Open Source Farming

Open Source Farming

A local level, scientist Joe Breskin seems to have found a solution for dramatically increasing vegetable yields in greenhouses, doubling the length of growing seasons and feeding more people for less money - all while using cutting-edge energy efficiency techniques.

"The idea is to capture high-value heat and use it for the plants, rather than throwing it into the atmosphere," Breskin told Truthout. "I had to figure out how to do all this. This is an invention."

The five-acre urban farm where he is implementing his plan is located within Port Townsend, Washington, and, he says, his work has led to new "problems" - like an overabundance of fresh produce.

"I really like it in these greenhouses," he said with a smile, picking a tomato off a vine and popping it in his mouth. "I've had to add metal supports to the greenhouse to keep the weight from all the tomatoes from collapsing it. We didn't anticipate the problem of the weight of the fruit knocking the building down."

Given the destructiveness and poisonous consequences of GMO foods and agribusiness's ever-expanding global agenda, Breskin's work may well already be filling a critical void. Every day, he is building a new, free-thinking, sustainable path to feeding the planet - and having fun along the way.

Open Source Farming and technology

Breskin's project has already increased the overall profitability of the farm where it is implemented. It has reduced total energy costs by 50 percent by running on around $2 per day; appears likely to have generated a 10-month growing season; has caused productivity increases per square foot and per plant - and appears likely to be expanding soon. The entire project was built for $10,000, and it has already produced more than that amount in food alone. But rather than aiming to make money on it, Breskin is more concerned about improving the system and getting it into the hands of more local farmers as quickly as possible. "I'm open source," he said. "The only reason to patent this is to keep someone else from patenting it in order to monetize it."