Building a high-oxygen growing environment - requesting information. - Ask Extension
Hello Master Gardener Program,
My name is Jon Abel, and I was a student at UM - Duluth the 1990's. ID 1446028.
I am now trying to build, test a...
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Building a high-oxygen growing environment - requesting information. #661665
Asked July 08, 2020, 6:55 PM EDT
Hello Master Gardener Program,
My name is Jon Abel, and I was a student at UM - Duluth the 1990's. ID 1446028.
I am now trying to build, test and open-source a new device which allows an air-tight environment to be maintained. I am looking for information on how to acquire a demonstration amount of seeds (of different varieties) - to test changes in growth rates and yield.
If I need to register for the Master Gardener Volunteer Program to receive such information - then let me know.
My email address is <personal data hidden>.
Kittson County Minnesota
Expert Response
What kind(s) of seed are you looking for?
Well, I have alot of wheat, barley, soy beans & canola seed from the local seed companies. I also have some garden vegetables in small seed packets.
However, I am unsure if anything from the grocery store will actually grow more than 1 year - due to GMO technology.
I have been unable to find any sugar beats, fruit trees (lemons, oranges, grapefruit), nut trees (walnut, pecan, cashew, etc.), oats, popcorn, or brown rice.
Other things like raw peanuts, coconut & pineapple are really useful.
If you are allowed to offer hemp, bamboo, or other fiberous plants - these would also be helpful.
I would also like to see how beans & other "high-protein" vegetables turn out without nitrogen in the air.
The study I am conducting improves - as the range of staple crops & trees widens.
I just don't know what you have available - and I don't know what will grow from "grocery-store" produce.
I also forgot white garlic (not purple), onions, and cottonseed.
I'm essentially building an Ark using Impermeable Plasma barriers (radio technology proven by the military 5 years ago). So, whatever seeds you would want on a life-boat.
Mangos, peaches & and succulent fruits are also useful. I would send you my design (27 pages with CAD, math, and sources), but your webmail won't allow it.
Can I send you my design - to show that I am serious?
Are you willing or able to assist with some seeds?
Unfortunately, we don't have any seeds or plants for sale or to give away. We purchase the seeds we use for horticulture education projects. So I'm sorry, but we can't help you. Best of luck with your project.
But it is a horticulture education project. I am open-sourcing my results.
That's exactly what it is. Research & Development of a growing environment.
I understand that, but we simply don't have a supply of seeds to give you. We can't provide you with something we don't have.
Then why did you ask me what kind of seeds I was looking for?
Is this some type of joke? I don't understand why you would do that.
Can you refer me to a seed bank? Is that why you ask me?
I simply asked you about the type of seeds you were looking for to better understand what you are seeking. Most people want a source for, say, prairie seed. Clearly your project is far more complex. Your emails sounded like you believed we have a large supply of seeds that are available to give away (which I just had to clarify we don't.)
So, now that I understand what you are looking for and you understand we don't have seeds to give you, I can point you toward the Plant Information Online database to find sources of seeds for purchase. This is a database that is managed by the Andersen Horticultural Library at the MN Landscape Arboretum. The web address is plantinfo.umn.edu
So, now that I understand what you are looking for and you understand we don't have seeds to give you, I can point you toward the Plant Information Online database to find sources of seeds for purchase. This is a database that is managed by the Andersen Horticultural Library at the MN Landscape Arboretum. The web address is plantinfo.umn.edu
Okay. Thanks for the information.
You are still welcome to the design - since I have vowed to open-source it. I had a non-disclosure with Trump Tower a few years ago, but have been relieved of it. Therefore, I am sharing useful information - if allowed to send it to your organization.
Do you have a email I can send a .PDF to?
It's important to get it up the chain of command.
Thank you for your offer. I'm sure you have put a ton of time into this project. You are welcome to email it to me at <personal data hidden>.
Please note this does not guarantee interest or acceptance on the part of the University or any of its faculty or staff.
I will send it on to a few colleagues in our department as these kinds of growing facilities chambers are not my area of expertise (my areas are sustainable landscaping, home horticulture and plant selection for the upper Midwest). It will be up to those people to contact you if they are interested in discussing your project further.
I'll keep an eye out for your email.
Please note this does not guarantee interest or acceptance on the part of the University or any of its faculty or staff.
I will send it on to a few colleagues in our department as these kinds of growing facilities chambers are not my area of expertise (my areas are sustainable landscaping, home horticulture and plant selection for the upper Midwest). It will be up to those people to contact you if they are interested in discussing your project further.
I'll keep an eye out for your email.
