First Garden in DIY Bounty

[airscapes]

Last night I planted my first garden in the DIY Bounty.  I am using my own seeds, with a grow anything kit. I planted thyme, parsley, sage, catnip and romaine.  I think that is probably a no no to include lettuce with  the other herbs but wanted to see how well thing works even if I have to start over when the lettuce is done (big assumption is that it works!)

[airscapes]

Thyme and Catnip germinated!
 

[airscapes]

Catnip, Parsley Sage and Thyme all going strong.. 
Added a few more seeds to the Romain pods as they were deep in the bottom and not seaming to germinate but one of those new ones on top seems to be starting to (green)

Will another few days and I will switch the pump from 1/11 to 5/25. 

[Shawn]

I like the way your cages overlap onto the deck so no light gets in.

[airscapes]

Feb 18, 2021 11:51:54 GMT -5 Shawn said:

I like the way your cages overlap onto the deck so no light gets in.

I do not understand.. what do you mean?  Maybe you were responding to the wrong post?

[Shawn]

Feb 18, 2021 11:55:21 GMT -5 airscapes said:

I do not understand.. what do you mean?  Maybe you were responding to the wrong post?

I marked your picture with arrows that show how they lay on the deck

[airscapes]

AH, sorry, thought the white plastic things were called Pod but they are cages aren't they!
The cages were to sit on the deck originally but I had to add spacers which are what the white rings are.  The water spout under the deck was not low enough and was hitting the solid part of the cage. The spacers raise the cage 3mm so the water spout is in the opening between the legs of the cage.  The top of the cage fits into the tapered part of the spacer which makes  it more stable.  I was going to glue the spacers to the deck, but so far have just let them loose to see if it is an issue.

[Shawn]

they need to make them for the AG's

[airscapes]

What is the issue that lets in the light?  Is it the cage is white and lets light in or is it they do not fit tight?  Is this issue on all models of just certain  deck designs?  I did notice that the bounty had that raised area and others did not.  I would be happy to work with you or anyone to design something that would fix the issue. 

[Shawn]

Feb 18, 2021 16:11:29 GMT -5 airscapes said:

What is the issue that lets in the light?  Is it the cage is white and lets light in or is it they do not fit tight?  Is this issue on all models of just certain  deck designs?  I did notice that the bounty had that raised area and others did not.  I would be happy to work with you or anyone to design something that would fix the issue. 

When lights gets in it can cause green algae. Also on some units they do not sit flush.  It is not a huge issue, I just personally like them flush.

[airscapes]

My offer stands, would just need some measurements and picture to design and fabricate rings that match the angle of the tapper on the top of the cage and not raise it higher with the ring sitting flat on the deck.  Decks with raised bosses around the opening would be a little bit more trial  and error, but not hard.

[Shawn]

I really appreciate that but I would not know how to measure that

Actually, the Farm, Harvests and Bounties I do have do not have the bump up.  My decks are flat.  My Harvests are white decks and my Bountys and farms are black. They are all the same size holes.  Do you have the actual AG cages?  Maybe create something that they fit into that has that little lip to touch the deck. 

[airscapes]

Yes I do have extra cages, if you can take a photo of one of your cages in the hole, at the deck level that would help.  Also if you have a metric tape measure, just measure the diameter of the hole in the deck as best you can. With a couple pictures of how the cage sits  on the deck and the diameter of the hole, I can get a prototype made this weekend and in the mail next week to try for fit. I will send you my email address via PM to send the picture to, or we can do it here so others can watch the process.  I can post images of the CAD model and prototype as I work on it.  I had to guess at the deck hole size when I built this clone and chose 35mm by measuring the cage and looking at pictures of the bounty online.   I am interested to know how close I got.

[Shawn]

Feb 19, 2021 11:50:59 GMT -5 airscapes said:

Yes I do have extra cages, if you can take a photo of one of your cages in the hole, at the deck level that would help.  Also if you have a metric tape measure, just measure the diameter of the hole in the deck as best you can. With a couple pictures of how the cage sits  on the deck and the diameter of the hole, I can get a prototype made this weekend and in the mail next week to try for fit. I will send you my email address via PM to send the picture to, or we can do it here so others can watch the process.  I can post images of the CAD model and prototype as I work on it.  I had to guess at the deck hole size when I built this clone and chose 35mm by measuring the cage and looking at pictures of the bounty online.   I am interested to know how close I got.

Thanks, I will get my husband to help me get measurements.  I will PM you this weekend.

[airscapes]

This morning I had my first serious design failure.  It was something I had feared would happen and I did try to plan and mitigate for it, but alas no dice.   This box I used is for storing media like CD DVDs or even papers and pictures.  So the lid locks but does not seal to allow airflow.  Alas as the sponges in the cages have swelled the have expanded to the point of impacting my water spots backing up the flow.  My over flow slots are too close to the edge of the box and water found a passage to the outside of the box.. and  got into the electronics box and all over the floor.. Plants are fine, in glasses of water for now while I figure a work around  and look for a better box. Just part of the process of building something with off the self items...

[Shawn]

I am sorry it failed on you.  You plants should be fine for a bit.  Just be sure to lift them out a few times to get some air bubbles in there.

[Sher]

Sorry it failed, airscapes.  Such a disappointment.

[airscapes]

No worries, I think I may have found the issue, could have just been the seam between the 2 tray pieces and the vertical ribs on the lid that were touching the sides of the tray, water will follow things in very odd ways.  I removed the contact between the ribs and under tray, also made a few adjustments to the openings in the water way and back together.  Electronics are dried out and function so will see what happens with temp tray under the unit and a 11x17 baking pan ordered.. will also pick up a water alarm after dinner.  

[campingcorgis]

Feb 24, 2021 9:19:02 GMT -5 airscapes said:

This morning I had my first serious design failure.  

Oh, dear!  I'm so sorry.  

[airscapes]

Feb 24, 2021 18:45:03 GMT -5 campingcorgis said:

Feb 24, 2021 9:19:02 GMT -5 airscapes said:

This morning I had my first serious design failure.  

Oh, dear!  I'm so sorry.  

Thanks! All good now! Just part of the process!