Project Overview
Commodities
- Agronomic: radish (oilseed, daikon, forage)
- Vegetables: carrots, greens (leafy), greens (lettuces), peppers, tomatoes
Practices
- Crop Production: nutrient management, organic fertilizers
- Education and Training: mentoring, technical assistance, workshop
- Natural Resources/Environment: carbon sequestration
- Production Systems: holistic management
- Soil Management: composting, soil analysis, soil quality/health
- Sustainable Communities: community development, local and regional food systems, social networks, urban agriculture
Proposal abstract:
WeRadiate's mission is to revitalize degraded soil and by partnering with Urban Creators, an urban farm in North Philadelphia, we can bolster food security and sustainability by enhancing soil health and composting processes. Through partnership, expertise, and technology, we will create a more resilient urban agriculture network in this historically underserved farming community.
Addressing Food Insecurity:
As we aim to improve access to nutritious food. We first recognize the critical role soil health plays in food production and are committed to enhancing it through collaborative efforts. By optimizing composting methods and soil management practices, we strive to create a healthier food system through a focus on nutrient and soil quality management.
Expertise and Technology:
WeRadiate brings extensive expertise in soil health, composting, and sustainable agriculture to the project. Our team will work closely with Urban Creators Farm Manager to implement best practices and techniques to improve soil fertility. By leveraging our knowledge and technological resources we aim to enhance production efficiency which connects directly to themes of holistic management, carbon sequestration, and creation of organic natural fertilizers.
In addition, our advanced data collection and analysis tools allow us to monitor composting processes and soil health indicators. By collecting and analyzing data, we can uncover valuable insights to optimize project outcomes supporting the local farming and gardening community across Philadelphia.
Project objectives from proposal:
Our project has 3 main objectives to enhance composting practices and improve the quality of compost produced.
Objective 1: Measure the time (in days or hours) for compost piles to reach critical temperatures with pathogen reduction and weed seed elimination. Remote monitoring using digital sensors allows for live-stream tracking of compost piles by visualizing compost temperatures across a line graph. Data is taken every 6 hours. We will record the number of days each pile takes to reach PFRP (Process to Further Reduce Pathogens) thresholds of 131°F and 151°F. We can set alerts and notifications when temperatures reach set thresholds. This data will be crucial for ensuring the effective reduction of pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella, as well as the elimination of weed seeds. Each compost pile will be equipped with one smart sensor to collect temperature data throughout the duration of its lifespan providing precise insights into temperature fluctuations and heating patterns. We determine which C:N ratio proves most valuable for use. Materials: Smart-sensors for temperature tracking and an online dashboard for viewing results.
Objective 2: Evaluate the nutritional quality of the final compost product by analyzing samples from each test run pile. At the end of each 3-month testing period, one sample per pile will be sent to Midwest Laboratories for nutrient analysis. These measurements will help determine which feedstock ratio (C:N) will produce compost that best supports onsite vegetable growth. Note: Crop planting research using compost will not occur during this experiment; the focus is solely on identifying feedstock ratios that yield high-quality compost for farm use. Materials: Hand trowel to collect samples in-field, Plastic Ziplock bags (8oz)
Objective 3: Repetition of the composting process to investigate the influence of seasonality and ambient conditions, including time-temperature relationships and nutrient dynamics. Compost piles will be created quarterly to correspond with seasonal variations, representing fall, winter, spring, and summer conditions in Philadelphia. This analysis will provide valuable insights into how environmental factors impact composting efficiency and nutrient composition, aiding in the development of seasonal composting strategies. Materials for processing: shovel, pitchfork, and hand trowel
Taken together, this information will empower Urban Creators to become experts in their operations, thereby optimizing value to make the farm more efficient and sustainable, and create the most beneficial soil amendment across their farm.