Urban Farm - David Mathre Photography

Wednesday (25-December-2019) — Florida

Gone to See Florida — 2019 Road Trip.

Christmas Day walkabout in an Urban Garden and Farm. I went out three times during the day with three different camera & lens combinations. Fuji X-H1 camera with a 200 mm f/2 lens and 1.4x teleconverter, Fuji X-T3 camera with a 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens, and Nikon 1 V3 camera with a 70-300 mm VR lens. The Hens were still feasting on the broccoli leaves I brought them. Cardinal, Blue Jay, and Red-headed Woodpecker at the bird feeder. A squirrel in the Carambola and Mango tree. Many flowers (Flame Lily, Canna Lily, Chinese Lantern, Rossle (Hybiscus), Purple Bengal Clockvine). Also Bananas and Figs.

Hen eating broccoli leaves. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 200 mm f/2 OIS lens + 1.4 x teleconverter (DAVID J MATHRE)

Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.

Hen. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 200 mm f/2 OIS lens + 1.4 x teleconverter (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (52.2 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (31.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 20.4 kWh. Most of the hydroponic gardens were off or only on for fewer hours. Also, the thermostat for the Geothermal heater and hybrid heat pump hot water heater were set for vacation mode.

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Tuesday (24-December-2019) — Florida

Gone to See Florida — 2019 Road Trip.

I arrived in St. Petersburg, Florida before lunchtime. The Chickens in the backyard urban garden loved the Broccoli leaves I brought from my indoor hydroponic AeroGarden Farm. My father pointed out that a bunch of Bananas were resting on top of a bee hive. My mother had some blooming orchids hanging from the Mango trees. She also had strawberry plants and berries in a Grow Tower that had been moved to the upper part of the driveway.

Hens feasting on Broccoli leaves from my indoor hydroponic garden in NJ. Urban garden & farm in St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/2.5, 1/250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Bananas on a Bee Hive. Urban garden & farm in St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/2.8, 1/320 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Orchid Flowers in the air. Urban garden & farm in St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/1.4, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Strawberry Plants and Berries in a Grow Tower. Urban garden & farm in St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/2.2 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (45.3 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (33.6 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 25.7 kWh. Most of the hydroponic gardens were off or only on for fewer hours. Also, the thermostat for the Geothermal heater and hybrid heat pump hot water heater were set for vacation mode.

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Monday (22-July-2019) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Daily Walkabout. Still hot and humid outside. The high was 93 °F with a heat index of 108 °F according to my personal weather station. Clouds developed and ultimately more thunderstorms (two days in a row) with 1.08 inches of rain over the two days. A large number of mushrooms popped up overnight, and I was able to get an image of the Troll mushroom farmers guarding their crop.

Troll Mushroom Farmers. Composite of 50 focus stacked images taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 64, 105 mm, f/1.4, 1/80 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and Focus Magic. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (78.0 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (65.6 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The WaterFurnace geothermal HVAC system is able to maintain the indoor temperature at 74-76 °F using ~35 kWh of electricity. My previous 30 year old central A/C unit would not have been able to maintain the indoor temperature below 85 °F with outdoor temperatures above 90 °F and used significantly more electricity. Granted, I now have better insulation, an attic fan, and more efficient French doors.

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One-Year Ago (01-January-2016) — Florida

Gone to See America. December/January 2015/2016 Florida Road Trip. Day 9: St. Petersburg.

Lone Fig. Backyard urban farm in Saint Petersburg. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 55-135 mm lens (ISO 250, 135 mm, f/4.5, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC.

Lone fig on a branch at an urban farm in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 55-135 mm lens (ISO 200, 135 mm, f/4.5, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (26-November-2014) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2014. Day 2: St. Petersburg.

Dad chasing a hen running loose at his Urban Farm in St. Petersburg. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/3, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC.

Dad Chasing a Hen Running Loose at an Urban Farm in St. Petersburg. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/3, 1/640 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC. (David J Mathre) — Dad Chasing a Hen Running Loose at an Urban Farm in St. Petersburg. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 100, 23 mm, f/3, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)