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  • From: Steve Diver <steved AT ncat.org>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Market-farming] straw bales as greenhouse heat source??
  • Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 10:36:19 -0600

1.

"Soaking" the square bale in a large tub with a soluble
nitrogen source is how you get biological activation.

[The gallons listed amounts to water absorbed, eh?]

i.e.,

"Bales are pre‑wetted with a soluble source of nitrogen
which initiates decomposition and causes the bales to
heat up. For soaking, about 7–15 gallons of water are
required for a regular 50 lb. bale. When the temperature
of the bales cools down to below 110° F, they are
capped with several inches of a compost-based
potting mix to accommodate the root balls of tomato
or cucumber transplants."

Several sources of soluble nitrogen sources
suitable to organic production come to mind
such as feather meal, fish hydrosylate, and
so forth.

The new-generation greenhouse suppliers
are loaded with hydro-organic products.

See:

Greenhouse and Hydroponic Vegetable Production
Resources on the Internet
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/ghwebRL.html

"A Few Suppliers of Interest"

Also see:

The Growing Edge
http://www.growingedge.com


2.

I'm not sure what heating equivalents you can
get from straw bale decomposition, but it's an
idea worth exploring.

The literature of compost-heated greenhouses can
serve as a guideline for biothermic heat generation
in greenhouses.

The print version of the ATTRA publication contains
the key bulletins and articles with technical specifications.

Compost Heated Greenhouses
http://www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/compostheatedgh.html

Jean Pain became famous for his ideas on ramial
wood chip mulch to encourage humus formation in soils.

Interestingly, he also wrapped black plastic piping
around very large piles of wood chips to capture
biothermic heat and distribute the hot water to
greenhouses and homes.

Fyi, solar water tubes laid on hoop house floors were
common in southern Europe as a means to release
heat over night. Kenn-Bar used to carry these solar
water tubes in the U.S.

At the Hoop House workshop in Missouri last week,
one person was using gallon-size zip lock baggies
filled with water.... laid in-between plants... for
supplemental heating units over night.

Of course, floating row covers are sometimes
integrated inside hoop houses to preserve ground
heat.

Best regards,

Steve Diver







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