Comparative analysis of growing small scale ornamental vs food crops
While I was working as a Groundskeeper in Agassiz, I experienced deep pleasure in the hands-on and visual work that I was doing with Meg. I loved working outside with plants and using my hands for rewarding work. However, I knew that this job was only temporary for me as I do not want to become a permanent groundskeeper when I grow up as the job is quite solitary and it doesn’t provide enough mental challenges for me. Some areas of study in small-scale food production catches my interest so I was actively searching for similarities and differences between what I’ve studied regarding small-scale agriculture and what I’ve learned growing ornamental crops. Critically thinking about this has helped me grasp what I learned this summer instead of mindlessly working and not fully absorbing what I was learning.
Location
The purpose of ornamental crops is to beauty an area so it is visually appealing to those who are passing by. When working for the government, optics are key- if a government research facility seems to be clean, well-kept and beautiful, then tax-payers are satisfied with how their money is being used. Therefore, ornamental crops are started in a greenhouse shortly after Christmas then planted outside in the spring when they are flowering and at their most beautiful. Many ornamental crops aren’t adapted to both cold and warm temperatures so they need to be planted in a controlled environment to ensure optimal growth. In some cases, ornamental crops are grown from stems of parent plants while others are grown from seeds or bulbs- both of these are commonly planted inside to allow the new plant to grow in a controlled environment. Comparatively, most food crops are planted from seeds outside in the springtime once the ground has been tilled. Some crops such as pumpkins and watermelons can be started in a greenhouse, but only in small-scale production. The feasibility of starting food crops inside is lower as the plants are numerous and it’s hard to have enough resources to monitor them inside. Furthermore, many food crops are naturally or engineered to be hardy so they can be planted in the springtime with the confidence that they will still grow despite unexpected weather.
Energy demands
Both ornamental and food crops are fairly energy intensive and require close care and an understanding for the plants. While ornamental crops have fewer mechanical inputs (like tractors), they both share the need for fertilizers, pest controls, water and manpower. The type of fertilizers and pest controls used depends on the crop, the location and the farmer. Different climates are subjected to different soil types, weather, pests and temperatures so fertilizers and pest control methods will vary. Furthermore, some farmers are more open to trying new methods on their crops and have the financial and infrastructural resources to do so. Meg has been working towards a fully organic crop production method so she has taken the time to test the effectiveness of compost tea as a natural fertilizing agent. While the greenhouses at the Research and Development Center use biological controls, many greenhouses use chemical pesticides as they don’t have the resources to research alternative methods. Since greenhouses are a controlled environment, they require heavy amounts of watering to make up for what outdoor crops get naturally. Since I did allot of watering in the spring, I couldn’t help but notice how much of the water quickly percolates through the soil in a plant pot and drops to the ground as waste. I often thought that a water recycling system would be very useful in our greenhouses as it would reduce allot of water waste. Many ornamental crops require additional infrastructure that outdoor crops don’t including greenhouses, heat, plastic pots, an irrigation system and electricity.
Timing
As previously stated, ornamental crops are planted in greenhouses shortly after Christmas then planted outside in the mid to late springtime. Comparatively, food crops are planted outside as seeds in the mid to early springtime and are not fully grown until mid to late summer. Both crops are removed from the ground in the fall, though food is harvested while ornamental crops are simply removed. Is some cases, parts of an ornamental plant can be saved and used the next year.
Purpose– to feed vs for ornamental purposes, science
Pests– mostly different pests and how you get rid of them
Techniques which make small scale food production more environmentally sustainable
For my LFS 350 class, I wrote an academic review on the environmental benefits of agroecological farming. I think that greenhouse and ornamental crop farming could adopt many agroecological practices such as water recycling, use of natural fertilizers and pesticides and crop rotationing in outside flower beds.