German Chocolate, Strawberries, and Hot Peppers. The Strawberries were grown in my indoor AeroGarden hydroponic farm. Also the flowers (Dianthus, Snapdragon, Coreopsis, Zinnia) are growing in the hydroponic farm. The Red Poppy flower didn’t quite open in time.
Valentine’s Day Special — Chocolate, Strawberries, and Hot Peppers. Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 35 mm f/2 lens (ISO 1250, 35 mm, f/16, 1/320 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter Gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.
Images from Valentine’s Day Past
Turkey Vulture. Image taken with a Nikon D5 Camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)Sunrise Breakfast Club. Photographer looking into the sun for birds. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec) (David J Mathre)Sunrise Breakfast Club. Silhouette sunrise portrait. MV World Odyssey At Sea. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/10, 1/4000 sec) (David J Mathre)Reflections of the Sunrise Breakfast Club. MV World Odyssey At Sea. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/16, 1/15 sec) (David J Mathre)Sunrise Breakfast Club. Silhouette sunrise portrait. MV World Odyssey At Sea. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 23 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 23 mm, f/10, 1/4000 sec) (David J Mathre)Lonely Trees on Balsfjorden Near Tromsø. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). In camera B&W. (David J. Mathre)Northern Lights in Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 3200, 16 mm, f/2.8, 2 sec).. (David J Mathre)
Daily Electric Energy Used (77.4 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (45.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun, but much colder outside. A deficit of 31.9 kWh.
AeroGarden Farm 07 Left Day 42. L01-L12 various Strawberry plants recovered from AeroGarden Farms 05 Left, 05 Right, 07 Left, and 07 Right at Day 28. The recovered plants had visible white roots, those with dead leaves and brown roots were considered dead. The hydroponic bath was cleaned and the solution replaced with 8 L of rainwater + 15 mL of Root Farm Base (4-0-1) and 15 mL of Root Farm Bloom (1-4-7). The new pH was 6.5 and TDS 750 ppm. At day 42 it appears that these plants have survived. The pH was 4.06 and TDS 564 ppm so added 2 mL of Buffer. The new pH was 6.24 and TDS 564 ppm.
AeroGarden Farm 07 Left Day 42. L01-L12 various Strawberry plants recovered from AeroGarden Farms 05 Left, 05 Right, 07 Left, and 07 Right. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 07 Right Day 42. R01-R12 various Strawberry plants recovered from AeroGarden Farms 05 Left, 05 Right, 07 Left, and 07 Right at Day 28. The recovered plants had visible white roots, those with dead leaves and brown roots were considered dead. The hydroponic bath was cleaned and the solution replaced with 8 L of rainwater + 15 mL of Root Farm Base (4-0-1) and 15 mL of Root Farm Bloom (1-4-7). The new pH was 6.27 and TDS 726 ppm. At day 42 it appears that these plants have survived. Also note a white strawberry flower!!! The pH was 4.45 and TDS 514 ppm so added 1 mL of Buffer. The new pH was 6.50 and TDS 504 ppm.
AeroGarden Farm 07 Right Day 42. R01-R12 various Strawberry plants recovered from AeroGarden Farms 05 Left, 05 Right, 07 Left, and 07 Right. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hydroponic Tub 01 (Left) Day 58 and Tub 02 (Right) Day 41. Tub 01 has six strawberry plant runners from the outside Grow Towers. Tub 02 Sweet Charlie Strawberry Plugs (ISONS). At the last update (day 28) Tub 01 (pH 6.20, TDS 1080 ppm); Tub 02 (pH 6.24, 1010 ppm). Today (day 58) Tub 01 (pH 4.61, 1076 ppm); (day 41) Tube 02 (pH 6.01, 677 ppm). The plants in Tub 02 are getting bigger. During the last two weeks added rain water a couple of times. Not sure if this is due to evaporation or respiration. Tub 01 added 1.0 mL buffer. Tub 02 left as is. Post addition Tub 01 (pH 6.01, TDS 1080 ppm); Tub 02 (pH 6.01, 677 ppm).
Hydroponic Tub 01 (Left) Tub 02 (Right). Day 41 L01-L06 Strawberry Runners from outside Grow Towers; R01-R06 Sweet Charlie Strawberry Plugs (ISONS). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1/4 lens (ISO 250, 35 mm, f/8, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hydroponic Tub 03 (Left) and Tub 04 (Right) Day 41. Both Tubs have Sweet Charlie Strawberry plants with washed roots (ISONS). At the last update (day 28) Tub 03 (pH 6.34, TDS 887 ppm); Tub 04 (pH 6.38, 951 ppm). Today (day 41) Tub 03 (pH 6.95, 672 ppm); Tub 04 (pH 7.46, 900 ppm). The plants in both tubs are getting bigger. During the last two weeks added rain water a couple of times. Not sure if this is due to evaporation or respiration. Tub 03 added 0.5 mL buffer. Tub 04 added 1.0 mL buffer. Post addition Tub 03 (pH 6.01, TDS 670 ppm); Tub 04 (pH 6.40, 905 ppm).
Hydroponic Tub 03 (Left) Tub 04 (Right) Day 41. L01-L06 Sweet Charlie Strawberry free roots (ISONS) ; R01-R06 Sweet Charlie Strawberry free roots (ISONS) . Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1/4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hydroponic Tub 05 (Left) Day 58 and Tub 06 (Right) Day 41. Tub 05 has six strawberry plant runners from the outside Grow Towers. Tub 06 Chandler Strawberry Plugs (ISONS). At the last update (day 28) Tub 05 (pH 5.86, TDS 1220 ppm); Tub 06 (pH 6.18, 1041 ppm). Today (day 58) Tub 05 (pH 5.80, 1157 ppm); (day 41) Tub 02 (pH 6.18, 846 ppm). The plants in Tub 06 are getting bigger, and runners in Tub 06 have been clipped. During the last two weeks added rain water a couple of times. Not sure if this is due to evaporation or respiration. Tub 05 no additions. Tub 06 no additions.
Hydroponic Tub 05 (Left) Tub 06 (Right) Day 41. L01-L06 Strawberry Runners from outside Grow Towers; R01-R06 Chandler Strawberry Plugs (ISONS) . Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1/4 lens (ISO 250, 35 mm, f/8, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hydroponic Tub 07 (Left) Day 41 and Tub 08 (Right) Day 41. Both Tubs have Chandler Strawberry Plugs with washed roots (ISONS). At the last update (day 28) Tub 07 (pH 6.20, TDS 1194 ppm); Tub 08 (pH 5.40, 1220 ppm). Today (day 41) Tub 07 (pH 4.41, 1108 ppm); Tube 08 (pH 3.99, 1036 ppm). The plants in both tubs are getting bigger and runners were clipped. During the last two weeks added rain water a couple of times. Not sure if this is due to evaporation or respiration. Tub 07 added 2.0 mL buffer. Tub 08 added 2.0 mL buffer. Post addition Tub 07 (pH 6.30, TDS 1108 ppm); Tub 08 (pH 5.80, 1036 ppm).
Hydroponic Tub 07 (Left) Tub 08 (Right) Day 41. L01-L06 Chandler Strawberry free roots (ISONS) ; R01-R06 Chandler Strawberry free roots (ISONS) . Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1/4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/11, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (69.4 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (31.9 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. More sun and warmer. Overall a net deficit of 37.5 kWh.
My hot pepper crop that the deer left. Also some strawberries that the deer missed. The Burma water gourd vine has climbed up the trellis on the chimney. It has produced some gourds, but probably too late to get very big.
Hot Peppers grown on my Patio. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/3.5, 1/250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Hot Peppers grown on my Patio. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/3.2, 1/200 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Strawberries that the deer missed on my Patio. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/3.2, 1/200 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Burma water gourd vine growing up my chimney. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/3.5, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (53.2 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (39.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. More sun than yesterday. Notice the reduction mid-afternoon due to the sun being lower and being blocked by the leaves on the Overall a net deficit of 13.9 kWh. I would have a surplus if I wasn’t running the lights for the hydroponic gardens (17.4 kWh).
Wildflowers in bloom and my urban garden. The yucca plant sent shoots up to flower. The local deer really like these, and if I don’t catch and protect the shoots I don’t get any of the yucca flowers. These flowers bloom at night, around a full moon and attract some large moths. Lots of red poppies and cosmos flowers. Other flowers include the blue spiderworts (open for a day, every day new ones), cornflowers (bachelor buttons — attract goldfinches), morning glory vines, and daisy’s. The garden towers are full of fruits and vegetables. One of my sunflower plants is taller than I am. It is also supporting a burma gourd (water gourd plant) that I hope to get some gourds this year.
Daily Power Use (74.2 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (42.05 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I reduced the indoor temperature provided by the WaterFurnace Geothermal HVAC system. Will raise the indoor temperature to 72°F for tomorrow. The power was also out for a little over one hour in the morning. For safety/code reasons, if the PSE&G power is down, my solar panels are disconnected from the grid. I’m thinking of getting a couple of Tesla PowerWall batteries so this doesn’t happen in the future.
