20921203 per-ma-culture-greenhouse

The

Perpetual Harvest
Greenhouse System

A Copious Approach to Conscious Sustainable Living
Just imagine . . . a highly energy-efficient and cost-effective year-round source of
the finest quality, healthy, organic produce grown in an innovative manner that
protects the environment and the wellbeing of consumers while fostering
sustainability and community economic development.

CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Pg 1

ENGINEERING REVIEW BY MARK HOFFMAN Pg 3
OVERVIEW Pg 3
DESCRIPTION Pg 5
A TYPICAL DAY IN THE GREENHOUSE Pg 10
SUMMARY Pg 13
PROFIT POTENTIAL – BILL WILSON Pg 16
APPENDIX Pg 17
PHGS RESOURCE & ENERGY FLOWPATHS DIAGRAM Pg 18

PHASE I Pg 19
REFINEMENT AND VALIDATION Pg 19
OVERVIEW Pg 19
BASELINE PARAMETERS TO INVESTIGATE AND OPTIMIZE Pg 19
PHASE I SUPPLIMENTS FOR STELLAR RESULTS Pg 21
POTENTIAL RESULTS Pg 23
INVESTIGATIVE APPROACH Pg 25
PROFIT POTENTIAL Pg 26
MARKETING PLAN FOR LILY HILL FARM Pg 27
MARKETING PLAN FOR STELLE Pg 27
POTENTIALS IN COMMON TO LILY HILL FARM AND STELLE Pg 28
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES CREATED Pg 31
COMPENSATION CONSIDERATIONS Pg 32
RISK ANALYSIS Pg 32
COST ANALYSIS Pg 33
OPERATIONS LABOR, EDUCATION & ADVERTISING Pg 33
SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE Pg 34
GREENHOUSE AT LILY HILL FARM Pg 35
GREENHOUSE AT STELLE Pg 36
COST OVERVIEW FOR BASELINE PROPOSAL Pg 37
RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR BASELINE PROPOSAL Pg 37
GREENHOUSE BASELINE ROI ANALYSIS SPREADSHEET Pg 38
COST OVERVIEW FOR STELLAR PROPOSAL Pg 39
STELLAR ROI ANALYSIS SPREADSHEET Pg 40

PHASE II Pg 41
OPTIMIZED DEMONSTRATION SYSTEM FOR COMMERCIAL SALES Pg 41

APPENDIX A – Bio-dynamics Overview Pg 42
APPENDIX B – Sources of Supply and Sites to Investigate Pg 42
APPENDIX C – White Page Energized Water Primer by Yosef Bender Pg 44
APPENDIX D – Stellar Project Limited Liability Corporation Overview Pg 45

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Chris Marron is the innovator behind the Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System. He has considerable
construction expertise having worked in the industry for much of his life. That background gives well
grounded credence to cost and time building estimates. He has 15 years experience growing a variety
of crops using many of the technologies and techniques this proposal is based upon. He also has five
years experience working at a community supported agriculture (CSA) organic farm. At one point his
wife asked him to build a greenhouse to grow food for their family. They lived at an elevation of
6,000 feet in Oregon so that was a challenge. They worked together for seven years operating their
greenhouse and living off of what it produced. Their success became the foundation for the
spectacular potential outlined here. Chris has spent an additional 13 years refining this concept. What
is needed now is to take it from theory to commercial viability by validating it with a working
prototype and then developing an optimized design for commercial sale based on the lessons learned.
The uniqueness of the Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System (PHGS) lies in the integration of many
innovative aspects of greenhouse design and operation. All the features in PHGS have been successfully
applied separately in existing greenhouse systems. However, no single publicized greenhouse system
currently in operation combines the features employed in the Perpetual Harvest system. PHGS can
simulate seasons and operate economically year-round. It is more profitable than the standard three-
season greenhouse. This is due primarily to the ability to operate efficiently even in unfavorable weather
thus raising high value produce which can be sold locally at substantial profit.
To accomplish these goals PHGS creates 365 ideal growing days per year by optimizing
temperature, light, carbon dioxide enrichment, and soluble nutrient levels in conjunction with
continuous planting and harvesting. It is a hybrid system using hydro-organics techniques to create
the most favorable growing conditions. Thus crops that would otherwise be shipped from temperate
regions during harvest times can be grown profitably year-round near their intended market. Off-
season production significantly increases return on investment in comparison to conventional
greenhouse systems. This is feasible because heating and cooling costs are as much as 75% less than
a standard three-season greenhouse operation. This energy efficiency allows a greenhouse operator
to create growing conditions unique to specific crops. Thus almost any greenhouse suited crop can
be harvested any time of year even in very unfavorable climates.
PHGS accomplishes profitable year-round production by optimizing two primary features of
greenhouse operation: Growing techniques and energy management. It achieves production levels
not possible in an outdoor system or a three-season greenhouse. Biomass based energy production is
used to increase the profitability of both food production and the associated energy production
systems in comparison to either of these systems in a stand alone configuration. Integration of
PHGS with renewable energy production systems such as a bio-diesel plant, ethanol still, methane
bio-digester connected to a co-generation unit, all combine to improve energy efficiency and further
drive down operating costs while producing marketable by-products.
Four-season operation results in energy usage exceeding that of a three-season greenhouse. It
eliminates startup/shutdown time and costs. Food production increases, conservatively estimated at
five to eight times that of conventional indoor or outdoor approaches, further offset costs. That
estimate is derived from Chris’s first hand experience. The high production number is achieved
during average conditions. That conservative estimate is given further credence by recently released
figures on hydroponics based lettuce production at Cornell University. When compared with
California outdoor commercial growers their output was increased by “23 times while decreasing
water usage by well over 30 times”; www.verticalfarm.com/plans-2k6_eco.htm. PHGS is a similar
system except it is organic based hence yielding a higher quality product.
Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System 1

Year-round operation levels employment requirements and maximizes resource utilization. With this
approach food production can be located close to demand thus eliminating both the current quality
compromising practice of harvesting crops prior to maturation and the expense of long distance
shipping. PHGS dramatically raises produce quality while delivery costs plummet thus creating a
competitive sales price and substantial profit margins. As consumers the general public will be
interested in what PHGS has to offer. As producers the inexpensive generation of high quality food
year-round will be of great interest to communities focused on sustainability. A resource that can
annually yield a conservative estimate of 40 pounds per square foot of the highest quality produce will
be of great interest to the farming community as well.
Our prisons, school systems, and Native American Reservations are other potential customers. One
of the biggest industries in the United States today is the prison industry. Typically they deal with
restrictive budgets. Food is a major expense and its quality a source of dissent within the prison
community. In a prison labor is not a problem. Cost effective greenhouse systems would reduce a
significant expense, raise inmate moral, and provide an excellent education program. Numerous
studies show that the best way to reduce the repeat offender population is education resulting in new
employment potential. Similar cost reductions and quality improvements would be feasible for our
educational institutions and on reservations. There would be commensurate gains in the quality of
the education possible with students and Native Americans eating healthy food as well as a new
industry for economic gain.
Cost information for building a PHGS prototype is based on an off-the-shelf greenhouse modified to
meet PHGS requirements. Even at prototype level it can be showcased as an educational vehicle
illustrating efficient, sustainable food and energy production. A baseline Phase I effort is characterized
in the cost figures. It establishes the system’s financial viability while validating the foundation
principles. Items beyond minimal scope have been noted for supplementary funding. They allow
additional growing technologies to be evaluated in order to achieve stellar results beyond those already
anticipated. Examples would be audible and electromagnetic based plant growth augmentation.
A Phase II is included as a follow-on development. It incorporates the Phase I lessons in a custom made
greenhouse optimized to meet PHGS requirements. This showcase system will be marketable in all
geographic areas as it can adapt itself to climate extremes from deserts to the artic. It could potentially be
built totally underground. The Phase II PHGS is especially applicable to urban and suburban settings
thereby opening up a previously underutilized market collocated with product demand. Certainly more
cost effective than the proposed $200 million 30 story Los Vegas greenhouse: www.verticalfarm.com.
Midwest Permaculture is an educational enterprise founded by Bill and Rebecca Wilson, 28-year residents
of the sustainably-oriented community of Stelle, Illinois. They have placed an engineering analysis of
PHGS on their website: http://www.midwestpermaculture.com/GreenhouseOverview.php. In their
opinion this is the future direction for sustainable food production. The document was authored by Mark
Hoffman, a fellow Stelle resident. The content of that paper is included in this project proposal as it is an
excellent in-depth analysis of PHGS.
A number of knowledgeable and well intentioned individuals have taken the time to document
PHGS in order to give it the exposure it needs to attract sufficient resources to complete this project.
Their confidence in what Chris has pioneered is seen in the time they and others have invested
developing the information contained in this document. Mel Thomas has joined them as the
architect of this collated material. The result builds on the efforts of those mentioned so far as well
as others whose contributions are embedded in this material and noted when appropriate.
Mel Thomas (April-08)


Chris Marron’s…..

Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System

Engineeering review by Mark Hoffman

OVERVIEW
Presented here, with Chris Marron's permission, is his Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System
(PHGS); reviewed, generally researched, and edited by Mark Hoffman. Mark is a Stelle area
engineer and permaculturist who is the President of the Center for Sustainable Community in Stelle,
Illinois, His conclusion is that this is a very plausible system for year-round food production.

Offered to the Public
Chris is allowing us to publish this body of information to insure public access to his work. He
professes that little of this design is his original work for all he has done is researched others work
and as he says "put two & two together." But no one we know of has taken all the different
components he has laid out in his system and put them together into one design. Chris's motivation
in sharing all this is to do his part to support the emerging desire of people to find and live in truly
meaningful and sustainable communities.

On The Ground
This is a recent body of work that Chris has put together and as of this time, neither he nor anyone else
we know of has actually built and operated this greenhouse system or tested its production possibilities.
The door is open for anyone to experiment with building a PHG System. Chris is interested and
available to assist others who are serious about building and operating a Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse
System. Chris can be reached by emailing mark@centerforsustainablecommunity.org.
.
Financially Exciting
Also included are some financial projections for an operating greenhouse under this design.
Although they are just estimates, they are very encouraging numbers because they answer the need
for finding more sustainable ways of economically supporting our small scale farmers and growers.
This system can also be used in suburban and city environments providing nutritious food, income
and greater food security for local residents.

Food Security
As this system is capable of producing year-round-healthy food, it brings the possibility of economic
stability and true-food security to any region. The system is also sustainable in the long run since it
uses only a fraction of the energy of conventional greenhouses. As fossil fuel prices continue to rise,
traditional green housing operations will become unprofitable.

Be a Part of Building This Greenhouse
The Center for Sustainable Community, Midwest Permaculture and Stellar Projects LLC are all
100% behind seeing a test greenhouse built when the interested people and resources arrive. I would
invite all who read these words and feel the inner pull to see this greenhouse built to contact one of
these agencies. That way the people, resources, locations and markets required will be networked to
each other in order to facilitate the building of a fully operational greenhouse.


Chris and I also encourage other individuals and groups to pool their talent and resources and
seriously consider building one of these fascinating greenhouses. Many different individuals and
organizations should be testing the Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System in an attempt to find the
processes and methods that work best. In all likelihood, those of us who pursue this method of food
production will create something that will not only benefit ourselves, but will serve the greater
community and future generations as well.

Chris Marron is available for consultation and even project support, as time and funds allow.

Bill Wilson (May-07)

To reach Center for Sustainable Community or Chris:
csc@stelle.net
(815) 256-2204
cmarron14@yahoo.com
(815) 383-1727


DESCRIPTION OF THE PERPETUAL HARVEST GREENHOUSE SYSTEM

Diagram courtesy of:
Ross and Kat Elliott
RR#1 MacDonalds Corners
Ontario Canada K0G 1M0

The Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System provides an indoor ecosystem capable of growing
equal yields of organic produce 52 weeks in a year. This system creates 365 ideal growing days per
year by optimizing light, carbon dioxide enrichment, and soluble nutrients in conjunction with
continuous planting and harvesting. Because the hyrdo-organic based Perpetual Harvest system can
economically simulate warm season growing conditions, crops that would otherwise be shipped
from warmer climates can be grown profitably in colder climates during winter months.

Such off-season production significantly increases return on investment of the Perpetual Harvest
system in comparison to conventional greenhouse systems because heating and cooling costs could
be up to 75% less than for the standard three-season greenhouse operation. This system also allows a
greenhouse operator to create growing conditions unique to specific crops such that almost any crop
can be harvested at any time of year, even in colder climates.

The Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System accomplishes profitable year-round production by
optimizing two primary features of greenhouse operation – Growing techniques and Energy
management. This system integrates the latest innovations in greenhouse design and operation with
emerging understanding of growing techniques to create production levels not possible in an outdoor
system, or in a three-season greenhouse. Because this system can operate for four seasons, its yearly
energy usage exceeds that of the three-season greenhouse, however its overall profitability is 6-10

times that of the conventional three-season greenhouse or outdoor plantings because the system can
provide organic produce when other systems can not. The uniqueness of the Perpetual Harvest
system lies not in any one feature, but instead in the integration of many innovative aspects of
greenhouse design and operation. All the features utilized in the Perpetual Harvest system have been
successfully applied in existing growing systems; however, research indicates that no single
publicized greenhouse system currently in operation utilizes the combination of features integrated
into the Perpetual Harvest system. Furthermore, the Perpetual Harvest system can be easily
integrated with renewable energy systems such as a bio-diesel plant, ethanol still, methane bio-
digester, and/or co-generation unit, thus improving energy efficiency, driving down operating costs,
and producing marketable fuel by-products.

Optimizing Growing Conditions

The Perpetual Harvest system utilizes unique growing techniques to maximize plant growth.
Enhanced growing techniques include: providing artificial light, carbon dioxide (CO2) enrichment,
and maximizing soluble nutrients absorbed through roots and leaves. The system enhances growth
by proportionally increasing the five most important growing conditions at certain times of the day,
thus producing a ‘supercharged’ growing environment causing plants to reach erectly for the light
while rapidly absorbing nutrients. The result is a significant and rapid growth surge. Plants can
process approximately twice as many nutrients if light, CO2, and soluble nutrients are increased in
balance at the same time. Standard greenhouse growing temperature of diminishing returns is ~85°F,
while experience indicates temperature can be successfully increased to 95°F with increased light,
CO2, and soluble nutrient levels, along with additional water. Growing at increased temperature has
the added advantage of allowing the greenhouse to remain sealed longer from the outdoor
atmosphere each day, leaving the higher CO2 concentration available for a longer period. With
normal light, CO2, and soluble nutrient levels, plants become stressed at temperatures above 85°F -
not so, with the Perpetual Harvest system. Operating at higher greenhouse temperatures effectively
utilizes periods where it is difficult to maintain greenhouse temperatures less than 85°F.

Light:
In the Perpetual Harvest system, plants receive the same amount of light from the fall equinox until
spring equinox by adjusting day length with artificial sunlight. Experience indicates that
approximately 11-12 hours is optimal daylight length for most common food plants in temperate
zones. Additionally, applying supplemental light for three hours each morning, every day of the
year, at the same time that the CO2 concentration is enriched, has been seen to maximize plant
growth. Increased light supports CO2 absorption by stimulating plants to open their stomata.
Supplementing the red, blue, and green light frequencies during this enhanced growth period
optimizes utilization of the added light. Red and blue frequencies enhance vegetative growth while
green frequencies are necessary for seed development.

Carbon Dioxide Enrichment:
Normal atmospheric CO2 concentration is approximately 370 ppm, however, experience indicates
that some plants prefer up to 2000 ppm CO2 (approximately five times normal). In the Perpetual
Harvest system this increased level is maintained for only 3 hours in the mid morning. During this 3
hour period, the plants store CO2 that will be used to boost plant growth later in the day after CO2
level has returned to about 1000 ppm. CO2 is primarily produced by a flame (propane or natural
gas) CO2 generator. The flame can serve as a ‘peaking CO2 generator’ and baseline CO2 levels could
be provided by decomposing compost or other continuous natural low producing sources. A digital


CO2 monitor determines when CO2 generators will cycle, and also serves as an alarm for humans to
take precaution when in the greenhouse during the high CO2 period.
Soluble Nutrients:
The Perpetual Harvest system utilizes the ebb and flow style of hydro-organics, passing organic
nutrients through a soil-less growing medium placed in plastic lined beds. Perlite, pumice,
vermiculite, and decomposing organic matter (potting soil) comprise the soil-less growing medium.
Using a soil-less growing medium greatly reduces the likelihood of soil borne diseases and pests that
can proliferate in the enclosed greenhouse space. Soluble nutrients are provided by addition of
organic compost tea created using the traditional Indore compost method developed by Sir Albert
Howard. This method, based on years of compost experimentation, produces compost from
decomposing cellulose products such as peat moss, straw, and last season’s crop residue mixed with
already composted animal manure along with a small amount of real soil and recently finished
compost as an inoculant.
In the Perpetual Harvest system, Indore method compost is made using only organic ingredients mixed
in a 25:1 ratio of carbon to nitrogen. Earthworms are added to the pile after the initial heating period
(~8 days) to convert the existing nutrients into worm castings, a nutrient form more easily accessible to
plants. After 14 days, compost is old enough to use as a nutrient base for making compost tea and/or
growing medium. Foliar feeding of this compost tea, applied to the underside of leaves as a fine mist,
is also performed in conjunction with the three-hour mid-morning light/CO2 enrichment period. After
worm digestion, the compost can be mixed with last season’s used growing medium at a mixture rate
determined by muscle testing. During this enhanced mode of operation, daily muscle testing
(kinesiology) is utilized to provide the data needed to fine-tune light, nutrient, and temperature levels.
Energy Management System
Energy costs are the most expensive aspect of greenhouse operation. The Perpetual Harvest system
capitalizes on recent innovations in greenhouse design to significantly reduce energy inputs. This
reduction is primarily achieved through two aspects – Insulation design and Energy storage and
transfer. Other aspects, such as greenhouse layout and temperature control also enhance efficiency,
but to a lesser extent.
Insulation Design:
The south facing wall of the Perpetual
Harvest Greenhouse is composed of double
layers of polyethylene, between which are
injected biodegradable soap bubbles. The
soap bubbles are fed into a distribution
plenum at the top of the greenhouse where
they emerge at intervals along the length of
the greenhouse, and flow down to fill the
space between the polyethylene sheets.
Recent developments in bubble making
equipment designed for commercial fire
suppression systems have resulted in
equipment that can fill the polyethylene gap within minutes. The Perpetual Harvest system employs
a bubble indication system that senses bubble collapse and auto starts the bubble making machine
when the bubble wall drops below a specified height.
The soap bubbles resist convective heat transfer, and with an ‘R’ value of approximately R-1 per inch


of bubbles, significantly increases R-value over that of single sheet polyethylene walls, or even double
sheet polyethylene walls with an air gap in between. Soap bubbles also block infrared light but not
visible or ultraviolet light. This attribute creates an ideal greenhouse situation since the light
frequencies required for photosynthesis (visible light) pass through the bubbles but the frequencies that
would result in radiant heat loss (infrared) are moderated. This means that light needed for plant
growth is available even though unwanted heat transfer is minimized. Bubbles can impede unwanted
heat transfer in either direction using this system. For example, draining the bubbles during the day can
increase internal heat gain, while injecting bubbles during the day can reduce internal heat gain.
Bubbles can be produced at night to prevent heat loss and maintain inside temperature. This process
was developed in the Stelle greenhouse nearly twenty years ago by residents who received their
funding in 1989 through a State of Illinois grant, It has been successfully used in Canada. We have
used the Solaroof.com diagram depicted here because it illustrates how the insulation system works.
The design pioneered in the Stelle greenhouse will be used when the prototype PHGS is built as it
incorporates the same principle.

Energy Storage and Transfer Systems:
The Perpetual Harvest greenhouse design employs redundant energy storage and transfer systems.
These systems listed by priority of use are:

• Subterranean heating/cooling system (SHCS)
• Hydronic radiant heat system with the following heat sources:
o Solar/thermal heater
o Co-gen unit waste heat
o Babington burner
• Natural gas/propane forced air heat as the final back-up heat source

The subterranean heating system is comprised of several hundred feet of
thin walled 4" perforated, polyethylene drainage tubing buried under
gravel inside the greenhouse base. A fan connected to the tubing via a
common plenum provides forced flow of greenhouse air through the
tubing. Because daytime greenhouse air is warm and humid and the
greenhouse base is cool, moisture will condense as the air passes through
the buried drainage tubing, thus removing heat from the air. Upon
returning into the greenhouse air space, the air is cooler and less humid. In
this condition, the returned air can absorb moisture, thus cooling the
greenhouse air. The uniqueness
of this cooling system lies in
the phase change that has
occurred in the buried tubing. Besides cooling the
greenhouse air, this process also heats the greenhouse
base. At night, the fan can be run to heat air as it again
passes through the buried tubing, thus convectively
transferring heat stored in the greenhouse base to the
greenhouse atmosphere as the air reenters the greenhouse.
In this manner, the subterranean heat storage system can
provide both heating and cooling. The SHCS is equipped with dual speed fans to allow for finer
temperature control. Experience in Colorado indicates that this system can meet the greenhouse
heating and cooling needs for all but approximately 50 days per year. Cogeneration-hybrid heat
systems economically cover what is left.


The Perpetual Harvest heating and cooling system design integrates a multi-fuel fired hydronic
radiant heating system with the SHCS (primarily for climates without the solar resources of
Colorado). The hydronic radiant heating system consists of tubes placed beside the SHCS tubes.
This system includes a large water storage tank and is needed only during colder months, storing
heat during daytime that can be withdrawn at night or during cloudy days by airflow of the SHCS
along the tubes of the radiant heating system. To some extent, the radiant floor heating system also
transfers heat into the greenhouse base/floor. Heat is desirable at floor level to keep the root zone
warm. As long as roots are warm, plants can withstand air temperatures up to 15°F less than the root
zone temperature.

The hydronic radiant heating system is heated by three sources: a solar/thermal system, a co-
generating unit, and a Babbington burner. The solar/thermal heating system is essentially a solar
and/or wood boiler powered pool heater circulating hot water into the storage tank. The co-gen waste
heat systems and Babbington burner are also connected to the radiant heating system as backup heat
sources. The Babbington burner burns oil (waste vegetable or motor oil) or biodiesel and can quickly
provide a significant amount of heat (the U.S. military heats all the meals served in the field using
this system). The co-gen unit provides both heat and electricity and can be powered from a variety
of renewable fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, or methane.

Greenhouse Layout:
The Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System can be retrofitted to just about any existing greenhouse
design. However, due to low angle of sun in northern winters the optimal PHGS would have a tall
northern wall and the planting beds vertically stacked in terraces stepping upward toward the
northern wall. Looking externally at the greenhouse from one end it would appear similar to an A
frame with the northern wall earth bermed. Ideally, the greenhouse would be built into a south facing
hill and include a short southern wall at ground level. Besides terraced beds, it would be possible to
apply the verti-grow method that utilizes pots stacked one above the other. It would also be possible
to build the terraces out of enclosed concrete fish tanks, thus allowing fish to be raised (aquaponics),
providing another income stream.

Temperature/Humidity Control:
The Perpetual Harvest control systems are designed to regulate temperature using thermostats,
timers, and/or programmable controllers, all with the option for manual override. The energy
management systems are operated with the intent of maintaining the desired greenhouse temperature
and humidity with the minimum energy input. The greenhouse should be maintained below 60%
humidity at all times, if possible.

General temperature control in a northern climate is as follows. The SHCS (Subterranean Heating
and Cooling System) is operated at all times, unless its outlet air temperature drops below 55°F .
Should the SHCS air outlet temperature drop below ~60°F, the radiant heating system automatically
initiates flow, thus transferring its heat to the air in the SHCS tubing, maintaining or increasing the
SHCS outlet air temperature. During the mid-morning enhanced growth period of operation, heat
addition from solar gain, the CO2 generators, and artificial lights could cause significant heat
buildup, especially on sunny days. If such heat buildup causes interior air temperature to reach 96°F,
CO2 generation and artificial lighting are automatically terminated and the greenhouse atmosphere is
exhausted to the outdoors. After the cool incoming outside air causes interior temperature to drop to
75°F, exhaust fans are stopped and CO2 generation and artificial lighting are reinitiated, provided the
three hour enhanced growing period has not reached completion. Subterranean heating operates to


provide heat at night and in the morning until needed. Cooler temperatures may be needed to
improve fruit set and possibly enhance fruit sweetness. Most berries need cooler night time
temperatures to produce fruit, so the Perpetual Harvest system utilizes a solar air conditioning
system to draw evening temps down to around 50°F for a short period during hot weather.

A TYPICAL DAY IN THE GREENHOUSE

Temperature/humidity regulation and plant maintenance activities during a normal Spring or Fall
day in a northern climate typically occur as follows:

Sunrise - 7AM: Interior temperature - 60°F, Exterior temperature - 35°F
Remove bubbles to allow solar heat gain and turn on fans to recharge SHCS (if not already running).
Turn on all interior air circulating fans to promote plant strength .

9AM: Interior temperature – 80°F, Exterior temperature - 50°F
Refill bubble cavity to minimize heat input
Water plants with soluble nutrient solution

9:30AM: no change in temperature
Foliar feed plants

10AM: Interior temperature – 85°F, Exterior temperature – 60°F-80°F
Turn on CO2 generator and gro-lights
Leave greenhouse for three hours to avoid high CO2 concentration

11AM: Interior temperature – 95°F
No human activity in greenhouse

12PM: no change in interior temperature

1PM: Interior temperature - 95°F
Shut down CO2 generators and lights
Give greenhouse a long exhaust fan cycle to lower interior temperature to 85°F

2PM: Interior temperature – 85°F
Remove any dead foliage
Prepare plants for taking cuttings

3PM: Interior temperature maintained at 85°F

4PM: Interior temperature maintained at 85°F
Begin daily harvest, plants like lettuce should be harvested in early morning to avoid a bitter taste.
Plant seeds
If afternoon is cool or cloudy, remove bubbles to allow for solar gain

5PM: Interior temperature – 75°F Exterior temperature – 60°F
Turn off half of interior fans
Start gro-lights


6PM: Interior temperature – 75°F Exterior temperature – 55°F
Refill bubble cavity to hold in heat
Transplant seedlings and cuttings

6:30PM: no change in temperature
Turn off gro-lights
Give greenhouse a long exhaust cycle to remove humidity and lower temperature to below 60°F
to sweeten fruit

8PM: Interior temperature - 60°F

Cooler night time temperatures may be needed for fruits and berries at certain times of their growing
cycle to improve fruit set and possibly enhance fruit sweetness. Through use of the SHCS, the
Perpetual Harvest system can produce these lower temperatures for a short period even during hot
weather.

Integration of Renewable Energy Systems

Although the Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System can operate profitably with the systems already
described, overall energy efficiency can be improved by addition of a variety of renewable energy
systems. Higher energy efficiency can lead to more profitable long term operation despite the initial
higher capital expense of additional systems.

Perhaps the most viable and efficient energy component to integrate into the Perpetual Harvest
system is the co-generation unit. This is because the co-gen unit produces multiple useful outputs.
The co-gen unit produces electricity, which is needed for lighting, fans, and electronics. As
described earlier, it also produces heat which can be stored in the hydronic radiant heating system. If
the co-gen unit is powered by ethanol, methane, or bio-diesel it might even be possible to feed its
exhaust into the greenhouse as a CO2 source after filtering (depending on completeness of
combustion) and/or heat source. Furthermore, the exhaust line and cooling system lines could be
buried into the greenhouse base where their heat can be transferred into the greenhouse substructure,
much like the heat in the radiant heating system.

A system to produce the bio-fuel consumed by the co-gen unit could also be added. For example, if
the co-gen unit is powered by a diesel engine, a bio-diesel plant could be built alongside to feed the
engine. The same would be true for an ethanol still if the generator were powered by an engine
designed to burn ethanol and/or gasoline. An ethanol plant has the added benefit of producing CO2
as a distillation by-product. As described earlier, it is desirable to enhance CO2 enrichment in the
greenhouse, therefore CO2 produced by an ethanol still would displace the need for some of the CO2
generated through igniting propane or natural gas torches during the mid-morning enhanced growth
period and thus cut operating expenses. The still would also produce waste heat that, if it could be
captured, could heat water in the radiant heating system.

Addition of a methane digester to the mix of energy systems could produce at least two useful
byproducts. The first would be the methane gas itself, which could be used at least three ways: 1) to
power a gas engine for the co-gen unit, 2) burned during the enhanced growing period as a CO2
generator, 3) used to heat an ethanol still. A less obvious byproduct of a methane digester is the
nutrient rich sludge left over from anaerobic digestion. The liquid from this sludge can function as
an important nutrient source for the hydroponics solution being fed to the plants, and any


undigestible sludge can be applied as landscape or flower garden fertilizer or be sold thereby
creating yet another income stream.

Regardless of which renewable energy systems (if any) are integrated with the Perpetual Harvest
system, a building separate from the greenhouse will be needed to ensure the mechanical
components are isolated from the humid greenhouse environment. This building would likely also
house the composting, aquaponics, and vermiculture operations.

Choice of renewable energy systems integrated into the Perpetual Harvest system will likely depend
on availability of local biomass resources. It should be noted that for cases where a bio-fuel waste
product (for example, methane digester sludge) is to be used in growing greenhouse produce, the
biomass inputs may need to be of certified organic origin in order to retain the ability to certify the
greenhouse produce as organic. This could be problematic unless the operation has access to organic
biomass inputs.

Competitive Features and Profit Centers

The Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System has numerous unique features that enhance its
competitiveness in comparison to a standard three-season greenhouse. These features are:

• Simple, yet highly efficient heating and cooling design
• Continuous year-round growing and harvesting of organic fruits and vegetables, providing
‘just in time’ availability for buyers
• Ability to grow ‘designer’ fruits and vegetables by artificially creating ‘seasons’, thus
capitalizing on increased prices for out of season crops
• Reduced need for pest control due to compost based nutrient application bringing balance to
plants and keeping soil borne insects and diseases out of the greenhouse biome
• Higher plant brix (sugar) levels, resulting in better taste and longer produce shelf life
• Maximized sunlight harvesting through use of tiered beds
• Integrating renewable energy systems to:
o reduce energy costs,
o provide several additional profit centers – such as sales of bio-fuels,
o establish local energy self-sufficiency
• Significantly reduce shipping costs by raising food crops locally

Besides the advantages just listed, it should be noted that the Perpetual Harvest food production system
can become a uniquely closed resource loop if it is integrated with nearby restaurant(s). A resource
sharing relationship with a local restaurant would allow waste cooking oil to be utilized as a bio-diesel
source. It would also allow food scraps to be recycled, either directly into a bio-digester, or indirectly
via feeding animals such as hogs and chickens. In turn, these animals could provide another income
stream in the form of meat, dairy and eggs. It can be seen that as the Perpetual Harvest system
integrates greater numbers of resource utilizing components, additional income streams arise due to the
efficient utilization of energy and biomass. Ultimately, reduced waste increases profit, while greatly
minimizing the challenge of waste elimination and removal (pollution) so prevalent in modern, large
scale, industrial agriculture systems. See Perpetual Harvest Energy and Resource Flowpaths for a
diagramatic representation of possible resource flows within the Perpetual Harvest system.


SUMMARY

The Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System derives its effectiveness and economic competitiveness
from the integration of its many innovative features. Those features include high R-value bubble
wall insulation, integrated methods of heat storage and temperature management, and an enhanced
mid-day growing period stimulated by increased carbon dioxide concentration, enhanced lighting,
and increased soluble nutrient levels. Although the construction costs of the Perpetual Harvest
system exceed that of the standard three season greenhouse, the extended harvest season and
significantly reduced long term energy costs should result in a higher return on investment for this
system than for other greenhouse systems currently in operation. (See the article titled, “Packin'
snacks for trip to Mars ” to learn of a successful greenhouse in New Jersey that implements many,
but not all of the features of the Perpetual Harvest system.) Inclusion of renewable energy systems
into the overall design produces multiple income streams not typical of a greenhouse system. Ideally,
the Perpetual Harvest system would be completely energy self sustaining – deriving all its energy
needs directly from the sun or from locally harvested sunlight via biomass. Some general benefits of
this system are:

• High quality, fresh-picked, organic produce with superior flavor.
• Local Grown. Minimal trucking costs.
• Can produce seasonal crops all year long if desired.
• Holds potential to integrate agribusiness into metropolitan areas.
• Diversifies income streams, providing a vehicle for reviving rural farm communities.
• Sustainable, renewable, environmentally sound.
• Profitable. Weekly crops/weekly income. Income can be steady instead of seasonal.
• Promotes self-sufficiency and independence.
• Could be used to reduce food and energy costs for prisons, schools, hospitals etc.

Lastly, it deserves to be stated that not only does the Perpetual Harvest system provide local
employment and a possible means of regenerating local farm economies, it also can serve as the
physical life blood of a sustainable community or co-housing unit. Considering that human societies
are typically organized around and through sharing of both food and energy, the fully developed
Perpetual Harvest system provides for these two most basic human needs.

At this time, a prototype of this fully integrated energy/food system is needed so that performance of
the Perpetual Harvest system may be optimized. Once proven effective and profitable, this system
can serve as an example of how a community can function in a self sustaining manner by efficiently
using the resources at its immediate disposal.

Notes:

Chris Marron, creator of the Perpetual Harvest system, has operated greenhouses for 15 years. His
experience with different lengths of light exposure, frequencies of exposure, and exposures at
different times during the day provide much of the basis for optimizing light to maximize plant
growth. Chris built his own single family greenhouse that he used continuously for 7 years at
elevation 6000 ft. in central Oregon near the city of Bend. Chris has experimented extensively with
Bio-dynamic and Perelandra (http://www.perelandra-ltd.com) principles in his growing systems.


Carbon dioxide is heavier than air and displaces oxygen at floor level. Furthermore, operation of the
CO2 generators reduces oxygen concentration in the greenhouse atmosphere. The alarm function
could also be provided by an oxygen monitor.

For information on Sir Albert Howard and the Indore compost method, visit the Journey to Forever
website (http://journeytoforever.org/farm_library/howard.html).

Muscle testing (aka: kinesiology) utilizes the inherent wisdom of the human body to determine truth.
Muscle testing utilizes the predisposition of the body’s muscles to strengthen in the presence of
truth. This process allows answering ‘yes-no’ questions by observing strong muscle response to
‘yes’ answers and weak muscle response to ‘no’ answers. This technique can be used to determine
optimal nutrient levels needed by plants. See ‘Power vs. Force’ by Dr. David R. Hawkins for a full
description of how truth can be determined via muscle testing.

A plenum is a common area in a distribution system, from which a substance will flow through
openings in many directions.

The U.S. insulation value index. Most stick-framed houses have R-19 in walls and R-38 in the attic.

Read about the LivelyUp Greenhouse that retains remarkably warm indoor temperatures in the cold
Canadian winter using this system. See the description at:
www.solaroof.org/wiki/SolaRoof/LivelyUpGreenhouse .

Refer to the Sunny John website (http://www.sunnyjohn.com/indexpages/shcs.htm) for a complete
description of the subterranean cooling and heating system, as well as how this system relies on
phase change of water for its effectiveness.

The Babbington Burner is what the U.S. Military uses to heat meals in the field. It is a very simple
system that quickly creates a substantial amount of heat by burning bio-diesel, vegetable oil, or even
waste motor oil.

A co-gen unit is an internal combustion motor attached to an electric generator/alternator that
captures waste engine and exhaust heat to create heating/cooling resources for living/growing space.
A diesel generator that captures and uses waste heat, becomes more than twice as efficient as one
that only makes electricity.

Verti-Grow is a growing method that stacks growing pots from floor to ceiling. When adding
nutrients one simply fills the top pot and the rest are fed by gravity.

For optimal vegetative growing conditions, it is desirable to keep greenhouse temperature at 55°F or
higher.

Solar air conditioning uses solar thermal techniques to supply the energy needed to drive a cooling
system. They typically utilize a phase change or other molecular process to move heat from a cool
location to a warmer location. Phase change systems of this sort often consist of a propane
refrigeration unit and have been in use for more than 150 years to create ice for icehouses. These
systems can also be as simple as passing air through piping buried at least 4 feet below ground where
the soil temperature is maintained year-round at a temperature approximately equivalent to the
average yearly air temperature for a location.

Without airflow to move plants, plants will not develop the necessary structural strength and will be
prone to falling over.

See http://www.hydor.eng.br/Pag22-1.html for the uses of bio-digester sludge. This is a wonderful
teaching site created using Dr. Raul Martins’sustainable farm as a model. That farm was in
operation for more than 40 years.

The ‘Packin’ Snacks for Trip to Mars’ article can be found at
http://www.pacpubserver.com/new/news/4-30-00/greenhouse.html .

Postscript…
At this time, I am satisfied with the completeness of this paper and that it can be sent out for review.
Although many of the features and methods in this concept paper may sound untried, research Chris
and I have performed on the Internet indicated that nearly all the features described here have been
tested and proven. However, no evidence can be found of anyone having applied all these concepts
into one system - not that they couldn't. We both suspect that greenhouses in Holland operate similar
to this system - Holland is a world leader in greenhouse operation and its greenhouses feed much of
Europe. Unfortunately, we can't find Internet information on Dutch greenhouses. Perhaps all their
greenhouse articles are in Dutch.

I went to considerable effort to reference this document to existing information. Recognize that the
description is generic and written for any climate. Certain aspects and features, particularly those
related to energy production and management, may not be applicable to our local climate. Also,
realize that this document describes all the possible options that can be included. It is unlikely that
all the energy systems described would be included in a single design since that would drive up the
cost significantly. I realize the document is a bit long, but that seemed to be necessary to adequately
describe the system.

I think that at this time, this document needs to be reviewed by people with greenhouse experience.
I'm not really sure what they might say - no doubt some will pick holes in it due to its cost of
construction - but others might see features that they wished they had in their own greenhouse. In my
opinion, simply utilizing the bubble wall insulation system and the subterranean heating and cooling
system would be very cost effective, simple to install, and energy efficient. Based on what I have
read on these two systems, they alone might meet over 75% of the energy needs of this greenhouse
system in our climate - and they require virtually no energy input to operate.

Mark Hoffman 1-31-06 (Stelle, IL)
Mark@centerforsustainablecommunity.org 815-256-2204


PROFIT POTENTIAL
Simple Greenhouse Projections for Perpetual Harvest System
Bill Wilson – Midwest Permaculture

Please note: In a permaculture greenhouse operation, it is more likely that there would be 2-3 dozen
varieties of plants growing together for a complementary and sustainable system to be developed.
For purposes of exploring production capabilities however, we were only able to find numbers for
single crop production. Imagine having 18 of the most common vegetables
growing in your greenhouse and you are supplying food not only for your
family but for a local health food store and several restaurants that want
tomatoes, cucumber, dill, lettuce, asparagus, zucchini, peas, beans, etc. all
year-round.

What if it were possible to net $500 a week from a single greenhouse...!

Industry standards: …claim a commercial greenhouse in the temperate
climate zone (Feb. - Nov.) can conservatively produce an average of 4 lbs. of
tomatoes per square foot (/sf), per year. They estimate that the cost to
operate runs between $.70 and 1.00 per pound which includes the current cost of energy. They
estimate product to sell for $1.25 to 2.50/lb. depending on the time of year and market competition.
So…
A 25’ x 90’ greenhouse = 2,250 sf. @4 lbs./sf x 2,250 sf = 9000 lbs. of tomatoes annually

Conventional Expenses, Income and Profit
Estimate Operational costs at .90 lb. (x 9.000 lbs.) = $8,100 to operate
(Heating and electrical, labor, debt repayment and interest, operating supplies, and taxes.)
Gross sales @ $1.30 (x 9,000 lbs.) = $11,700 gross revenue
Gross Profit (before management & sales costs) = $3,600
There are typical annual profit projections for a single, relatively-small greenhouse.

What is Possible with a Perpetual Harvest System?
A year-round New Jersey greenhouse operation using CO2 and supplemental lighting (in the winter
months) demonstrated that tomatoes can be produced year-round. Yields were comfortably in the 12-
16 lbs./sq./ft range. Chris Marron is confident his system will do much better. This needs to be
tested, so for now we will use a conservative, 12 lbs./sq./ft yield.

12 lbs./sf x 2,250sf = 27,000 lbs. of tomatoes annually

Operational costs (go ahead and triple the above $8,100) = $24,300
(Heating and electrical, labor, debt repayment and interest, operating supplies, and taxes.)
Gross Sales @ 1.30 (x 27,000 lbs.) = $35,000 in gross revenues
Gross Profit (before Mgmt. & sales) = $10,700

Note:
If tomatoes were grown organically and sold for a higher premium ($1.80 instead of $1.30) this
would boost income by $13,500 without increasing expenses.
Gross Profit with organics = $24,200

So... Build three of these greenhouses and you have a nice annual income.


Dear Reader: Remember, these are just my best estimates of what is possible. A prototype
greenhouse still needs to be built to test these assumptions. However, just imagine the possibility of
growing three times more food than anything previously achieved with the bonus of using renewable
energies.

Bill Wilson (5-17-05) Note: This page was written by Bill Wilson for his Midwest Permaculture
website, without edit by Chris. Chris’ response is on pages 26-27 and is aided by recent hydro-
organics industry data.

APPENDIX:

http://www.hydro-gardens.com/planning_your_house.htm
TOMATOES require from 4.0 to 5.0 square feet of greenhouse area per plant. Therefore, the
plant population in a 30' x 132' greenhouse will range from 990 plants to 792 plants. Plant
population is affected by greenhouse style, time of year you're in production, and your location.
Production is normally calculated in pounds per square feet of greenhouse area. It can range from
6.0# psf to well over 12# psf per year with currently available varieties. (See production estimates
at www.hydro-gardens.com/tomato_seeds.htm)
The cost of producing vegetable crops varies substantially from season to season and year to year.
It is generally accepted in the industry that this cost can range from $.70 per pound to $1.00 per
pound. A few of the many factors that affect this cost are heating and electrical, labor, debt
repayment and interest, operating supplies, and taxes.
The average selling price for vegetables in your area times the total yearly production gives you
gross income. This will also vary substantially from season to season and year to year. Traditionally
this yearly average has ranged from $1.25 per lb. to $2.50 per lb. for tomatoes.

High Production Green House (40lbs. sq. ft. annually)
From (Source: http://www.pacpubserver.com/new/news/4-30-00/greenhouse.html)
It takes only about 90 days to go from seed to harvest. An automated irrigation system waters
and delivers nutrients to the plants, and is almost completely re-circulated.
Special lamps augment the natural light and carbon dioxide is introduced to further boost
production. The entire tomato-growing technique is very high-tech, except for one aspect: a hive of
bees pollinate tomato flowers in the old- fashioned way.
The end result is a red, delicious tomato. Only a food snob could tell the difference between one
of these greenhouse babies and one grown in Jersey's summertime fields. "We produce about ten
times the amount of tomatoes that would be grown outdoors in a similar space," said Mr. Specca.
The hydroponic growing process utilizes technology from the Netherlands and requires only about
half the manual labor normally required.


PHASE I
PERPETUAL HARVET GREENHOUSE SYSTEM REFINEMENT AND VALIDATION

OVERVIEW
This proposal is based on building a new greenhouse located where land is made available or
retrofitting an existing greenhouse if funding restrictions and opportunity dictate that approach.
Either way purchasing land is not included. The assumption is that an agreement can be made with a
land owner based on their acquisition of a functional greenhouse and the physical plant to run it
independent of the local power grid. If the Phase I greenhouse is to be used for continuing
experimentation it would be highly desirable to have it located at Lily Hill Farm, Stelle or some other
community moving in a similar direction towards sustainability and research that supports that goal.
Because both Lily Hill Farm and Stelle have expressed interest this proposal has been written based
on the assumption that the PHGS will be located in one or both of those communities.

The proposed duration of Phase I is one year with the clock starting when construction begins. It
will take three months to finish construction with building or retrofitting the greenhouse the
highest priority. Initially the power grid will be the source of supply. PHGS will transition to
self-generation when that system comes on line. Building a new or retrofitting an old
greenhouse and equipping it can be done in less than a month. In that same time frame the grow
beds can be built and populated thus compressing the time it takes to produce fruit. Samples of
technologies being considered, such as grow lights and water treatment systems, will be
evaluated right away and the best candidate(s) chosen and installed in the finished greenhouse.

The next five months are for experimentation while production ramps up and stabilizes. This time
period ends with operations at full capacity. The remaining six months of phase I is for finishing
any remaining experimentation required for Phase II while documenting productivity levels.
During this time the operation should be self-sustained based on sales. Chris would continue
mentoring the personnel involved via phone and email if Phase II design and initial construction
require his presence elsewhere. In order to properly document operations cooperative agreements
would be forged with Universities in the states involved. Professors at least two major universities
have already expressed interest in PHGS and one has offered graduate student participation to
document viability as a business. Due to the focus on agriculture that many higher education
institutions have and the ground breaking nature of PHGS, canvassing other Universities for their
interest will generate an abundance of offers for participation.
BASELINE PARAMETERS TO INVESTIGATE AND OPTIMIZE
One simple technique that increases production over conventional approaches is vertical growing
along the North wall thus eliminating the problem of shading while increasing yield. With
vertical growing greenhouse production is based on cubic footage as opposed to a two
dimensional operation based on square footage. Because some plants are shade loving vertical
growing can also be practiced in some internal locations.

A common greenhouse problem that needs to be addressed during Phase I is keeping the Polyfilm
cover properly tensioned as it expands and contracts with temperature changes. It is vulnerable to
wind damage if it becomes slack in the summer heat or can be contracted beyond its capacity in the


winter cold. Development of a spring loaded tensioner is the answer. Arcosanti in Arizona has
already worked this issue and has demonstrated a satisfactory solution to the problem.

A critical aspect to the operation of PHGS is working cooperatively with Mother Nature. That
statement means far more than most realize. Its wisdom was long ago demonstrated both
culturally and more recently scientifically. An excellent overview of the early studies validating
this can be found in the book, The Secret Life of Plants. It was published in 1972, roughly the
same time frame that Findhorn in Scotland began operations, www.findhorn.org. Findhorn
definitively demonstrated that working consciously with the flora and associated intelligences
results in unheard of yields even when dealing with low quality soils. They also pioneered the
use of Bio-dynamic techniques which have eight decades of documented application yielding
incredibly successful results. This can be investigated at, www.biodynamics.com. Appendix A
gives a good overview of Bio-dynamics.

That success established Findhorn as a focal point sustainable community which prospers to this
day. It also inspired similar efforts in the United States. One that is well documented is the
Perelandra Institute, www.perelandra-ltd.com. It is located in Virginia. Chris’s wife took a class
at Perelandra. What she learned led to significant refinements in how she and Chris operated
their greenhouse as they had a new partner, Mother Nature. This partner was eager to explore
cooperative ventures with them. For example, a critical technique for quick turn around
propagation is cuttings. Success rates rose dramatically from around 40% to over 95% by
following the advice the plant kingdom provided. They also employed the Bio-dynamics based
techniques used at Findhorn resulting in large increases in productivity.

A question sometimes raised is whether or not PHGS’s artificial environment is too removed
from nature and hence unnatural. One of the principals behind Perelanda is Machaelle Small
Wright. She is an acknowledged expert in this field. She has written: “Anything that has order,
organization, and life vitality, is nature.” PHGS certainly fits that definition. It is really a form
of garden. On that subject Machaelle writes: “A garden is any environment that is initiated by
humans, given its purpose, definition and direction by humans, and maintained with the help of
humans.” Machaelle lists examples of soil-less gardens: A home, a business, classrooms,
computers, computer programs, books, a car and a human body. Given those examples it is
difficult if not impossible to come up with anything that has form that would not be considered
part of nature nor anything that man builds that would not be considered a garden. However,
what mankind creates is seldom accomplished working cooperatively with Mother Nature; hence
the lack of balance and thus both vitality and sustainability. Machaelle further states that:
“When humans consider solutions for restoring balance to an out-of-balance world, they need
only access the intelligence of nature involved for answers. That intelligence contains inherent
balance and is fully capable of defining all that is required for reflecting that inherent balance
through specific form.” The baseline for PHGS was developed by Chris and his wife working
cocreatively with Nature’s Intelligence. That is why we have high confidence it its success.

Much closer to Stelle is a second well documented effort at working cooperatively with Mother
Nature, www.lilyhillfarm.org. Penny Kelly’s Lily Hill Farm is located in Lawton, Michigan and
she is another expert in the field. The quality and size of their organic grape harvests eclipsed all


competition in Michigan’s fruitbelt. That is why consultations with Penny are part of the
development cost for PHGS and Lily Hill Farm is a proposed location.

The baseline approach for PHGS is composed of what is essential to high productivity and hence
economic viability. It has been carefully crafted to address five critical parameters: Light, heat,
water, nutrients and atmosphere. For maximum production these five critical elements have to be
maintained at optimal levels. PHGS cannot have a “Down day” as they reduce productivity to
small percentages above industry standards. Sustained stimulation yields productivity dramatically
above the norm, the five to eight times PHGS is capable of. Lights are required, even in the
summer, as a few cloudy days in a row can dramatically stunt optimum growth. Sustained heat
increases metabolic rate if every other parameter is being met. Water supplies are likewise
controlled so that plants dry out two or three times per day. This vaporizes the nutrients in the root
zone thus approximating aeroponics growing which is scientifically accepted as the most efficient
system. However, it suffers from technical problems because organic solutions cause misters to
clog; otherwise PHGS would take that approach. Controlling the atmosphere includes increased
CO2 levels because the plants take in CO2 and expel oxygen. This is similar to Olympic class
athletes who train at high altitudes to increase their cardiovascular capability thus enabling them to
outperform others in lower altitudes with higher oxygen contents. When all five parameters are
optimized nutrient uptake is dramatically increased along with growth. Thus stems grow
significantly more fruit production nodes in less space.

These elements are optimized to exponentially increase growth rates in order to achieve large
increases in yields. Without their counterparts in place each parameter is at levels which would
burn, stunt, or outright kill the plants. It is only when all operate simultaneously in a balanced
fashion that the plants produce at dramatically increased levels based on their needs being
abundantly met. It is to their advantage to do so as fruit is their means of propagation. Optimize to
meet their needs and they will meet ours. That is the philosophy of PHGS in an organic nutshell.

PHASE I SUPPLIMENTS FOR STELLAR RESULTS

Additional technologies which would further leverage plant growth use audible and electromagnetic
stimulation and in one case biofeedback. A technology Penny Kelly found particularly successful
was Sonic Bloom© which combines audio stimulation with organic nutrient application to
dramatically augment plant growth. Based on the documentation on their web site:
www.relfe.com/sonic_bloom.html, the result is plants as much as five times their normal size
with comparable gains in yield. Sonic Bloom© pioneered practices will work well with the
organic nutrient solutions used in PHGS.

The QXCI/EPFX/SCIO device is an important tool to monitor the project and an opportunity to
produce results beyond current expectations. Although known internationally as the QXCI,
within the US it is licensed by the FDA as the Electro Physiological Feedback Xrroid (EPFX)
Scientific Consciousness Interface Operating system (SCIO). The main international website is:
www.theqxci.com/old_events.html and within the US: www.epfxscio.com. It is a biofeedback
device capable of destructive and constructive stimulation while monitoring thousands of
ecosystem parameters. It can thus reduce undesirable organisms while enhancing energetic
conditions leading to proper balance and enhanced growth.


The QXCI is a portable computer running proprietary software interfaced with a patented
broadcast/receiver which is the SCIO. The result is an easily transported biofeedback device
licensed for Class II medical research in the United States and worldwide. Over 16,000 of them
have been sold globally with 10,000 of them in the United States. Its software is the world’s
largest medical program. It deals quite effectively with humans, animals, plants and growth
mediums such as the soil or organic solutions used in the PHGS.

What the QXCI does is more closely akin to something you would expect from the Star Ship
Enterprise. It incorporates 400 other machines such as EEG, EKG, blood chemistry, and many
more fundamental medical functions while improving their effectiveness with biofeedback. The
QXCI works as a quantum potential device sensing and adjusting energy fields in the entire system
being analyzed. It contends with the micro environment down to atomic levels. It can sense and
modify the macro environment with a 1000 meter energy field generating organic levels of health
in that sphere. It has been demonstrated to double plant growth rate. Because it takes a long time
to learn how to effectively operate such a complex system, and the cost of acquiring the equipment
exceeds $20,000, hiring an experienced operator as a consultant has been included in Phase I
development. It is anticipated that the results will justify the purchase of a QXCI for Phase II. If
the machine turns out to be as useful as anticipated it could be worth purchasing and learning how
to work with during Phase I. That becomes doubly true if it can also handle energizing the volume
of water a greenhouse requires. Having this level of technology combined with Perelandra
techniques will yield new understandings and a synergized result far beyond current expectations.

Penta Hydrate is a form of water discovered relatively
recently by engineer Bill Holloway. Only 3-5% of naturally
occurring water is a molecule forming the high energy
circular penta shape. The remainder is predominately
unstructured and thus low energy. Unstructured water is PENTA
invariably found associated with disease tissue. Penta HYDRATE
Hyrdrate is the smallest regular geometric shape water
molecules organize into. It is therefore highly viscous. That
means that it moves freely through the membranes in living
organisms thus functioning very effectively in its primary
function, as a transport medium. Consequently both nutrient
delivery and waste product elimination are accelerated to
high efficiency with comparable gains in health.

Bill used his water experimentally on his plants. The results were so dramatic that he tried it on
himself. He had suffered from debilitating fibromyalgia for 10 years and lived with the disease
for 25. In one month his symptoms all but disappeared. Within three years he developed a
multimillion dollar business selling Penta Hydrate through more than 3000 health food stores
nationwide. Bill creates his product using reverse osmosis water as a base and proprietary
processes involving ultraviolet treatments. The result is water that is stable and more than 80
percent penta molecules. Bill’s company can be investigated at www.hydrateforlife.com. He
has developed an extensive research lab and continues to improve on his understanding of what
this water can do and how it can be used. Bill’s company is not the only one marketing high-
energy waters. I drew heavily upon his information as it explains the chemistry involved.


Japan’s Dr Emoto has also extensively researched water and processes that affect how it
performs. Appendix B near the end of this document lists other possible sources as well.
Appendix C is a white paper by an expert in the field, Yosef Bender.

Plants that are super energized are impervious to pathogens just as humans are with a similarly
empowered immune system. Energized water is a critical foundation upon which high quality
food can be produced and thus a keystone technology to investigate during Phase I development.
Working with a vermaculture and microbe expert is also highly desirable. In the human
digestive tract a microbial balance is essential to health. In an analogous fashion a diverse food
production biosphere requires microbes as pathogen removers. Healthy microbes in the water
form another layer of defense thus ensuring ecosystem resilience and sustained food production.

Lee Patterson is a retired farmer with expertise at energizing water. He lives in the Chicago area
and is well known douser, vermaculture and microbe expert. He is very interested in working on
the PHGS project. He has this to say about the subject of vermaculture and microbes:
“Microbial life is a very big team player. The digestive tract of the earthworm is a mobile
laboratory. It acts as the research and development center for what the soil needs based on the
raw materials that are available. Their blending supports life. Earthworms have quite a family
history promoting vitality! The ancient Chinese recognized and honored their lowly worm
friends. Today, with high tech, we lose awareness that vermaculture and microbes are
synonymous with life. These dedicated employees only promote life, never complain, work long
hours, give excrement containing the required microbes, and always act as true team players.
They are one of nature’s marvelous systems.”
POTENTIAL RESULTS
What is proposed here is far beyond industry standards. A normal three season greenhouse takes
three months to begin production as plants are grown from seeds. It also ends production
ramping down as plants pass maturity and are not replaced. Thus a three season greenhouse only
produces fruit at top end production for half a year at best. Economics like this generally restrict
greenhouses to high end crops and often just flowers. Three to four pounds per square foot are
the industry norm for the low end of greenhouse operations. With full utilization of their
products the petrochemical industry touts results of eight to twelve pounds per square foot. We
contacted a certified organic hydroponics solution company and they reported customers with
production levels double that at 25 pounds per square foot. With year-round production PHGS
easily takes the best that hydro-organics achieves and doubles it while reducing energy costs.
This is conservative based on the previously mentioned Cornell University results of productivity
23 times that reported by California outdoor commercial growers while decreasing water usage
by well over 30 times: www.verticalfarm.com/plans-2k6_eco.htm.

During Phase I baseline development PHGS incorporates sustained year long operations, vertical
growing techniques, Bio-dynamics, Perelandra based cooperative growing, higher temperatures
and CO2 augmentation. Stellar augmentation during Phase I adds Sonic Bloom© and
energization technologies aimed at the total environment plus the QXCI transmitting
harmonizing frequencies while monitoring and optimizing the operation from the macro to the
micro levels. The consequence is organic production well beyond industry standards and the
PHGS baseline. Thus PHGS production estimates five to eight times what the petrochemical


based industry claims are more than reasonable and in fact, conservative. Such expectations are
in keeping with the Findhorn experience where extraordinary results were documented.
Findhorn only explored outdoor growing using Bio-dynamics and what we have characterized as
Perelandra based techniques. PHGS at stellar levels brings far more to the table with
commensurate gains.

What will the resultant produce be like? It has been established by a number of pioneers, for
instance, Dr. Norman Walker, Dr. Ann Wigmore, Dr. Gary Null and Colonel Bradford, that
debilitating illness can be reversed. In every instance they were faced with a personal health
crisis which they turned around by changing their diet to nutrient dense organic foods. Even hair
loss was reversed and gray hair returned to its normal color. There were similar gains in energy
levels, productivity and longevity. Dr. Deepak Chopra has documented in his books and Dr.
Richard Schultz has experienced first hand how the body regenerates when it is fed healthy
foods. Dr. Chopra has studied cultures where people live well beyond 100 years because of
healthy lifestyles and diets. Based on his studies, premature aging could be characterized as
being less than fully vital before the age of 100.

Americans live in the best fed nation in the world. The majority of us are chronically
overweight. There is considerable medical data indicating that aging is really a consequence of
malnutrition. Aging is thus a sign of malnutrition. Being overweight could also be a sign of
malnutrition. It doesn’t matter how much food you eat if it does not contain what your body
needs. Americans are literally stuffing themselves while starving to death. Those listed in the
preceding paragraph reversed the debilitating effects of aging by eating nutrient dense healthy
foods. Healthy food that was readily available decades ago no longer exits in quantity on this
planet because of the degradation of the soils from farming practices and widespread pollution.
The phase I PHGS will produce Super Energized Nutrient Dense (SEND) foods that are organic.
The taste and quality of healthy food is palatably different from the cardboard competition. That
alone sells it. Once its healthy benefits are also realized people will crave what PHGS produces.
You want to help someone, just SEND food!

Another indicator of how healthy foods produced this way was Penny Kelly’s results. The brix
levels in produce are indications of how well the plant was nourished. What Penny discovered was
that high brix level organic produce tastes better and has a shelf life measured in months and even
years rather than days or at most weeks. PHGS will be filled with the best quality food immersed
in an energized environment never before experienced within any of our lifetimes. Water
energizers also energize the air while producing water with an energy field that can be measured 15
feet away. The QXCI gives off frequencies that induce harmony within the designated area of
influence thus encapsulating the entire greenhouse in a feeling of harmony. The synergistic result
of being in PHGS biospace will be a feeling of energized peace similar to that experienced on
mountain tops or in old growth forests. It will be a super energized healthy environment
harmonized at all levels. Just entering such a space will feel wonderful and be therapeutic, let
alone eating the highly sought after product. The tour industry could easily become a significant
source of revenue. There are also education grants available for tours of unique industries. That
revenue could be used to turn the facility into a world class teaching environment.


One final possibility needs to be noted, mankind’s experience regarding plant growth has
naturally been based on observation. The industrial revolution and the more recent proliferation
of the chemical industry have resulted in a degrading of our global ecosphere. Our wheat does
not have the vitality of the wheat grown in Ancient Egypt which sprouted after it lay dormant for
thousands of years. Humans began increasing in size as our diet provided the nutrition for
greater growth. In cultures where nutrition is lacking the population is smaller in stature. If
nutrition is really deficient then many functions become stunted including brain capacity. Full
expression of our genetic code is contingent upon properly sustained growth. It is very possible
that what we see expressed today in the plant kingdom is not fully reflective of each plant’s
potential. It is also possible that not just size may increase, but new energetic structures may
emerge when a plant is grown in a fully supportive high energy environment. The results give us
benefits beyond calculations of yield capacity. The plants can exhibit new forms of expression
and in consuming them, we may be similarly empowered.
INVESTIGATIVE APPROACH
All of the advanced technologies and techniques discussed here have been included for research
purposes in the Phase I proposal. Normal approaches to research would dictate extensive
protocols, controls, complex greenhouse design creating many separated zones, and many time
consuming experiments given the number of parameters being evaluated. It would take years if
not decades to do justice to such rigor. Our purpose is to advance the art of food production, not
the production of scientific research. Although short duration comparison studies will be
conducted if they are found necessary, the vast majority of the scientific method is not required
because immediate feedback is obtained using Perelandra techniques. When two approaches yield
comparable responses the one chosen will be based on economic factors. Thus an optimal mix is
rapidly arrived at within the short duration of the Phase I effort. Consequently the Phase II effort
will be in a timely position to incorporate the lessons learned during Phase I.

The Phase II greenhouse will also be capable of supporting continuing research as new questions
are raised. That is because it will be built to accommodate the production of a variety of foods
and thus have many independent zones. That flexibility accommodates future research
requirements thus continually evolving understanding and resulting growing techniques.
Greenhouses could be optimized to grow exclusively avocadoes, lemons, oranges, bananas and so
on every day of the year.

There are many medicinal plants that currently are in short supply. Any biosphere from the
Amazon to Tibet can be simulated. Both the Phase I and Phase II greenhouses can support
research and development that optimizes growing techniques and expands the variety of
greenhouse compatible crops that can be grown profitably. Thus PHGS makes it feasible to
grow health industry champions such as Goji Berries or Noni fruit which yield high value drinks,
or Wild Oregano which yields high value oil.

Investigating the plants used by many indigenous cultures will undoubtedly yield a substantial
list of rare specimens worth pursuing because of their nutritional and health benefits. Patenting
needs to be avoided and is not necessary. Native Americans have withheld much of their
knowledge as the legal system has been used as a weapon to take it away from them. Intellectual
properties such as these need to be documented in order to make them part of the public domain


thus precluding patenting. Then the real value will be found in cost effective production of
plants with desirable properties which the public has formerly been denied access to because of
scarcity and mistrust. Native Americans and other cultures with rich medicinal heritages will
then have a safe outlet for treasured knowledge. Chris, Penny and I, plus others we know, have
numerous connections into Western and Eastern Indigenous cultures making it feasible to
explore richly rewarding possibilities. This becomes another potential industry for Native
Americans and the reservations they occupy as well as other cultures globally that struggle for a
subsistence living.
PROFIT POTENTIAL
The analysis on pages 15 and 16 of this document was done by Bill Wilson. It focused on a single
well known crop, tomatoes, and is based on a very conservative estimate of PHGS potential derived
from the lowest end of industry performance. Although an excellent first attempt, bear in mind that
anybody can achieve results of three to four pounds per square foot. The petrochemical industry
reports that using their products consistently yields eight to twelve pounds per square foot. As
previously noted, year-round production based on the hydro-organics industry figure of 25 pounds
per square foot for half year production yields 50 pounds per square foot annual production.

A more reflective analysis of PHGS would be to look at three levels of performance based on
industry data. The low end would be a conservative baseline derived from the petrochemical
industries low end of eight pounds per square foot multiplied by our conservative estimate of five
times their productivity. The result is 40 pounds per square foot, well in keeping with the 50
pounds per square foot figure generated by doubling the hydro-organic industry half year
production figure. Our high end productivity figure is determined by multiplying the
petrochemical industries high end twelve pounds per square foot times our high end eight times
productivity figure yielding 96 pounds per square foot. Initial productivity is likely to be in the
middle thus yielding a compromise figure that is the mathematical median. The high end estimate
would be attained after a few years of operation. The cost of production and sales price estimates
are based on the ranges Bill Wilson found in his investigation of published industry figures. These
calculations are for the 4,000 square foot Phase I PHGS greenhouse producing a single well
characterized crop, tomatoes.
Industry Standard Median Success Stellar Success
Pounds per sq. foot 40 68 96
1 Years production 160,000 pounds 272,000 pounds 392,000 pounds
Cost/pound to produce $1.00 $0.85 $0.70
Sales price/pound $1.25 $1.88 $2.50
1 Years profit $40,000 $280,160 $705,600
3 Years profit $120,000 $840,000 $2,116,800
The resulting profits are based on a couple of assumptions. The first one is that increases in
production quantity should result in decreases in the cost per pound thus moving it from the high
end of published industry figures to the low end. The technologies being employed in PHGS are
not inherently more expensive than conventional practices once the equipment has been purchased
and personal become familiar with the new operation. In fact, operational efficiency is enhanced
as problems are avoided by monitoring the operation in ways not previously available. Thus all
efforts are aimed at enhancing productivity rather than rectifying mistakes.


The second assumption is that the quality of the produce should rapidly give it a value added
reputation resulting in sales price moving from the low end of published industry standards to the
high end. As there is no product out there with quality even close to what will be produced even
the currently documented high end price could be considered conservative. Full production begins
six months into the Phase I effort after which PHGS should be a money making enterprise.

There should also be a good handle on labor costs. Local farmers use labor that is seldom
motivated to perform well as they are paid based on how long they work. No permanent
relationship is established as they are transient. PHGS requires only a few workers who are
primarily permanent employees. Thus relationships are built with commensurate gains in pride
and productivity. Allowing workers to share in the harvest will give them an additional incentive
to maximize both the quality and the quantity of production. Hispanics have traditionally been
the source of workers for harvesting. There is a sufficient Hispanic population more than willing
to relocate to wherever permanent employment of this nature is offered. Chris speaks functional
Spanish and has often worked quite successfully with Hispanics finding them both cooperative
and adaptive to his non-traditional methods.
MARKETING PLAN FOR LILY HILL FARM

Lily Hill Farm already has an established marketing precedent. They previously acted as a CSA
outlet for the region and only shut down when they were unable to meet demand. There is already
sufficient infrastructure at LHF to stage a marketing operation selling directly to the public and an
excellent reputation with their former customers. In addition, the only two local restaurants that
have been approached so far have expressed interest in their produce. Nearby Kalamazoo has a
population of 60,000 and five universities. It has an advanced cultural perspective required and
represents a large, untapped market ripe for PHGS produce. Word of mouth may be sufficient to
reestablish Lily Hill Farm as a going commercial enterprise. If not, then a modest foray into
nearby markets should easily consume whatever PHGS can produce.

MARKETING PLAN FOR STELLE

Buyers big enough to absorb the entire PHGS output are ones like the Feed Milwaukee Project or
Goodness Greeness, www.goodnessgreeness.com, the largest organic distributor in the Midwest.
Both would be very interested in a steady year-round supply of the highest quality produce they
have ever seen. The downside is that sales price would be wholesale thus reducing our profit while
being vulnerably dependant upon a single customer.

Farmers in the Stelle region indicate that labor and trucking are their primary expenses. The
unaddressed cost in this analysis is the distribution system which for a small operation could be
prohibitively expensive. There is an interim solution that is free. There are many Community
Development Corporation’s (CDC) in the Chicago region. Some drop off customers as far South
as the area around Stelle. An agreement with them will provide free transport for taking produce
back to Chicago. They also provide direct marketing experience as they would be in contact with
potential buyers. This is a marketing system with end buyer distribution.


An excellent form of advertising would be to enter prize winning produce in local, regional and
state fairs. PHGS could win easily by maximizing size and nutritional value along with flavor. A
greenhouse with a showroom wall covered with first place ribbons should be an attention grabber
for tours and incentive for customers; American’s love to purchase from a winner.

The best way of maximizing profit is to sell directly to the public. The ideal location for selling
produce is a high quality farm stand within easy walking distance of PHGS and integrated into
the operation. Why package produce and put it on a truck for shipment when the same labor
could stock a marketplace? The marketplace building could be a second pole barn or the power
plant pole barn lengthened so that tours of that facility can be integrated with sales of produce
under a single roof. It only costs a thousand dollars more to expand graveled parking to
accommodate customers along with employees. Based on its importance, the cost of building an
integrated marketplace and advertising to initiate sales has been added to this proposal.

The precedent has been set by quality operations like Fair Oak Farms off of I-65 at the Indiana
State Highway 14 exit. They are in the middle of nowhere with the closest town 30 miles away.
They have a large parking lot filled with customer’s cars. Based on the school bus traffic they
probably got started with $175,000 SARE Grants which develop tours for school children.
SARE grants are available every two years. There are also comparable grants for senior citizens
to buy their vegetables at reduced rates. All of this builds exposure. Fair Oak Farms is a good
example for Stelle to emulate.

For Stelle, priming the pump begins with a modest advertising campaign in nearby communities
including parts of Chicago. High quality signs at key intersections need to be erected to guide
people to Stelle. While it is still under development some of the first three months of PHGS
production can be given away as samples to those willing to drive to Stelle. This educates people’s
palate about high quality food, gets them used to idea of driving to Stelle, exposes them to the
greenhouse operation thus encouraging tours, and ultimately generates excitement about the Grand
Opening.

Some of the produce can also be sold at reduced cost to local CSA’s to introduce them to it and
create the incentive for picking up combined orders at Stelle. The proceeds for those sales would
pay for additional employment hours for the Marketing Manager. That could make it a full time
position for the two or three months prior to the launch of commercial sales onsite.

POTENTIALS IN COMMON TO LILY HILL FARM AND STELLE

The University connection is a further means for generating interest as the documented results
validate PHGS’s productivity. Another way of generating interest and ultimately customers is to
videotape everything from erecting the greenhouse to harvesting mature fruit. The ability to do this
is included in the computer budget for PHGS. Getting the word out becomes a full circle effort
involving all of the groups interested in its success from S3 documenting it to Nancy Bentley’s Food
Circles including her “Seeds of Health” mini PodCasts. More about Nancy’s work can be found at:
www.TrulyCultured.com, www.theFoodCircles.com, and www.FullCirclesCommunity.com. She
will produce ecourses which can also be made into flyers for educational advertising given out to
many groups and at PHGS to customers. This information becomes the basis for a newsletter


revolving around nutrition and sustainability. All of this information can be made available on a
PHGS web site the development of which can also be funded by the sales of produce during
development. It is the job of the Market Manager to ensure the best use of produce sales for
marketing purposes prior to going commercial.

As a communities aimed at sustainability, both Lily Hill Farm and Stelle are in the health and
education business. PHGS is a demonstration system intended as an education vehicle. Customers
are opportunities not just for sales but for a clearer understanding of what sustainability is about.
Sales come from educating them about what high brix level nutrient dense, energized, award
winning organic produce is and why buying it is desirable. Seeing a greenhouse filled with food
that can be purchased year-round will be impressive, particularly when what is offered is a full
spectrum of freshly picked produce in the middle of the winter. Another eye opener will be seeing
Indore composting being accomplished with community participation and an odorless high quality
product that anyone can make in their own back yard. The entire operation is an eye opener filled
with gems of understanding. It is a new consciousness based on the foundation need for food!
Explaining what high quality food does for you mentally and physically will be more than
educational, it will be a healing life saver for many.

The best source of employees to work the PHGS greenhouse and its market is local residents.
They have the knowledge the public needs exposure to. Thus the entire operation becomes an
economic spark plug for the community. It also becomes the focal point for other business
opportunities such as sales of ethanol and diesel derived from plant based sources. The customer
stream created is a strong basis for sales by every business based out of Stelle and certain an
incentive for new business development at Lily Hill Farm.

Produce that is not saleable, either because of damage or because it didn’t sell in a timely
fashion, can be processed by microbial culturing into nutrient dense high value stable products
that the community becomes culturally identified with. This is the same sort of regional
differentiation found all over Europe where each town has artisinal specialty foods that it is
known for such as sauerkrauts, sausages, wines, cheeses and breads. Highly marketable products
like this empower communities to develop specialty shops, café’s, bed and breakfast’s and other
food and ambiance based enterprises. This increases the local economic multiplier as the money
circulates in the community thus stimulating its’ economy.

Thus PHGS becomes the basis upon which an entire community becomes both nutritionally and
economically self sustaining. It is therefore highly desirable to accomplish PHGS in a manner
consistent with local sustainability thus making it a model that other communities can emulate.
On that basis selling the produce locally may be the only method philosophically consistent with
building long term sustainability. Every project in the Stellar Projects Limited Liability
Corporation, (SPLLC, covered more thoroughly in Appendix D) needs to promote PHGS as it is
the keystone for community success and the basis of many different industries to develop.

If you assume that the average occupant of a vehicle purchases 20 pounds of produce then that
becomes the basis for estimating PHGS sales traffic volume. To determine daily traffic you
divide the estimated average purchase of 20 pounds into the Industry Standard yearly production
level of 40 times 4,000 pounds and then divide by twelve, the number of months in a year. The


20921203 per-ma-culture-greenhouse

20921203 per-ma-culture-greenhouse

Empfohlen

Empfohlen

Weitere ähnliche Inhalte

Ähnlich wie 20921203 per-ma-culture-greenhouse

Ähnlich wie 20921203 per-ma-culture-greenhouse (11)

Mehr von Gherghescu Gabriel

Mehr von Gherghescu Gabriel (20)

Kürzlich hochgeladen

Kürzlich hochgeladen (20)

20921203 per-ma-culture-greenhouse