Revolutionary Pressurized Greenhouse Catching On Fast
David Chelf’s plants grow faster and are pesticide-free in his Airstream Innovations greenhouse tunnels. Chelf and his customers credit the 3 mph flow of air across the plants. The air also keeps the 66 by 360-ft. plastic roof inflated. The translucent cover is attached to bases buried in the soil.
“We are getting 30 percent or more increased growth with the same amount of water,” says Chelf. “The airflow and diffusion of light under the plastic increases the leaf area exposed to light for increased photosynthesis.”
The airflow is produced by two 20-ft. diameter towers at one end of the greenhouse. While the towers capture available wind, 4 adjustable, high-speed fans suspended in each tower keep air pressure constant. A 12 by 16-ft. exhaust door at the other end opens and closes to control the airflow. Wind speed, fan and venting doors are constantly adjusted by a programmable control system.
Chelf says the moving air keeps plants growing and healthy. Incoming air passes through a thick net that captures insect pests. The USDA has certified that the tunnels with their positive pressure protect citrus crops from the citrus psyllid insect, which carries a devastating citrus disease. The airflow also prevents stagnant, humid conditions where diseases flourish.
“The airflow delivers carbon dioxide needed for cell growth and aids transpiration by carrying away water vapor from the leaf’s stomata,” explains Chelf. “This cools the leaf and maintains the flow of water and nutrients from the roots up the xylem to the leaves. It is controlled transpiration that prevents heat stress from shutting down photosynthesis.”
Initially, Chelf tested the Airstream design with his own field of strawberries. Today his plastic greenhouses are creating their own demand, as customers try one and order more, sometimes before Chelf can get the first one up.
“We’re finishing up one for a customer who has already ordered a second and is planning 20 more,” says Chelf. “The first tunnel I sold led to 11 more at that property.”
For Chelf, sometimes bad luck is the best luck. He tells about an early customer who just finished installation of an Airstream unit when a dump truck ran into the side of it.
“It opened up a 40-ft. hole in the plastic,” recalls Chelf. “The control system shut down the venting door and used the new hole to vent. Meanwhile, it adjusted the fans to compensate.”
Chelf was able to repair the tear, and the story gave prospects more confidence in the system. Since then he has added cable reinforcing to hold down the plastic, preventing a similar tear from spreading. He has also added a backup generator and batteries in case a power outage should occur.
The greenhouse is extremely robust. It is designed to handle the pressure and force of an 80 mph wind, and the prototype has done just that. Installed at 4,500 ft. elevation, it easily handled an overnight snow that dumped 2 ft. of snow on it.
“It just slid off in the morning,” says Chelf.
The Airstream is designed for high-value crops. The basic 66 by 360 ft. unit is priced at about $5.50/sq. ft. Chelf also markets a larger 100 by 680 ft. unit. Most are those lengths or larger. He has considered selling a smaller, one tower unit, but warns that it would not be appropriate for high-value crops.
“The 2 towers provide a backup,” says Chelf. “If one needs maintenance or develops a problem, the second tower can maintain the greenhouse. With a single tower, you are more vulnerable.”
Chelf is also marketing the Airstream units for recreational use and aquaculture. All sales to date are direct through the company.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Airstream Innovations, Inc., 509 S. Cedros Ave., Suite E, Solana Beach, Calif. 92075 (ph
858 755-1822; www.airstreaminnovations.com).
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Revolutionary Pressurized Greenhouse Catching On Fast CROPS Miscellaneous David Chelf’s plants grow faster and are pesticide-free in his Airstream Innovations greenhouse tunnels Chelf and his customers credit the 3 mph flow of air across the plants The air also keeps the 66 by 360-ft plastic roof inflated The translucent cover is attached to bases buried in the soil “We are getting 30 percent or more increased growth with the same amount of water ” says Chelf “The airflow and diffusion of light under the plastic increases the leaf area exposed to light for increased photosynthesis ” The airflow is produced by two 20-ft diameter towers at one end of the greenhouse While the towers capture available wind 4 adjustable high-speed fans suspended in each tower keep air pressure constant A 12 by 16-ft exhaust door at the other end opens and closes to control the airflow Wind speed fan and venting doors are constantly adjusted by a programmable control system Chelf says the moving air keeps plants growing and healthy Incoming air passes through a thick net that captures insect pests The USDA has certified that the tunnels with their positive pressure protect citrus crops from the citrus psyllid insect which carries a devastating citrus disease The airflow also prevents stagnant humid conditions where diseases flourish “The airflow delivers carbon dioxide needed for cell growth and aids transpiration by carrying away water vapor from the leaf’s stomata ” explains Chelf “This cools the leaf and maintains the flow of water and nutrients from the roots up the xylem to the leaves It is controlled transpiration that prevents heat stress from shutting down photosynthesis ” Initially Chelf tested the Airstream design with his own field of strawberries Today his plastic greenhouses are creating their own demand as customers try one and order more sometimes before Chelf can get the first one up “We’re finishing up one for a customer who has already ordered a second and is planning 20 more ” says Chelf “The first tunnel I sold led to 11 more at that property ” For Chelf sometimes bad luck is the best luck He tells about an early customer who just finished installation of an Airstream unit when a dump truck ran into the side of it “It opened up a 40-ft hole in the plastic ” recalls Chelf “The control system shut down the venting door and used the new hole to vent Meanwhile it adjusted the fans to compensate ” Chelf was able to repair the tear and the story gave prospects more confidence in the system Since then he has added cable reinforcing to hold down the plastic preventing a similar tear from spreading He has also added a backup generator and batteries in case a power outage should occur The greenhouse is extremely robust It is designed to handle the pressure and force of an 80 mph wind and the prototype has done just that Installed at 4 500 ft elevation it easily handled an overnight snow that dumped 2 ft of snow on it “It just slid off in the morning ” says Chelf The Airstream is designed for high-value crops The basic 66 by 360 ft unit is priced at about $5 50/sq ft Chelf also markets a larger 100 by 680 ft unit Most are those lengths or larger He has considered selling a smaller one tower unit but warns that it would not be appropriate for high-value crops “The 2 towers provide a backup ” says Chelf “If one needs maintenance or develops a problem the second tower can maintain the greenhouse With a single tower you are more vulnerable ” Chelf is also marketing the Airstream units for recreational use and aquaculture All sales to date are direct through the company Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Airstream Innovations Inc 509 S Cedros Ave Suite E Solana Beach Calif 92075 ph
858 755-1822; www airstreaminnovations com
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