Monday, December 29, 2014

Industrial Hemp Durango

Paperwork, Land and Seeds

Ok, first things first.




Industrial Hemp Forms and Applications
Research & Development Registration Application
Commercial & Industrial Hemp Registration Application
Citizenship/Immigration Status Verification  (Required for Sole Proprietorship)
INDUSTRIAL HEMP HARVEST NOTIFICATION
PPQ 587 Application for Permit to Import Plants or Plant Products

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The Rules, to be published as 8 CCR 1203-23, will sets forth the requirements of registration and inspection. These rules will be adopted and effective by early 2014.

The registration deadline is May 1 of each year, beginning in 2014.

Industrial Hemp means a plant of the genus Cannabis and any part of the plant, whether growing or not, containing a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of no more than three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) on a dry weight basis.

Two types of registration will be allowed: Research and Development (R & D) and Commercial.

R & D is limited to 10 acres or less and will be charged a registration fee of $100 plus $5/acre.
Commercial registrants are not limited in size of acreage and will be charged a registration fee of $200 plus $1.00/acre.

When registering, applicants must provide:
contact information
maps that include GPS locations of all growing locations and varieties planted
affidavits or lab tests showing that the crop planted will produce a THC content of 0.3% or  less


-CDA will select at least one third of registrants each year for field sampling and verification of 0.3% or less THC content. 
-Costs of field sampling and lab testing incurred by the Department will be passed on to the registrant.
-Fees for field sampling are currently $35/hour and will include drive time, sampling time and any per diem or room charges
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Colorado Industrial Hemp Surveys
A networking group called the Colorado Hemp Coop has developed surveys to help determine what services the Cooperative can and will provide to members.

The first is a survey for farmers to gauge their interest in hemp as a new agricultural commodity. Colorado Hemp Cooperative Farmer Survey

The second is a survey of manufacturers & processors to determine the possibilities of creating more partnerships for the Cooperative. Colorado Hemp Cooperative Manufacturer/Processor Survey

The third is a survey of current and potential hemp consumers to establish if a consumer arm of the Cooperative is feasible. Colorado Hemp Cooperative Consumer Survey




Senate Rep. Jared Polis

A short clip from Ignite Boulder by Dr. Grant Orvis



After reading the rules, understanding the laws and a place to grow, seeds are next.  

Though it is now legal to grow Industrial Hemp in Colorado, 
hemp seed is still considered a banned substance by the DEA.

Seed is widely available on the international market but not legal to import..
because the DEA considers it a banned substance...even though its not.
(thanks to the amendments listed above)

The current policy of blocking imports of hemp leaves the only legal seed options being: Old USDA reserves of hemp seed from before hemp prohibition in 1937 and Hemp Seeds gathered from wild areas that have not been contaminated by strains of marijuana.


Monday, December 22, 2014

Aquaponic Greenhouse 12/22/14


Compost water heater @ 97deg F.

10x20 tray with oyster mushroom (all that white stuff) fully colonnaded on straw substrate

Out door compost pile temp @ 150 deg F

Canopy

Looking down on the wicking bed

Cilantro and Arugula seedlings that were planted 20 days ago

Tomatoes going strong

Cilantro

Cilantro and Arugula mix

2-4" Lettuce Mix

harvested

 more 2-4" Lettuce Mix

Harvested

Cilantro testing

Sunny Shoots on day 8 and 9
Canopy Grow Beds, very active and healthy

Oregano


Soil pots in Hybrid compost wicking bed

Water cress in shady section of hybrid wicking bed, using a 2" layer compost on top of 6" of 1" river rock

LED

Bright LED, draws 4.5w 

Fish tank with lighting

48" L x 48" W x 36" D

Gold fish eating worms, the Tilapia eat algae and the duckweed

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Aquaponic Greenhouse 12/3/14

Lots growing on in here
Climbing up top, this is the first thing you see when you climb up to the canopy level

Canopy level


Panoramic views of canopy

Cilantro, Scallions, Chocolate mint, Lettuce/mirco greens, Epazote, Strawberries, Lemon Balm, Nasturtiums, Spearmint, Tomatoes, Parsley, Thyme, Watercress and Duckweed



Lettuce and Microgreens

Nasturtiums, Spearmint, Parsley, Lettuce and Tomatoes

Grow beds fully drained


Watercress, Algae, and duckweed

"Daphnia," Daf-nee-uh or commonly known as water fleas 
Daphnia under the scope

A bunch living in the deeper waters of the grow bed

Daphnia feeding on algae and plankton.. as far as I can see

When I find some critters growing in the beds I put them in the 10 gallon containers with a couple scoops of compost.  The water heats up quickly on the canopy level, so they have warm water and grow faster

Compost water heater, 100 deg F


Sifting the finished material

You can see the worms feed on the surface more than the bottom, lots of worm poop on top 12 inches

yum

Friday, November 21, 2014

Durango Food Scrap Collection

Free year round food collection from 
Businesses, Restaurants, and Events by Bicycle

A five, thirty, or sixty gallon collection bin is supplied and picked up daily or every other day and replaced with a clean collection bin.. all free of charge

...organic and synthetic chemical free waste is appreciated


Food Scraps are composted with in town at our Vermi-composting site on Main Ave. between 25th st. and 26th st.