This project serves to better optimize the compilation and usage of yield data at Land's Sake Farm. The current system they use has them weighing the produce, then shouting out the number, and someone else writing the data down on a piece of paper, and hours later someone logging this data manually to a computer. This project serves to streamline that process, uploading yield data from the scale, as well as providing an app that synthesizes the data into graphs and compares it to other important data sets automatically.

Project Statement

Precedents

Streaks (Habit Tracker): Conceptual

Google Suites/Excel/Twitter: Comparable

Croptracker: Aspirational

Field Notes

• Scale aspects
• Versatility
• Durability
• Simple, robust
• Yield factors
• Fertility
• Weed control
• Everything is informed by the weather
• Picking
• Planting
• Irrigation
• Crop protection before storms (e.g. tomatoes)
• Soil testing
• Annual, one per field
• Tissue (expensive, more work, haven’t done yet) vs soil testing
• Used to determine fertilizer usage, overall fertility, farm health, and what crops to plant and where
• Nutrient readouts (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.)

Prototype 1

Form prototype of scale

Prototype 2

Storyboard prototype of updated weighing process

Prototype 3

Mobile app form prototype

Next Steps & Questions

• Which is easier?

1. A usb stick that could easily transfer the data to a computer
2. A wireless WiFi-connected Arduino (microcontroller/ mini computer) that automatically uploads the data to the cloud

• Is there WiFi and power at the weigh station?
• What other data sets would be valuable to plot alongside yield (soil health, weather, average yield in MA, etc.)?
• What container is used to hold the produce when weighing? Is it always the same? Would a menu for taring the scale to the container be helpful?
• What else would be helpful in a mobile app (work schedule, farm-related reminders, etc.)?
• Would a touchscreen or a dial work better for the crop selection on the scale? Would you be wearing gloves while weighing?