Growing of Things (GoT)

I've not updated this project in while as I've been busily building our house (out of strawbale) so its ready for the arrival of our first child (any day now).

I first started this project because its what I need to help manage my gardens and live stock around the farm. So it will be completed (or at least usable) in the next 6 months. Thanks for you interest (and skulls).

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Whats Done

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Temperature/Humidity sensor data collection

Soil moisture sensor data collection

Relay/valve control code

Wireless data link - Only wifi and still need to be optimised but its functional

Solar Node 

Base Station Display (LCD)

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Whats Left

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Meshing nodes

151MHz radio links

Wireless Hotspot

Data encryption

User rights

User Interface

Button Interface

RTC sync signal

Automation Program Repository (Website)

At the core permaculture is optimisation of those processes by which natural systems feedback against each other, to create a pattern of energy exchanges that benefits us. 

This generally takes the form of connecting mutally beneficial systems together and composting...

This is what GoT is all about, connecting systems (in this case sometime very distance systems)  by data. To allow the equipment you have to perform mutally beneficial tasks and minmise your own need to apply disproportionate work to any system. And maximise your yield, whether that be carrots or cash.

Will be adding a water turbine generator on remote reticulation nodes that will be powered by water flow (from a pressure pump or mains water supply)

A small solar panel will keep a battery charged for powering the node and providing power to open the solenoid valve (24V 0.43A). When the valve is opened the water flow will run the turbine to keep the valve open(24V 0.25A) as well as charge the battery.

In this way only a small solar panel will be required to keep the battery topped up when the node is in standby mode.

Do a bit of testing using an old solar light to run a remote temperature sensor node.

The case from the solar light will serv very well as case for the node electronics..handy.

All the components have arrived. I've started basic functionality testing by creating a wirless reticulation node.So wireless and relay control code is out of the way, now its only everything else to go.