Market Farming

[Aaron Silverman <cgrowers AT pond.net>]

I have raised all transplants & the selected cutting greens in soil 
blocks for the past 5 years. Nearly all blocks are put into large greeen 
bread trays, which we purchase used from the main Safeway bakery outside 
Portland for $.75 each. They are fairly heavy when full. When 
transplanting to the field portions of the tray are transferred to either 
cookie sheets or smaller trays, easily carried by the "dropper". It helps 
to have the trays be on the drier side when transplanting - watering 
before bringing to the field is a BIG no-no, as it's a sure way to make 
them crumble as you handle them. Wood tables have been built to hold 6 
trays, or 14 per 2 tables spaced just the right distance apart. The 
tables are open, with wood lath strips spaced to support the tray ends & 
centers. Cutting greens are raised in the trays for 1 or 2 cuttings, then 
composted. Composted trays have been used to create new beds around the 
property, or added to new mixes in small amounts. We have a local 
landscape company make our mix and deliver it in 10 yard batches.

We only heat solinaceous crops - tomatoes, eggplant, peppers. These are 
all seeded in 2" blocks, then transplanted to 4" pots @ 3-4 weeks. Foam 
insulation is placed on top of the table, with heating mats on top. 2 96" 
long mats are sufficient to heat the width of the table. Chicken wire is 
laid on top of the mat, with a grounding wire threaded through an end of 
the wire and attatched to a piece of rebar driven into the ground. This 
eliminates the small amount of stray voltage that otherwise seeps through 
the tray and gives you a slight tingle when you touch the soil. The 
tables are also covered with plastic, creating a small greenhouse just 
around the row of heated tables. With the mats set at 65-75 degrees, the 
air temp inside the hoop will hover around 70. Flowers and other plants 
requiring warmer germination temps (e.g. cucurbits) are placed at an end 
of the tunnel, off the heating matts. The matts are fairly expensive 
($80-100 ea, $60/4 matt thermostat) but are very durable - we're on the 
4th year for several. For us they've been an economical means of heating 
a portion of our house, versus heating an entire house for just a few 
crops.

Aaron

Creative Growers
Aaron Silverman
88741 Torrence Rd.
Noti, Or. 97461
cgrowers AT pond.net
Quality Produce & Pastured Poultry