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VERTICAL SACK FARMING

So I recently embarked on a journey of farming. Yes, am now a farmer, actually I want to train people on farm smart ideas I have recently practiced and are sustainable. This is how the journey began, I was idle and then started browsing through farming ideas. That’s it, idleness brought about farming. 

My latest project is this creative farm smart adventure called Vertical Sack Farming. Vertical Sack farming is a technique of growing crops in sacks filled with soil, manure, pebbles for drainage, and growing plants on the top and in holes on the sides. If you have no garden, no worries, this sack is enough to fit on your balcony. It is very suitable for urban farmers who are looking to produce their farm fresh food.

Four days after planting the spinach

Two weeks after planting

Four weeks later the spinaches are blooming

I planted spinach in the holes on the sides and cabbages, carrots and tomatoes on the top. This is one farm smart project am happy about and eager to teach and train people about, especially the youth who may not have acquired land or farms for themselves. Some of the benefits I have observed from using a vertical sack for farming are:

  • Weeds rarely grow on the bags and when they do its easy to uproot by hand.
  • Reduces usage of water. Less water is lost through evaporation as much of the soil is not exposed to direct sunlight.
  • You can build these farms in practically all kinds of locations and climates, and still be assured of cultivating crops irrespective of temperature extremities or adverse weather conditions.
  • You can achieve more productivity in a fairly small space
  • This mode of farming uses fewer fertilizers and nutrients compared to conventional methods.
  • It allows you to grow crops practically anywhere and cuts down on transport cost
  • Since there is less labor costs, you can scale up your production without having to worry about the additional costs.
  • You completely cut down on the need to invest in pesticides because your farming is practiced in a controlled environment that prohibits the entry of pests.
  • It has less crop damage and reduces the chance of a range of fungal ailments as the humidity levels are duly managed. The produce is healthier and safer to consume.

If you are excited about this farm smart venture and would like to create one, just purchase a ready-made sack like the one on the photos above or just buy an ordinary sack and make holes the size of a coin on the sack wall using a sharp stick. Leave 15 cm between each hole. Ensure the holes are not in the same vertical line to prevent blocking some from getting direct sunlight. Make sure you plant seedlings in the holes carefully so as not to damage the roots then put water and voila you are ready.

For more practical videos on how to plant visit our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/loygal

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