EDUCATION
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Graduated in May, 1983 with a B.S.
in Biology and a strong background in ecology. I have taken
many CELSS specific classes
to further my skills in managing a CELSS.
Graduated in 1999 with a B.S. in
Geology--and a geology grade point average of A.
Graduated in 2018 with an MBA.
EXPERIENCE
I have worked on developing a CELSS for many years. Initially experiments in gardening, then greenhouse operation, then a basement biosphere. Currently operating a semi-closed ecological system called Mars Base Zero capable of providing food, but not water or air.
§
Sealed inside alone for
the week
§
No food other than what
was available from the greenhouse garden
§
Harvesting food and
tracking data to maintain optimum nutrient levels
§
Logging data onto the
internet for tracking by others worldwide
§
Sealed inside alone for
39 days
§
No food other than what
was available from the greenhouse garden
§
Harvesting food and
tracking data to maintain optimum nutrient levels
§
Logging data onto the
internet for tracking by others worldwide
Design, construction and operation of ecosystem components, working towards an integrated system.
Responsibilities included:
o
Design of earthworm, aquatic,
soil and hydroponic systems
o
Building these systems
o
Designing experiments to
determine the operational parameters
o
Running the experiments and
determining what worked, what didn't (and why things didn't)
Responsibilities included:
o Design of crop systems: what and where to plant
o Design of greenhouse
o
Managing everything from
planting to harvest
Lead gardener, building up from a small garden (10x20') to a large garden (30x80'). Responsibilities included:
o Design of crop systems:
§
What to plant (foods needed for
a balance diet)
§ Where to plant (what can be planted next to each other without comptetition problems)
o
Everything from plowing to
harvesting:
§
Determining the size garden to
plow to obtain the desired results--and then plowing it
§
Planting the crops
§
Making sure the weeding and
watering was done
§
Harvesting in the fall
§
Recording and analyzing the
yield
§
Performing post-crop work
(threshing the wheat, for example)
In 1976 I planted a large enough garden to grow all the food needed for the winter.
REFERENCES
M. Jones
P. Layer
P. Reichardt
H. Brown-Borg
P. Holloway
A. Pandya
Note: for more specific information, contact me.
{Very old}
(Note: these references are primarily for general reference, rather than related specifically to CELSS experiences.)
Mike Powers, Administrator
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
1650 Cowles
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(907)451-3535 (work)
Evan Jones, Director of Alaska Ministries
1399 Springwater Dr.
Fairbanks
AK 99712
(907)457-3242 (home)
The current copyright laws protect
this page, even though not specifically copyrighted.
However if you want to use
portions of it feel free to do so, though I would appreciate
it if you would acknowledge my authorship.
Last updated spring 2007.