First Harvest discuss using J-Cloth 3000 as a Propagation Medium
This
is Red Amaranth growing in a medium using
a substrate of J-Cloth 3000 wipes, we understand that Red Amaranth roots develop successfully in
the apertures of our fabric.
Once
this is grown and cut, the remaining material (including the
J-Cloth 3000) can then
be composted.
Our First Meeting:
I recently visited First Harvest and met Chris Bishop, who along with Judith Tomkinson, started the company three years ago. From the onset of their new business Chris and Judith have worked to develop a unique hybrid system of propagation, Chris told me that one thing they needed was to find a method of holding enough moisture in the propagation trays.
Chris informed me that this is a fine balance; you need to find the right medium to enable the seedlings to take on enough nutrients with the right amount of hydration.
Their early trials involved using newspaper "it had the right density to hold enough moisture, but while we could recycle the paper there were obvious issues with printing ink and you could not dispose of this as compost after growing".
Other attempts at finding a suitable substrate had not been too successful "Rockwool, for example, is great for NFT Hydroponic systems but has little absorbency for our system, and again we could not recycle it".
My first visit to meet Chris and Judith happened at a time when they were having difficulties propagating Red Amaranth, a trial of our J-Cloth 3000 proved to be the answer to getting it to grow well.
Chris told me that the apertures in the J-Cloth 3000 gave us a substrate that had absorbency but also gave structure to the growing medium. It gives them a compostable material that they can recycle.
How J-Cloth 3000 makes a difference:
Chris and Judith have now been using J-Cloth 3000 compostable for over 6 months: they now buy our roll format "much easier for us to cut and place in the trays" says Chris.
J-Cloth 3000 cloth is now a crucial element in the success of their system, and the quality of the microherbs and greens they grow.
"The great thing is, that we now have a consistency and quality that enables us to have the right growing medium every time".
This is a great way to recycle a nutrient rich material which can help to make their business a great sustainable model.
First Harvest now supply microherbs and greens to restuarants around a 30 mile radius of their location in Mid-Cheshire. "The vision is to have a "First Harvest" supplying fresh produce to similar delivery areas around the country" Chris told me; "this gives fresh produce to restaurants with a small carbon footprint".
I hope that J-Cloth 3000 can play a part in their continued success!
You can find out more about First Harvest on their website: http://bit.ly/11lXIs5
I recently visited First Harvest and met Chris Bishop, who along with Judith Tomkinson, started the company three years ago. From the onset of their new business Chris and Judith have worked to develop a unique hybrid system of propagation, Chris told me that one thing they needed was to find a method of holding enough moisture in the propagation trays.
Chris informed me that this is a fine balance; you need to find the right medium to enable the seedlings to take on enough nutrients with the right amount of hydration.
Their early trials involved using newspaper "it had the right density to hold enough moisture, but while we could recycle the paper there were obvious issues with printing ink and you could not dispose of this as compost after growing".
Other attempts at finding a suitable substrate had not been too successful "Rockwool, for example, is great for NFT Hydroponic systems but has little absorbency for our system, and again we could not recycle it".
My first visit to meet Chris and Judith happened at a time when they were having difficulties propagating Red Amaranth, a trial of our J-Cloth 3000 proved to be the answer to getting it to grow well.
Chris told me that the apertures in the J-Cloth 3000 gave us a substrate that had absorbency but also gave structure to the growing medium. It gives them a compostable material that they can recycle.
How J-Cloth 3000 makes a difference:
Chris and Judith have now been using J-Cloth 3000 compostable for over 6 months: they now buy our roll format "much easier for us to cut and place in the trays" says Chris.
J-Cloth 3000 cloth is now a crucial element in the success of their system, and the quality of the microherbs and greens they grow.
"The great thing is, that we now have a consistency and quality that enables us to have the right growing medium every time".
This is a great way to recycle a nutrient rich material which can help to make their business a great sustainable model.
First Harvest now supply microherbs and greens to restuarants around a 30 mile radius of their location in Mid-Cheshire. "The vision is to have a "First Harvest" supplying fresh produce to similar delivery areas around the country" Chris told me; "this gives fresh produce to restaurants with a small carbon footprint".
I hope that J-Cloth 3000 can play a part in their continued success!
You can find out more about First Harvest on their website: http://bit.ly/11lXIs5
