Calendar of Events

This page chronicles our past efforts, continuing projects, and future projections

Highlights

• The Idea: Start a small commercial blueberry operation
  Spring/Summer 2008
  Following an excavation project that created a triangle plot between two lanes, I decided to use that plot to grow blueberries
• Writing a Sabbatical Proposal for EMU
  August 2008
  I was due for a sabbatical from teaching at EMU for the 2009-2010 academic year and created a three part proposal.  The third portion of that proposal included "Creating Conditions for an Organic Blueberry Operation" on our farm at Knoll Acres.
• Writing A USDA Specialty Grant Proposal
  September 2008
  The USDA Specialty Agriculture Grant Proposal was submitted to State of Virginia Department of Agriculture, Specialty Block Grant Program and requested $23,000  for "Creating Conditions for a Small Sustainable Commercial Organic Blueberry Operation."
• Initial Project Design
  September 2008
  Laid out the blueberry rows, cultivated the ground, took soil samples, picked up rocks, applied sulfur to lower pH, and sowed the rye cover crop on the rows.
• Sabbatical Project Approved
  October 2008
  EMU approved sabbatical proposal including the third related to "Creating Conditions for an Organic Blueberry Project"
• USDA Revised Grant Proposal Funded
  February/March 2009
  Followed through with request to modify grant proposal; received notiification that revised proposal was funded for a total of $18,666 over a two-year period.
• Spring Plot and Soil Work
  April 2009
  Mowed rows, initially cultivated rows, & took soil samples.  Wet weather prevented working with the soil very much.
• Early Summer Plot and Soil Work
  June 2009
  Added compost (Horse manure, sheep manure, pine needles, and "PLanter's Choice Compost") to selected rows; tilled in the compost,  and picked up rocks..
• Mid-Summer Plot and Soil Work
  July 2009
  Added organic soil amendments to the rows (Azomite, Blood Meal, Fish Meal, Rock Phosphate, Green Sand, Holly Tone, and Peat Moss) to enhance the soil vitality.  Tilled in the amendments with a chisel plow and picked up rocks.  With Jeremiah Vallotton constructed raised bed borders for a portion of the organic rows.
• Blueberry Soil Projects for Summer Bridge Students
  July/August 2009
  Seven Summer Bridge Students (a program funded by an NSF-STEM grant) compared organic blueberry soil plots.  The students did in field soil quality tests, took soil samples, and conducted elemental analysis on the soil samples in the laboratory.  Final reports due in September.
• Fall Plot and Soil Work
  August/September 2009
  Tilled and weeded the blueberry rows with the Mantis Tiller; pulled some large weeds; picked up rocks.  Added a second treatment of compost to selected blueberry rows (Horse manure/sawdust, Sheep manure/hay, pine straw, and "Planter's Choice").  Added another treatment of sulfur to lower pH
• Soil Sampling: In-Field Testing
  November 3, 2009
  Aly Zimmerman and Caitlyn Suttles (EMU work-study students) measured soil quality via in-field tests (respiration and infiltration) on each compost treatment plot.  They took three soil sample readings.
• Soil Sampling: Field Samples
  November 4, 2009
  Aly took two soil samples from each row for laboratory analysis of elemental components including humus.  I took one composite soil sample from each different compost treatment plot (Organic Horse Manure & Sawdust; Organic Sheep Manure & Hay; Organic Pine Needle, Organic Planter's Choice Mulch, and Traditional Horse Manure & Sawdust) and sent them to Virginia Cooperative Extension Soil Service at Virginia Tech for analysis.
• Soil Sampling: Laboratory Testing
  November 4-11, 2009
  Aly Zimmerman completed the initial USDA soil tests on the various treatment plots (three values per plot) using the USDA methodology.  Data from this testing series include: pH, Electroconductivity test, and Nitrate test.  These data will be posted on the Soil Science section of this website before December 1.
• Soil Sampling: Laboratory Testing
  November 16-December 11, 2009
  Aly Zimmerman and Caitlyn Suttles worked on the LaMotte testing series for six soil samples from each experimental plot (30 samples).  The LaMotte testing series quantifies the following 15 soil characteristics: nitrate nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, aluminum, sulfates, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate, nitrogen, chlorides, ferric iron, calcium, humus, and pH.
  Jeremiah Vallotton is using a different procedure to measure pH and organic content.  He will do an extraction procedure to analyze the levels of copper, zinc, iron, and magnesium using atomic absorption.
• Planting Cultivars
  Late November/Early December 2009
  Five different cultivars were planted in the various soil treatment plots.  These are bare rooted plants: Duke, Blue Crop and Jersey (ordered from Finch's Blueberries) and Chandler and Bluegold (ordered from Miller's Nurseries).  Miller's Nurseries arrived November 25th and were all planted by the following day. The cultivars from Finch's Nursery arrived on Dec 3 and were all planted by the end of the following day.
• Mulching Cultivars
  Early December 2009
  Mulched blueberry rows with a 3 inch layer of shredded pine bark mulch.  Row width was 3 feet.  The two pine needle rows were mulched with pine needles instead of shredded pine mark mulch.  The organic row sections (parts of rows A-H) that will be deep mulched (10-12 inches thick) will be completed in early spring.
• Foliar Assay
  October - December 2009
  Allison Glick worked on developing a method to analyze macro- and micronutrients in leaves using atomic absorption.
• Mouse Blueberry Consumption Pilot Project
  January-April 2010
  With the assistance of David Jantzi we initiated a pilot project to assess mouse consumption of blueberries, dietary responses, and uptake of anthocyanins from blueberry diets.  See the Project Design Section for further details and early results.
• Spring Soil Analysis
  April 2010
  Jeremiah Vallotton took soil samples for analysis to determine and compare the effects of the soil amendment treatments.  Portions of selected samples (one from each plot) were sent to Virginia Tech Soil Testing Lab.  David Jantzi is completing some in field soil tests -- mainly respiration, temperature, and pH
• Initiate Installation of Drip Irrigation System
  April 2010
  Install drain connection from water storage tank; install two feeder hose lines.
• Student Presentations at Virginia Academy of Sciences
  May 21, 2010
      Allison Glick: "Foliar analysis for micronutrients using atomic absorption"
      Jeremiah Vallotton "Blueberry soil analysis of different soil amendmentt treatment plots"

Upcoming Events

• Spring Cultivar and Foliar Analysis
  May/June 2010
  Analyze plant health and vigor in comparing the different cultivars and their growing sites.  Braydon Hoover and Denay Fuglie will do a selected foliar assessment for macro- and micro-nutrients using atomic absorption.  Direct plant growth measures have been taken (May 25); next the leaf density index will be determined and then photosynthesis and respiration values.  Foliar samples for analysis will be taken during early August for analysis this fall.
• Manuscript Preparation
  June 2010
  The research work of Allison Glick and Jeremiah Vallotton merit journal publication.  Consequently, I will be working with both students and assisting them in preparing a publishable manuscript.  We hope to submit these manuscripts for publication by July 10, 2010.
• Complete Installation of Drip Irrigation System
  May/June 2010
  Complete row lines in the organic plots; then install the entire system in the conventional plot, including a storage tank.
• Install Posts and Perimeter Fence for Bird Netting System
  June 2010
  Pick up 10' squared hedge posts at Dayton Lumber Mill; hired person to dig most of the post holes.
• Install High Tunnel.
  July 2010
  Purchase and erect a 20'x48' high tunnel structure over a portion of the Planter's Choice mulch section

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

• Event Title
  Event Description
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Related resources

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Significant Meetings/Conferences

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• Virginia Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, May 20-22, 2010 at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

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• 2010 Virginia Biological Conference, February 19-20, 2010 @ Institute for Advanced Learning, Danville, VA Virginia Association for Biological Farming

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• SE Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference 2010 with a Blueberry Conference included. Conference Website
  January 7-10, 2010 at Savannah, Georgia

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