Growing system and method
AssigneeSilo Farms, LLC
InventorBradford Kuhns
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spiral growing system is configured to be housed in a vertically elongated silo growth chamber to grow an agricultural crop. The spiral growing system broadly includes a spiral growing assembly and a movable crop support with a continuous track and optional feeding system. The track extends continuously along the assembly length of the spiral growing assembly and presents a generally downward spiral path that defines a path axis, with the track configured to direct the agricultural crop along the spiral path to thereby direct the agricultural crop through the growing space along the spiral path.
Claims15
A silo growing system configured to grow an agricultural crop, said silo growing system comprising:
- a silo presenting a vertically elongated silo growth chamber;
- a spiral growing assembly positioned in the silo growth chamber and extending along an assembly length to at least partly define a spiral growing space to receive and feed the agricultural crop therein, said spiral growing assembly including a continuous track and a feeding system,
- said track extending continuously along the assembly length of the spiral growing assembly and presenting a generally downward spiral path that defines a path axis, with the track configured to direct the agricultural crop along the spiral path,
- said feeding system extending along the track to direct a supply of water droplets and/or nutrient droplets in the spiral growing space along the spiral path by providing direct root application of the supply of water droplets and/or nutrient droplets to the agricultural crop;
- and
- a movable crop support configured to support at least some of the agricultural crop, said movable crop support operably supported by the track and configured to be advanced downwardly along the assembly length to thereby direct the agricultural crop through the growing space along the spiral path.
The silo growing system as claimed in claim 12,
- said feeding system including dispensing nozzles to discharge the supply of water droplets and/or nutrient droplets inside the feed zone, with the tray configured to collect any excess part of the supply of water droplets and/or nutrient droplets, said dispensing nozzles of the feeding system each including a sprayer, mister, and/or fogger.
A spiral growing system configured to be housed in a vertically elongated silo growth chamber to grow fungi, said spiral growing system comprising:
- a spiral growing assembly extending along an assembly length to at least partly define a spiral growing space to receive fungi therein, said spiral growing assembly including a continuous track, wherein said spiral growing assembly does not include does not include a feeding system or a lighting system,
- an air system for air distribution to homogenize the air temperature and bleed heat from the fungi,
- said track extending continuously along the assembly length of the spiral growing assembly and presenting a generally downward spiral path that defines a path axis, with the track configured to direct the fungi along the spiral path;
- a movable crop support configured to support fungi bags containing said fungi for incubation, said movable crop support operably supported by the track and configured to be advanced downwardly along the assembly length to thereby direct the fungi through the growing space for incubation along the spiral path.
A method of growing an agricultural crop using aeroponics, fogponics, and/or nutrient film technique, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning agricultural crop on a spiral path;
- (b) facilitating advancement of the agricultural crop downwardly along the spiral path;
- (c) providing direct root application of water droplets and/or nutrient droplets to the agricultural crop to grow the agricultural crop as the agricultural crop is advanced along the spiral path;
- and
- (d) harvesting the agricultural crop from the spiral path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.