any suggestions? Anyone have a better diagnosis?

Thanks.

]]> Comment on 1984-1990 by Thomas W. http://happyfarming.com/timeline_series_2/#comment-258018 Thomas W. Wed, 14 Sep 2011 06:36:03 +0000 http://happyfarming.com/?page_id=109#comment-258018 @Michael: I have now changed my email address in Twitter. It was set to an email I don't really use - sorry about that :-( But my normal email address is available on the HappyFarming.com contact page: http://happyfarming.com/contact-page/ I'm looking forward to hearing from you :-) @Michael: I have now changed my email address in Twitter. It was set to an email I don’t really use – sorry about that :-( But my normal email address is available on the HappyFarming.com contact page: http://happyfarming.com/contact-page/ I’m looking forward to hearing from you :-)

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