[papercreters] Re: Papercrete as growing medium

Many questions here, so I'll explain.

The idea is to make a vertical rod of weak papercrete or similar, and put several food producing plants into it. The reasons for papercrete or pulp are that it can be made out of garbage - cost is critical - and its light, enabling it to be moved twice a day, which will be needed. Paper of course offers no nutrients, so basic hydroponics will be used, basic meaning no nutrient testing involved, and just partial reuse of the water given to the plants.

Composting isn't that practical, it would greatly reduce the amount of soil replacement material, make it much heavier and take a long time to deploy. The idea is to make the soil replacement lightweight to enable moving lots of these things about daily. They'll never be planted in the ground.

Is cement papercrete safe to grow food crops in? I assumed not due to chromium. If it is, the question would be solved. Biodegradability isn't an issue.

Re water evaporation, I was thinking the cheapest option would be to wrap the pole in polythene, or perhaps clingfilm.

Dimensions aren't yet decided, but as a starting point something like 10" diameter 5' high. There would probably be a wood stake up the centre for support.


thanks



--- In papercreters@yahoogroups.com, "JayH" <slurryguy@...> wrote:
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> Please provide more details.




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