A device for growing plants above a selected surface includes a bottom member disposed upon a selected surface; a top member disposed upon and secured to said bottom member via two longitudinal securing seams, whereby, said top member includes two outer longitudinal flap portions and a longitudinal center portion, which ultimately receives a growing material in which plants and/or seeds are disposed. The longitudinal flap portions are ultimately folded above the growing material whereby longitudinal edge portions of the flap portions are separated a predetermined distance for allowing water and light to engage the growing material. Pipe members are removably secured to longitudinal edge portions of each longitudinal side of the bottom member, thereby enabling the manual lifting and transport of the device for disposal upon a selected surface.

A modified device for growing plants upon an undulating surface includes the above device with multiple apertures disposed proximate to a selected inner portion of a folded lower flap portion of the top member; and at least one water retaining member disposed between the folded lower flap portion of the top member and a lower elevation side of the bottom member.

A process for preparing a polymeric membrane for materials used in crop production comprising: a) providing an aqueous dispersion of a polyurethane or polyurethane-urea elastomer comprising segments formed from the copolymer segment of Formula I
A.sup.1-[Y.sup.1].sub.n-L-[Y.sup.2].sub.q-A.sup.2  Formula I
wherein A.sup.1 is an end capping group; A.sup.2 is hydrogen or an end capping group; each [Y.sup.1].sub.n and [Y.sup.2].sub.q is independently selected from a polyether macrodiol, polycarbonate macrodiol, polyester macrodiol, and wherein at least one of [Y.sup.1].sub.n and [Y.sup.2].sub.q is a polyester macrodiol; L is a divalent linking compound independently selected from urethane, urea, carbonate, ester, and phosphonate; n is an integer of 2 to 50; q is an integer of 2 to 50; and b) spraying the aqueous dispersion onto materials to be used in crop production to form a polymeric membrane on the materials.

The present invention provides structures that maximize the use of minimal ground space or pot soil by providing generally vertical outward-sloping multiple cords or net trellis such as to offer increasing volume for plant foliage with height, which is adjustable to the user's desire. A compact kit includes at least two elongated leg member, and at least one elongated support, and can be assembled into structures up to approximately twice as wide at the top as at the base where the plants begin growing in soil. Flaccid replaceable cords when installed incline generally outward and upward to top horizontal rods supporting wining plants to grow generally vertically and even horizontally across the top.

A degradable aroma product with seeds wrapped therein includes plant seeds and growth carriers coated or mixed with plant nutrients and aromatizers. The degradable aroma product may be in the form of an aroma card with the growth carriers being made of paper pulp, or alternatively, in the form of an aroma sachet with the plant seeds and the growth carriers or the aroma card wrapped in a degradable packaging bag. When the degradable aroma product has been used over a period of time and no longer produces fragrance, it can be directly buried in soil without forming any pollutant and accordingly, meets the requirement of plastic and waste reduction. Further, with the plant nutrients, the plant seeds can grow into trees, flowers or fruits more easily to enable sustainable development of healthy circle of life (i.e. the product design concept of cradle-to-cradle), carbon reduction and environmental protection.

An apparatus for making holes in plastic along a ridge row has a frame with wheels spanning a ridge row, a furrow reference wheel centered in the frame adapted to roll on soil surface between two raised ridge rows, a first vertically translatable mechanism positioned at a distance to a first side of the furrow reference wheel to be directly over the ridge row adjacent the furrow reference wheel, the vertically translatable mechanism having a first electrically-heated hole punch element at a lower extremity, and a control system having a power supply, sensors and actuators for managing operation of the apparatus. As the apparatus is towed, the furrow reference wheel triggers signals to the control system to activate the vertically translatable mechanism at repeated intervals to descend and make holes in the plastic covering on the raised ridge row.

A dynamic controllable system 10 for moderating energy absorption at the earth's surface includes a series of panel units 110, 610 mounted above the earth's surface over land and water masses. Each panel unit 110, 610 supports rotatable shafts 112, 612, with panels 100, 600 joined to or integrally formed with the shafts 112, 612. Each panel (forcing) 100, 600 has a radiation reflective surface 102, 602 and a radiation emissive surface 104, 604 opposite the radiation reflective surface 102, 602. The panels 100, 602 are selectively rotated into a predetermined one of a plurality of cardinal positions: reflective, emissive and neutral, or into an intermediate position between two of the cardinal positions. The programmable controller 130 receives various data including top of atmosphere satellite data, air temperature and relative humidity at panel units, weather data, time of day, position of panel units, radiation insolation, and combinations thereof. Responsive to real-time data, both local and regional, the programmable controller directs rotational orientation of panels within the panel units, causing a desired reflection of shortwave and longwave radiation away from the earth's surface.

Covers comprising a nonwoven fabric including a plurality of recycled polyester fibers, such as a plurality of staple fibers, is provided. The plurality of recycled polyester fibers may be formed from a post-consumer polyester, a post-industrial waste polyester, or a combination thereof. The covers provide desirable vapor transmission while also providing an improved hydrostatic head. The covers may be provided in a variety of configurations. Methods of forming such covers are also provided.

Covers comprising a nonwoven fabric including a plurality of recycled polyester fibers, such as a plurality of staple fibers, is provided. The plurality of recycled polyester fibers may be formed from a post-consumer polyester, a post-industrial waste polyester, or a combination thereof. The covers provide desirable vapor transmission while also providing an improved hydrostatic head. The covers may be provided in a variety of configurations. Methods of forming such covers are also provided.

A weed barrier includes a rigid body defining a plurality of basins. The basins have bottoms with holes therethrough for planting garden plants. In a particular embodiment the bottom surface of the weed barrier includes a plurality of hose channels configured be positioned over a hose. Several example configurations of rigid weed barriers are disclosed. Some example weed barriers include flanges that facilitate the adjustable arrange of the weed barriers with respect to one another.

A modular gardening system (MGS) for plant growing, the system comprising a garden bed for containing soil that is configured to grow at least one plant therein; an elevated rolling stand module supporting the garden bed; a bed cover system module disposed on top of the garden bed; and a mister irrigation module providing irrigation to the plant.