This
past winter we began converting the three largest beds at the Sebastopol Energy
Garden into a broad acre demonstration plot. The initial steps of converting the
beds into a 528 ft² field entailed building up the soil with compost that was
produced on-site, and broadcasting alfalfa and white clover seed onto the plot.
We planted the two legumes separately so as to compare their performance as
living mulch. Both can sustain a mowing, and both will grow perennially in this
climate but we also want to see how they compete with weeds and the amount of
water that they require. We allowed the legumes to grow into the spring and
just recently scythed them down and dug the pockets into which Quinoa was
planted.

The
method that we followed in planning this system of growing is described in The One-Straw
Revolution, written by Masanobu Fukuota. It is a method that he refers to
as the “Do Nothing Method” or “Natural Farming” which is outlined in four
principles: No Cultivation, No Chemical Fertilizer or Prepared Compost, No
Weeding by Tillage or Herbicides, and No Dependence upon Chemicals. By this
method, pockets of annual grains are inter-planted among an under story of
perennial legumes, in our case White Clover and Alfalfa. The legumes fix
nitrogen and carbon and compete with weeds, in addition to retaining water,
while the annual grains, in our case Quinoa, provide calorie rich seeds for
consumption and biomass for soil sustainability. This technique uses a no till
approach, and minimal human interference. The seed florets are removed from the
annual grains by hand; the stalks are scythed and left in place to decompose
and return carbon to the soil. By leaving the biomass in place we promote
nutrient cycling without the laborious task of hauling material back and forth
from compost piles.

Living
mulch can offer a number of benefits that straw mulch cannot. Bare soil
resulting from intensive tillage can lead to soil erosion, nutrient losses, and
offsite movement of pesticides. In addition, weeds can germinate and grow
without competition. Living mulches can reduce water runoff, reduces erosion,
and protect waterways from pollution. Living mulches have also been shown to
increase the population of organisms which are natural enemies of some crop
pests.

As
atmospheric CO2 levels rise and the effects of increased greenhouse
gases result in higher global temperatures, the application of living mulches for
carbon fixation also becomes more appealing.

The Sebastopol Energy Garden recently introduced a
hive of Western Honey bees to our suburban food system. Bees play a vital role
in sustainable food production; not only do they provide beeswax and calorie
rich honey (64 cal/21 g), bees play an important role in pollinating flowering
plants, and are the major type of pollinator in ecosystems that contain
flowering plants (80% of all insect pollination). It is estimated that one
third of the human food supply depends on insect pollination, most of which is
accomplished by bees, especially the domesticated Western honey bee. The value
added by honeybee pollination to American agriculture is estimated to range
from $5 billion to $20 billion a year.

[video]

In determining where to purchase our bees and what
materials to use for our hives there were many factors that were taken into
consideration. We wanted to use a hive constructed from locally harvested and
manufactured wood upon which chemical treatments had not been used. Rather than
the commercially available assembled frames which use plastics as the
foundation for honeycomb, we wanted to use a natural bee’s wax product that was
chemical free. We also wanted the bees
to come from a reliable beekeeper that didn’t use any chemical treatments for
mites and hadn’t experienced Colony Collapse Disorder amongst their hives. Our overall goal was to obtain responsibly kept, healthy bees and chemical free hives in a way that had the smallest energy footprint linked to it. 

A local beekeeper, Eric Rocher assisted us in
acquiring the bees and the hive materials. It is his goal to develop a network
of decentralized hives so as to encourage pollination and avoid the health
risks that threaten large scale beekeeping. Bees often gather the majority of their
food within 2.5km of the hive, but a bee will also visit familiar flowers up to
10km away. By distancing hives from one another, the area pollinated increases
and competition among the bees decreases; this improves the health of the food
system as well as the hives.

This past Saturday, May 31, 2008, the first gallons of recycled water entered the Sebatopol Energy Garden water system that before then had only circulated captured rain water. The recylced water, also called grey water was not plumbed from the house at 327 Murphy Avenue due to pending permission, however we were able to divert the drainage of our outdoor spray table and hand washing sink without violating any legal limitations.

The system was designed such that the drainage of the sink first falls directly into a gravel filled tank (30 gallons) planted with unicorn juncus, pennywort, and water parsley. This tank funtions as a filter and primary treatment for any debris From there, that water which isnt retained within the system flows into a second larger tank (150 gallons) which houses a larger community of wetland plants. The reason for using a second is to provide a longer retention time and thus a longer phytoremediation period for the recylced grey water. When more water is added to the first tank, the water that it contains will overflow into the second tank and all overflow is then plumbed at a 2% drop in grade to the previously existing  water treatment system.

To help in the installation of the system was Heather Shepherd who led along with myself a hands on grey water workshop. The day began with an explanation of the steps involved in designing a site specific grey water system, and followed with an analysis of the process that had gone into designing and constructing the system at the Sebastopol Energy Garden. We had the class go under the house to look at the piping and explained the legal requirements to plumb from the house's outward pipes into a grey water system and leach field.

For the later part of the day we were busy putting tanks in, filling them with gravel and plants, and plumbing them into the system. Whereas most courses offer the theoretical process of installing a grey water system, we had the rare oppurtunity to actually lead a group through the installation process kinestetically.

I would like to thank everyone that came, especially Heather. It was a warm day and within 6 hours we were able to install the two tanks, trench all the pipes, and connect the system. It is running now as I write this and I will no longer have to worry about the system going dry or having to fill it from the hose, because all vegetable washing and hand washing water will flow into the system to keep it full of water and provide nutrients for the plants growing within the tanks. 

Pest control at the Sebastopol Energy Garden does not involve the use of any commercial organic or chemical pesticides; rather the encouragement of natural pest controlling systems. A variety of plants have been intentionally planted to encourage beneficial insects and deter derimental insects from vulnerable crops. Other plants have been planted as trap crops, that is they attract pests to lure them away from other crops. By planting trap crops we can create dense aggregations of pests and manage them with non harmful sprays such as soapy garlic and cayene pepper water or leave them be and hope for predatory insects to find them and aggregate around the trap crops as well.

Such was the case with the two plots of Canola that were planted in the Energy Garden this year. Canola is often planted for the oil rich seeds that it produces but also as a trap crop and beneficial insect attractant. While the plant is preferred by aphids, a trait that we observed this winter, the flowers of Canola attract adults of the following species of hoverflies (Syrphidae): Allograpta obliqua (Say), Sphaerophoria spp., Syrphus spp., and Toxomerus spp. Larvae of all of these species are predators on aphids. In addition adult lady bugs, soldier beetles, and a variety of predatory wasps are attracted to Canola due to the dense populations of aphids that inhabit it. By planting Canola in the garden this year we not only lured herbivorous aphids away from other brassica crops that we grew, we increased the populations of predatory insects in the garden.

In addition to growing plants that deter herbivourous insects and attract predatory insects we have provided habitat for predatory birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, and salamanders in hopes that they prey upon pests that visit the garden. Snails are also regularly captured and fed to the chickens as a source of protein and calories, and gopher traps are set and monitored.

By encouragin ecological pest control as opposed to using chemical and organic pesticides we improve the ecological health of the garden without the risk of harming our crops and ultimately ourselves. Rather than removing all insects from the garden ecosystem, a charecteristic of most pesticides, we are able to combat only those that are detrimental to our crops.

Two and a half million tons of commercial pesticides are now applied
annually in the United States. Because of pests ability to develop
resistance towards chemical treatments, pesticide effectiveness
decreases and our dependence upon them increases with each spraying.
Production of these
chemicals now accounts for 6% of US agricultural energy consumption as
the industry continues to grow.
 

Caroline Cox lists ten reasons why not to use pesticides in the Journal of Pesticed Reform:

1. Pesticides don’t solve pest problems. They don’t change the conditions that encourage pests.

2. Pesticides are hazardous to human health. Every year, enormous quantities of pesticides known to cause significanthealth problems are used in the U.S.

3. Pesticides cause special problems for children. For their size, they consume more food and drink than adults, and both of these can be contaminated with pesticides. They play in ways that increase their exposure. Also,their growing bodies can be particularly sensitive.

4. Pesticides often contaminate food. The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture means that pesticides are frequently found on a variety of common foods.

5. Pesticides are particularly hazardous for farmers and farmworkers. There are no comprehensive systems for tracking pesticide illnesses, and research shows that farmers and farmworkers face risks of both short-term poisonings and long-term illness.

6. Pesticides are hazardous to pets. Pet poisonings occur frequently, and exposure to lawncare pesticides is associated with a higher risk of cancer in dogs.

7. Pesticides contaminate water and air. Monitoring studies find pesticides in almost every sample that is tested.

8. Pesticides are hazardous to fish and birds. Enormous quantities of pesticides already known to EPA to cause problems for fish and birds are used in the U.S.

9. Pesticides are immensely profitable for the corporations who manufacture them, yet these corporations conduct or sponsor the tests used to determine their safety

10. Pesticides have too many secrets. Where are pesticides used in our communities? When? How much? What’s in them? We almost never have good answers to these questions.

For more information check out these sites 

http://www.organicgardeningguru.com/pesticides.html

http://www.pw.ucr.edu/textfiles/Stormwater%20%20The%20Urban%20Pesticide%...

http://www.chem-tox.com/pesticides/ 

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5409/is_199810/ai_n21427664 

The attached PDF contains:

- crop layout

- calculations of plant numbers

- planting successions

- theoretical calore yield

- theoretical compost yield

- calculation of share numbers

- planting calendar

- harvest calendar

Updated Crop Assessment for Sebastopol Energy Garden

At the Sebastopol Energy Garden eggs account for a large portion of the calories that we produce. Of the estimated 1,476,765,3 calories that we can produce over the next growing year, 136,218 of that comes in the form of eggs.

On average our flock of five chickens produces an egg/chicken/day, each weighing roughly 61g, and containing 93.3 calories.

Supporting a flock of chickens; however, requires energy as well. Each chicken needs at least 200 calories/day to survive, and while about 30% of those calories can be obtained by foraging, the other 70% needs to be provided for them. Our chickens are allowed access to the compost piles and obtain some additional calories from the food scraps we recycle, but this is not enough.

Because hens allocate so much of the protein that they consume toward egg production it is also essential that we support the needs of our flock by providing a protein rich feed for them. It is recommended that 16% of a chicken's diet be protein.

Recommended Daily Value (chicken): 200 cal/day
(5 chickens) (365) = 365,000 cal/ year

FOOD SOURCE % PROTEIN, BY WT

Dried fish flakes 76
Dried liver 76
Dried earthworms 76
Duckweed 50
Torula yeast 50
Brewers yeast 39
Soybeans (dry roasted) 37
Flaxseed 37
Alfalfa seed 35
Beef, lean 28
Earthworms 28
Fish 28
Sunflower seeds 26.3
Wheat germ 25
Peas & Beans, dried 24.5
Sesame seed 19.3
Soybeans (boiled) 17
Wheat bran 16.6
Oats, whole 14
Rice polish 12.8
Rye 12.5
Wheat 12.5
Barley 12.3
Oats 12
Corn 9
Millet 9
Milo 9
Rice, brown 7.5

Chicken feed can be purchased from most feed stores and while this may be a simple enough solution for most, it is our goal to produce chicken feed on-site so that we may decrease our dependece upon off-site materials and reduce our energy consumption.

The majority of chicken feed is produced through unsustainable, agricultural methods which rely heavily upon the use of petroleum. The proces behind producing, storing, and transporting feed is a very energy requiring process; by producing chicken feed on-site, on a small scale, we can avoid a lot of the energy inputs of conventional production.

By calculating the theoretical calorie yield of each crop intended for
chicken feed as well as their protein content, we can determine the
amount of required growing space for feeding the chickens. When it comes time to harvest the grains, and process them we will already have calculated how much to allocate towards the chickens. Then all we need to do is grind the grains and mix them accordingly. In the batch that we just prepared we used a combination of Peredovik Sungflowers seeds, Sorghum, Millet, and Ground corn.

Hand powered Corona Mill

[video]

Corn Millet

Peredovik Sunflower Dale Sorghum

Chicken Feed

Attached is the 2008 Planting Plan for the Sebastopol Energy Garden. Within the document are site maps with designated locations for each crop, calorie assessments, a plant inventory, and the budget for the purchase of seeds and plants.

Updates on plantings, and lists of what is currently growing at the Sebastopol Energy Garden can be tracked on our Farm Notebook Site

The compost piles at the Sebastopol Energy Garden that have been decomposing for the last 6 months are now ready to be sifted and made into seedling mix. Sifting the compost with a 1/4" screen produces a fluffy, aerated compost blend, that when mixed with sandy loam at a 1:1 ratio functions as a seedling mix. Through producing nutrient rich soil onsite and processing it into seedling mix we are able to reduce our dependence upon external sources of nutrients and lower our impact upon ecosystems outside of the Energy Garden.

The compost sifters were both constructed onsite from an old fence that was donated to the garden. The pickets from the old fence make excellent handles and the salvaged 2x4" functions as a durable frame. All that was required to convert the fence into the compost sifters was a screw driver, screws, wire mesh, and a jig saw. All cuts were based upon the dimensions of the wheelbarrows onsite.

With the seedling mix that we produced, we used our seed block press to generate flats , into which we planted our seeds. The seed block press makes twenty 1 1/2" blocks with small depressions in the tops for
seeds which allows for labor efficient planting. Planted flats are then transfered to the straw bale cold frame where they are incubated and protected from external conditions.

Through allocating energy towards our crops in the early stages of their development we ensure the vaiability of our crops early on. Healthy crops bring higher yields and are less susceptible to pathogens.

ENERGY GARDEN CROPS

The following is
a list of the crops currently growing in the Sebastopol Energy Garden as well
as those selected for the 2008 growing season. The crops have been categorized
by the major anthropocentric functions they fulfill and the morphological plant
parts of use. By assessing the crops in this manor we can correlate them with
their appropriate zone within the garden. In addition to providing the common
names and functions of the selected crops, optimal planting conditions are
provided for annuals, and background information is provided for profile crops.

PROFILE CROPS

Profile Crops support
the goals of the Sebastopol Energy Garden by offering local means of energy
security, food production, soil improvement, and water conservation. These
crops are most often cultivated in Zone 2 of the property.

Energy Security: Crops that function as potential sources of
energy are those high in calories (carbohydrates and lipids) grown for human
consumption, biofuel production, and anaerobic digestion.

Food Production: Crops grown as
local sources of food are chosen as profile crops if they display stacked
functions, are area-and-weight-efficient crops, or are beneficial
non-conventional crops.

Soil Improvement: Crops which
improve the soil are those capable of accumulating large quantities of minerals
and producing large amounts of carbon. These crops provide the required materials
for onsite preparation of compost and mulch, as well as function biologically
in the improvement of the health of the soil.

Water Conservation: Crops grown
for the purpose of water conservation are those which require low amounts of
water or those which improve the quality of water by functioning as
hyperaccumulators of water contaminants.

The following is the background
information of selected profile crops. They are organized by function in the
same order as above.

Switchgrass: (Panicum
virgatum) is a perennial grass native to North America. Because it is
native, switchgrass is resistant to many pests and plant diseases as well as
being very tolerant of poor soils, flooding and drought. It is easily
germinated from seed, and capable of producing high yields with very low
applications of fertilizer. Switchgrass makes for a great energy crop because
it grows fast, capturing lots of solar energy and turning it into chemical
energy which it stores as cellulose. Switchgrass reaches its full yield
potential after the third year planted, producing approximately 6 to 8 tons per
acre; that is 500 gallons of ethanol per acre. At maturity, widely spaced
switchgrass plants can measure 20 inches in diameter at ground level.
Switchgrass has a huge, permanent root system that penetrates over 10 feet into
the soil, and weighs as much as the above-ground growth from one year. It also
has many fine, temporary roots. All these roots improve the soil by adding
organic matter, and by increasing soil water infiltration and nutrient-holding
capacity.

Miscanthus: (Miscanthus
x giganteus) is a tall perennial grass that has been evaluated in Europe
during the past 5-10 years as a new bioenergy crop. Like other energy crops,
the harvested stems of miscanthus may be used as fuel for production of heat
and electric power, or for conversion to other useful products such as ethanol.
Because the crop is a sterile hybrid it is established by planting pieces of
the root, called rhizomes, which develop into the mature plant. Miscanthus is
ready for harvest within 2 years and yields continue to improve until they
level off around the 5th or 6th year. Speculating from European data, under
typical agricultural practices over large areas, an average of about 3 tons per
acre dry weight may be expected at harvest time.

Miscanthus
exhibits:

Relatively high yields 8-15 t/ha (3-6 t/acre)
dry weight.

Low
moisture content (as little as 15-20%).

Annual harvests, providing a regular yearly
income for the grower.

Relatively good energy balance and
output/input ratio

Low
mineral content, which improves fuel quality.

Jerusalem Artichoke: (Helianthus
tuberosus L.) is an annual flowering plant native to North America.
It grows 1-3 meters tall with flowers similar to the sunflower but much smaller
(4-8cm in diameter). Jerusalem artichokes are grown throughout the temperate
world for their tubers, which are used as a root vegetable. The tubers are
gnarly and uneven, vaguely resembling ginger root, with a crisp texture when
raw. Unlike most tubers, but characteristic of members of Asteraceae (Sunflower
family to which it belongs), the tubers store the carbohydrate inulin instead
of starch. The inulin is isolated on the basis of its high solubility in hot
water; by boiling the tuber and allowing it to cool polysaccharides can be
extracted. Yields tend to vary with soil conditions, cultivar and season, but
fresh weights in excess of 100 tons per hectare have been recorded, which is
around 8 tons per hectare of sugar. For this reason, Jerusalem artichoke tubers
are an important source of energy.

Sugar Beet: (Beta
vulgaris L.), a member of the Chenopodiaceae family, is a biennial plant
whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose, accounting for 30% of the
world's sugar production. During its first growing season, it produces a large
(1–2 kg) storage root whose dry mass is 15–20% sucrose by weight. Sugar beets
have the potential to produce 30-40 tons of roots per hectare under
non-irrigated conditions and 50-70 tons per hectare with irrigation. The
research done by the Agronomic University of Bucharest in the South zone of
Romania has recorded ethanol production at 5,508 liter ethanol per hectare. The
sugar beet may become, in the future an important energy crop.

Soybean: (Glycine max)
is an annual legume (Fabaceae). It may grow prostrate, not growing higher than
20 cm (7.8 inches), or stiffly erect up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) in height.
Soybeans provide the principal oil being utilized for biodiesel in North
America. To produce soybean oil, the soybeans are cracked, adjusted for
moisture content, rolled into flakes and solvent-extracted with commercial
hexane. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service
Agency, one bushel of soybeans yields approximately 1.4 gallons of biodiesel.
Soybeans contain about 20% oil, so it takes almost 7.3 pounds of soybean oil to
produce a gallon of biodiesel. In addition soybeans enhance the nitrogen
content of the soil and provide the soil with many nutrients.

Dale Sorghum: (Sorghum
bicolor L.) is an annual tropical grass that is easily propagated from
seed. A prolific producer, averaging
about twelve feet in height at maturity; sorghum is a short rotation crop,
meaning that it can be harvested multiple times throughout the year. Sweet
sorghums have been selected for their high sugar content and are normally grown
for molasses production. Dale Sorghum is a drought resistant variety of sweet
sorghum that requires less intensive irrigation. It is an early maturing (115
day) variety with superior disease resistance to many older common varieties
and is well adapted for syrup production, which can be converted to methane or
ethanol. It produces on average 40 tons per hectare of cane, 25 tons per
hectare of juice, and provides a grain yield of 2-6 tons per hectare. It is
estimated that for each ton of cane yield 40 liters of ethanol can be produced,
that is 1600 liters of ethanol per hectare of Sorghum.

Peredovik Sunflower: (Helianthus
annuus) is an energy and protein rich annual that at maturity (12 weeks
after germination), reaches a height of 4 feet. Second only to soybeans,
sunflower oilseed varieties are the most important source of high-quality
vegetable oil in the world. This Russian cultivar produces small, black seeds
that yield more oil than most other sunflowers (approximately 952 liters of oil
per hectare). While typical sunflower seeds contain 25–35% oil, the peredovik
sunflower can contain up to 50% oil. According to the Duke handbook of Energy
Crops, a hundred kilograms of dry seed will yield about 40 kilograms of oil,
15–20 kilograms of hulls, and 40 kilograms of proteinaceous meal.

Rapeseed: (Brassica
napus) contains erucic acid, which is mildly toxic to humans in large
doses. The word "canola" is derived from "Canadian oil,
low acid;" it is a particular cultivar of Rapeseed developed
to produce low amounts of erucic acid. Rapeseed is the third leading source of
vegetable oil after soybean and oil palm, and the world's second leading source
of protein meal. The oil content runs 42.0–44.5%, and oil yields of more than 1
MT/ha are reported. Due to this high oil production per unit of land area
rapeseed oil is the preferred oil stock for biodiesel production in most of
Europe. The crop is particularly of interest because it not only produces
higher yields during the autumn growing period but the oil percentage of the
harvest is higher as well.

Flax: (Linum
usitatissimum L.) is an erect annual with slender stems that is
grown for its seed and fiber. It is not generally a crop that is spoken of in
relation to alternative fuel sources; however, there are groups looking into
the possibility of using the long tough stem fibers of oilseed flax as
feedstock for large scale burners. Flax seeds contain 20–30% protein, and are
the source of linseed oil. Flax straw has a per ton heating value similar to
soft coal that is much greater than other crop residues. Not only is the straw
cheaper than conventional fuels; it is also carbon neutral fuel; meaning that
the plant takes carbon from the air during the growing season to produce the
straw, reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. With seed
yields of 1000–4000 kilograms per hectare, and reported oil content of 34–37%,
flax has the potential to yield 1500 kilograms of oil per hectare.

Safflower: (Carthamus
tinctorius) is a member of Asteraceae; it is a thistle-like plant growing
30-150 cm tall with globular flower heads (capitula) of commonly, yellow,
orange or red flowers. . Safflower is grown exclusively for its oil which is
high in essential unsaturated fatty acids. Oil yields approach 50%, leaving a
meal with 21% protein, 35% fiber, and 1-3% fat, a great source of nutrients for
feedstock. According to Khoshoo (1982), the BTU value per gallon of safflower
oil is 130,730. The crops viscocity of 32.7 has been described in concern;
however, tractors were run on 100% safflower oil for over 90 hours to cut hay
and cultivate in Australia, and diesel engines fueled with safflower oil were
run more than 700 hours in Idaho with no obvious difference ascribed. It has
been reported that for every 212-262 gallons of extractable oil harvested per
hectare 25 gallons of fuel is required. (Khoshoo, 1982). High oleic safflower
oil is virtually free of sulfur.

Castor Bean: (Ricinus communis), a member of Euphorbiaceae,
has been cultivated for centuries because of the energy rich oil it produces in
its seeds. The seeds contain between 40% and 60% oil that is rich in
triglycerides. The crop grows 3 to 10 ft, producing several branches with
terminal spikes that are 6 to 12 in. long. Each spike bears 15 to 80 capsules,
which contain within each of them three seeds. Yields of about 2,200 lb/acre
have been reported in Nebraska tests. Average production is estimated at 750
kilos per hectare. The seeds and roots of the plant contain high concentrations
of ricin, a poison, which is also present in lower concentrations throughout
the plant making it a great gopher poison.
The crop is also harmful to humans and livestock and for this reason
caution must be taken in disposal of the crop after cultivation.

Sesame: (Sesamum indicum L.) belongs to the Pedaliaceae
family. It is an annual herb that can grow to a height of 60 inches. The seeds
that it produces, which have been estimated to achieve yields of as much as
2,300 lb/acre under irrigation in California, consist of approximately 50% oil
and 25% protein. Sesame seeds contain 825 calories per cup of which 644 are
from fat. Among edible oils, sesame oil has the highest antioxidant content,
namely due to the presence of the compound sesamin; this allows for greater
shelf life plus improved flavor. In addition the seeds with hulls are rich in
calcium (1.3%) and provide a valuable source of minerals for both human and
livestock consumption.

Quinoa: (Chenopodium
quinoa) is grown primarily for its highly nutritious edible seeds, which
are small yellow flattened spheres, approximately 1.5 to 2 millimeters in
diameter; however, the leaves of the plant can also be eaten. The seed coat
contains bitter saponin compounds that must be removed before human
consumption, but it is this bitter pericarp that keeps the crop nearly
untouched by birds. In addition to containing a balanced set of essential amino
acids for humans, quinoa’s protein content (12%–18%) is very high, making it an
unusually complete foodstuff; this means it takes less quinoa protein to meet
one's needs than it does wheat protein. Quinoa is a good source of dietary
fiber and phosphorous and is high in magnesium and iron; it is gluten free and
considered easy to digest. There are about 1480 calories in one pound of quinoa
flour or seeds (55.3% carbohydrates, 13.1% protein, 5.8% fat, 13.6% fiber,
9.3% water, and 2.9% minerals).

Oats: (Avena
sativa) are an annual grass that reach 1.3 meters in height. Producing an
average of 125 bushels per acre, which is 8,000-12,000 pounds per acre of biomass,
oats are primarily grown for livestock feed; in fact less than 5% of the total
production in this country is for human consumption (mainly as oat flour). Oat
is the only cereal containing a globulin or legume-like protein, avenalins, as
its major (80%) storage protein. The protein content of the hull-less oat
kernel, or groat, ranges from 12–24%, the highest among cereals. Oats help
conserve soil, they require relatively less chemical fertilizers, pesticides
and herbicides; they reduce water contamination by agricultural chemicals, and
provide nutritional benefits to both humans and animals.

Corn: (Zea mays
L.), the single largest U.S. crop, is increasingly being used as a biomass
fuel. It is currently harvested from 30 million hectares within the United
States, which is almost ¼ of all the harvested cropland in the country. The
average yield of moist corn grain is 8600 kilograms per hectare; that is
approximately 150 bushels per acre. According
to the National Corn Growers Association, 1.3 billion bushels of corn were
allocated towards ethanol production in 2004. David Pimentel, a
professor from Cornell estimates that one acre of U.S. corn can be processed
into about 328 gallons of ethanol, but planting, growing and harvesting that
much corn requires close to 140 gallons of fossil fuels and costs $347 per
acre; that is $1.05 per gallon of ethanol before the corn even moves off the
farm, meaning that 70% more energy is required to produce ethanol from corn
than the energy that ethanol contains. No research has been done; however, as
to whether corn may serve as a sustainable energy crop when grown organically
and at a much smaller scale. Corn residues, including the stalk and cob may
also prove useful in future energy production.

Energy Inputs to Corn Production

Nitrogen fertilizers (all fossil
energy)

Phosphate, potash, and lime (mostly
fossil energy)

Herbicides and insecticides (all
fossil energy)

Fossil fuels: diesel, gasoline,
petroleum gas, and natural gas

Electricity (almost all fossil energy)

Transportation (all fossil energy)

Corn seeds and irrigation (mostly
fossil energy)

Infrastructure (mostly fossil energy)

Labor (mostly fossil energy)

Potato: (Solanum
tuberosum) a member of Solanaceae, ranks with wheat and rice as one of
the most important staple crops in the human diet around the world.Within 10 g of the tubers are 80 calories (320
kJ). A medium potato (150g/5.3 oz) with the skin provides 27 mg vitamin
C (45% of the Daily Value), 620 mg of potassium (18% of Daily Value), 0.2 mg vitamin
B6 (10% of Daily Value) and trace amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, folate, niacin,
magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. Moreover, the fiber content of a potato
with skin (2 grams) equals that of many whole grain breads, pastas, and cereals.

Buckwheat: (Fagopyrum
esculentum) is a short season crop that does well on poor, sandy, somewhat
acidic soils. Plants will begin blooming in about 40 days from seeding, with
the first seeds mature after an additional 40 days. This rapid production
allows for many harvests throughout the year makes the crop ideal for growing
as a local source of calories. The seed is an achene, similar to a sunflower
seed, with a hard outer shell and soft inner meat. Most of the buckwheat grain
utilized as food for humans is marketed in the form of flour but whole grain
may be used in poultry scratch feed mixtures as they are high in protein. As
well as being a food crop, buckwheat is used for its biomass.

Amaranth: (Amaranthus sp.)
with 60 recognized species, makes up its own family, Amaranthaceae. The
herbaceous annual grows 5 to 7 feet, with broad leaves and a showy flower head
of small, red or magenta, flowers. The seed heads resemble corn tassels, but
are somewhat bushier, composed of tiny (1/32"), lens shaped seeds that are
a golden, creamy, tan color. Amaranth resists heat and drought; it has no major
disease problems, and is among the easiest of plants to grow. Each plant is
capable of producing 40,000 to 60,000 seeds that like buckwheat and quinoa,
contain protein that is unusually complete for plant sources. The leaves also
are a very good source of vitamins including vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C,
riboflavin, and folate, and dietary minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium,
phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, and manganese. Several studies have shown
that like oats, amaranth seed or oil may benefit those with hypertension and
cardiovascular disease.

Black Salsify: (Scorzonera
hispanica) is a member of Asteraceae cultivated for its calorie rich black taproot
which grows up to one meter long and up to 2 cm in diameter. In ½ cup of Black
Salsify are 50 calories; potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, and vitamins
A, B1, E and C are also present. In addition to the root, the foliage is edible
and functions as a great nutrient source for livestock as well as a source of
salad greens for humans. Because the crop is relatively untroubled by pests and
cold tolerant it makes an easy to manage crop for the organic farmer.

Parsnip: (Pastinaca sativa) a member of Apiaceae, offers a great source of calories during the
winter while the rest of the garden is dormant. Parsnips are very frost
resistant; in fact, frost is necessary to develop the flavor and nutrients for
the hardy root crop. In 100
g of parsnip root are 55 calories; that is 230 kJ of energy. Parsnips are richer
in vitamins and minerals than its close relative the carrot, and in addition to
providing calories to the diet, they are a good source of fiber, folate,
magnesium, potassium (600 mg per 100 g), Vitamins C and E, calcium, iron, thiamin,
riboflavin, niacin, and B6.

Barley: (Hordeum vulgare)
a member of Poaceae, can be grown in both spring and autumn. It retains yields
under harsh conditions
and poor soils where other grains don’t produce well. Barley contains twice as
many fatty acids as wheat which accounts for its 10% higher calorie count. In
addition barley contains 68% more thiamin, 250% more riboflavin and 38% more
lysine than wheat, giving barley a more balanced protein. One hundred grams of
barley contains 135 calories and provides 54.5% of the recommended daily
fiber (both soluble and insoluble fiber). It has been documented in both
the Journal of the American College of Nutrition and the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition that increase barley consumption correlates
with cholesterol reduction.

Lentil: (Lens culinaris)
a member of Fabaceae, grows 15 inches tall and produces many pods which contain
within each of them two seeds. Estimated yields in excess of 2,000 lb/acre have
been achieved at small levels of production. Protein content of the crop ranges
from 22 to 35%, but the nutritional value is low because lentil is deficient in
the amino acids methionine and cystine. In 100g of lentil are 371 calories. Apart
from a high level of proteins, lentils also contain dietary fiber, vitamin B1,
and minerals. Red (or pink) lentils contain a lower concentration of fiber than
green lentils (11% rather than 31%). Lentil provides more folic acid than any
other unfortified food. One cup of cooked lentils contains 90% of the
recommended daily allowance. As a result consuming lentil effectively reduces
homocystein blood levels, reducing risk for heart problems.

Rye: (Secale cereale) a member of Poaceae, grows in both spring
and august and function as a cover crop in addition to providing carbon and
calories for the small scale farm. Yields of 70 to 80 bu/acre can be obtained
with good management. The food value of rye consists of 1.5% fat, 73.9% complex
carbohydrates, and 12.2% protein. The energy content of the grain is
intermediate to that of barley and wheat. It contains 335 calories within100g
(1402kj). Although rye flour does not develop true gluten, it is the only
cereal grain other than wheat to have the necessary qualities to make bread.

Millet:
(Panicum miliaceum) a member of Poaceae, grows well on poorly fertilized and dry soils and fits well in hot
climates with short rainfall periods and cool climates with brief warm summers.
For this reason it is considered a staple food crop among 1/3 of the world’s
population. Millet is highly
nutritious, non-glutinous and like buckwheat and quinoa, is not an acid forming
food so it is easy to digest. In fact, it is considered to be one of the
least allergenic and most digestible grains available and it is a warming grain
so will help to heat the body in cold or rainy seasons and climates. Millets
are rich in B vitamins, especially niacin, B6 and folacin, calcium, iron,
potassium, magnesium, and zinc. The
seeds are also rich in phytochemicals, including Phytic acid, which is believed
to lower cholesterol, and Phytate, which is associated with reduced cancer
risk. Contained within 100g of millet seed are 228 calories with 66,000
to 81,000 seeds/lb. Each seed contains nearly 15% protein. Yields up to 2500 to
2800 lb/acre are realistic for this climate.

Fababean: (Vicia faba ) is
the plant for which the bean family, Fabaceae, was named. At about 25% protein,
the crop is very nutritious and high in energy, and is frequently cultivated
for human and livestock consumption. Average yields of 2261 lbs/acre have been
achieved under irrigation. Frost hardy to about 7°F,
it is one of the most important winter crops for human consumption in the
Middle East. More so than a food crop, fababeans are the most efficient of all
legumes at fixing nitrogen within the soil. The crop is capable of fixing up to
200 pounds of nitrogen per acre. In addition their extensive root system breaks
up soil to 2 feet deep, and brings up soluble nutrients from 10 feet deep.

Alfalfa: (Medicago
sativa) is a cool season perennial legume, growing to a height of 1 meter.
Like other legumes, its root nodules contain bacteria, Sinorhizobium
meliloti, capable to fix nitrogen (estimated to fix 83–594 kg N/ha/yr),
producing a high-protein feed, giving it the highest feeding value of all
common hay crops. Forage yields are 5–75 MT/ha per year (with 8–12 cuttings per
year). Seed yields are 186–280 kg/ha annually. Alfalfa grows well in the cool
months, producing enough vegetation to yield the energy equivalent of 2 to 7
barrels of oil per acre. Basing estimates on average alfalfa hay yields,
participants at the Fourth Annual Alfalfa Symposium concluded that we could get
nearly a ton of leaf protein per acre from alfalfa. This would mean 55 million
tons of protein from 62.5 million acres—about 10 times what Americans need in
their diet. Residues remaining after protein extraction would yield the
equivalent of 250 million barrels of oil in residues.

Hairy Vetch: (Vicia villosa) a member of Fabaceae, is the only vetch species that can be
fall-seeded and reach maturity the following July. Capable of enriching the soil with nitrogen up to 60 to 120
lb/acre, and aerating soil up to depths of 30-85 cm, the legume is used primarily
for soil improvement. Hairy vetch is also said to facilitate the availability
of potassium to other, shallower-rooted, crops The protein content of vetch hay
ranges from 12 to 20%; however, and can function as a beneficial food source
for livestock. Vetch produces a hay yield of 1.5 to 3.5 ton/acre dry weight.

White Clover: (Trifolium
repens) a member of Fabaceae, is the
world’s most widely grown clover. It is often under sown with cereals to
provide a perennial source of nitrogen and increase their yield. White clover yields of 100 lb of N/acre have
been documented. White clover can be “frost seeded” (in early spring when the
soil is still frosted) into existing grass pastures to improve pasture
production and quality. It is highly nutritious and palatable and aside from
improving the soil of the pasture is offers a source of winter forage for
livestock. The protein content of white clover will exceed 15% and the
digestibility 70%. Dry matter yields will range from 2000 to 4000 pounds per
acre per season depending mainly on soil moisture. The crop tolerates trampling
and mowing, and can therefore be seeded as an alternative to conventional
lawns.

Comfrey: (Symphytum officinale L.) is a
prolific perennial herb belonging to the Borage family (Boraginaceae) that has
long been recognized by organic gardeners for its great usefulness and
versatility, both medicinally and as a fertilizer. Because the majority of
comfrey under cultivation is hybridized, it is typically propagated from root
cuttings. It is a sturdy plant, reaching a height of 2 to 3 1/2 feet with very
large, hairy lower leaves, as much as 15 to 20 inches long. Its roots draw
nutrients from deep in the soil to produce the energy rich foliage that offers
many methods of application as a fertilizer.

Comfrey
offers many uses as a fertilizer:

-
Comfrey as a compost activator

-
Comfrey as liquid fertilizer

-
Comfrey as a mulch

-
Comfrey as a potting mixture ingredient

PROPERTY ZONING:

The Sebastopol
Energy Garden is partitioned into three specific zones of use, with the lowest
numbered zone representing the area of highest traffic and crop yield (Zone 1),
and the highest numbered zone being that which requires only periodic care and
offers reduced yields (Zone 3). That zone which falls between Zone 1 and 3 (Zone
2) represents an overlap of the two. By viewing the garden as three separate
zones with individual characteristics, we can plan the layout of selected cropsmuch more strategically.

ZONES 1-2: BACKYARD

ZONE 1 is the portion of the garden in closest
proximity to zone zero of the property, the house. The crops grown in this area
are primarily consumed by humans. Crops in this zone fall within the categories
of nutrition, and root calorie crops. Water remediation occurs in the zone of
the garden as well as the growing systems.

ZONES 1-2: FRONTYARD

ZONE 2 is the portion of the garden beyond zone one that is still
used for annual crops. Crops grown in this area are primarily calorie and
carbon crops. This is the part of the
garden allocated towards testing and demonstration, and is where there is
opportunity to profile those crops that we see fit. Compost production, egg
production, tool storage, and processing and harvesting occur in this part of
the garden.

ZONE 3: BACKYARD

ZONE 3
is the portion of the garden farthest from the house. Crops grown in this part
of the garden are primarily perennials that provide nutrition and calories,
attract and repel insects, fix nitrogen, accumulate nutrients, or increase the
health of the garden ecosystem. This portion of the garden is independent from
irrigation and is self managing.