Cropping upMacGregor returns to the Ice to work in the South Pole growth chamberPosted May 20, 2011
It is a blustery winter morning at South Pole Station But I don’t have your typical South Pole winter-over job as operator of the South Pole Food Growth Chamber (SPFGC) Commercial food growth chambers (a.k.a., greenhouses) are optimized to favor the growth of one particular crop. But the SPFGC — built by the National Science Foundation Leaf crops such as open-leafed lettuces, Asian greens, kale, chard, spinach and herbs thrive in the chamber. Cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, strawberries, and melon vines also compete for space within the chamber. The chamber is semi-automated, computer-controlled, and designed to be self-contained. So far this winter, it has produced 375 pounds of produce or a little more than a half-pound per person per week. Besides the obvious health benefits from being able to consume fresh produce, Polies relish visiting the growth chamber to enjoy the sight, scent and texture of green things growing in their midst. Back to my perplexing preoccupation with hanging strawberry trays. Strawberries are one of the most coveted crops at Pole. Unfortunately, strawberries are also one of the crops not suited to the one-size-fits-all nutrient and environmental controls offered by the chamber. I’ve tried different strategies to keep the berry plants healthy and happy, including elevating them in trays above the rest of the growth chamber crops to increase exposure to light and allow runners room to roam. However, limited water pressure is limiting success. I’ll keep pondering the problem and trying new strategies, as I’m not one to give up easily. I hope to have a bowl full of strawberries and yogurt for my 62nd birthday breakfast this month. A 60-something Ph.D. chemist with a life-long love of gardening may seem an odd profile for a winter-over Polie. But operating the SPFGC provides a perfect way for me to spend a marvelous winter at South Pole Station, enjoying auroras and breathtakingly clear, cold, star-filled skies, while keeping my station mates happy with a constant supply of the freshest fruits and vegetables that loving care and semi-automated hydroponics can grow. Susan MacGregor, at 62, is the second oldest woman to winter at the South Pole. She is the winter-over operator for the South Pole Food Growth Chamber.
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