Campbell's Greenhouses: Earthboxes

Max Fortres uploaded this most impressive photo of EarthBoxes in Campbell’s greenhouse to Photobucket. It is the only photo in the album and the location is unknown. I left a comment for Max and perhaps he will reply. It would be interesting to know more about the photo.

What is significant about it is the obvious professional organization and the lush, productive growth in the EarthBoxes. Who knows how many there are in this facility but it obviously represents serious business. Who knows also how many commercial growing facilities across the country are using EarthBoxes or other sub-irrigation planters (SIPs).

The point I make, once again, is that it unconscionable how our cooperative extension program agents, botanical institutions, gardening publications, gardening organizations, and other horticulturists continue to ignore the rapidly increasing growth in the use of sub-irrigation planters (SIPs) like the EarthBox. In my professional opinion, it is a "firing offense".

This is not about a subjective opinion or personal preference. It is now well documented that SIPs will out produce both top watered planters and in-ground plantings while conserving water and precious time. Sub-irrigation is not a new technique. Its use is documented more than one hundred years ago. 

We have much rhetoric in the media about our national obesity problem and the need for local urban agriculture and yet our media is essentially dumb on the subject of using very simple technology like SIPs. Capillary action is not rocket science.

If you're in the New York metro area, come out to the Waterpod this weekend and see for yourself how SIPs do their thing in a very impressive way. Seeing is believing.

Comments

[camille lawrence]

I see the beautiful, lush growth in those Earthboxes and I am VERY interested in having a greenhouse with my boxes protected from rain, hail and with netting used on that structure under the greenhouse film. that way, when the sides are rolled up for ventilation...no critters can get in either, ie...."tree rats"! I would like to know if others have done this, their successes and how they feel, in general, about growing under protection. I personally think it's a wonderful idea considering how rain and over-wet conditions can cause problems with container plantings.

[Greenscaper]

Thanks for your comment Camille. It is an impressive greenhouse that could be selling both produce and planted EarthBoxes ready for someone's yard, patio, driveway or rooftop. It will be interesting to see if anyone responds to your question.

[Ben Czajkowski]

"Capillary action is not rocket science."

It's physics :-)

I love reading your articles. After making some home made SIPs with pea plants and just watching the amazing difference, I truly believe now that anything I plant in the future will be in a SIP. I've already begun collecting bottles and containers for the spring plant.

[caglar]

It is really helpful information about greenhouses. I live in a village and greenhouses are very important for us,
there is also a very useful guide that i got great informatin about greenhouses:

http://agricultureguide.org/