Cooper W. Plunkert

I am interested in this world, what makes it operate, what systems occur within the larger system to make the gears of the universe turn. More specifically, within that idea, I am interested in plants. The idea that we can grow and nurture a completely natural entity, and alter it as we wish, fascinates me. "living soil" and soil biology, are what I would like to focus on, after all, when growing organically, you should feed your soil, not your plants. Growing plants organically is my passion.

• I have filled multiple notebooks with detailed and organized notes of the grow process for the crops I have grown, both indoor and outdoor.
• Three years experience with indoor farming (small scale). I have three 2'x6' grow tents in which I have grown everything from house plants, vegetables, bonsai plants, and many more. Seedling trays all the way up to 30 gallon pots are used in the tents. Red worms are added to pots that are 15 gallons or more. The worms are fed by avocado halves which are laid face down on the soil surface.
• A Tropf-Blumat irrigation system is installed in each indoor grow tent, complete with a 20 gallon water reservoir located on top of each tent for better water pressure. Drip tape is utilized in the outdoor garden rows as the main source of irrigation.
• I made a 20'x40' organic vegetable garden in summer 2023, growing over 20 varieties of vegetables from spring and into fall. I utilized vertical gardening techniques to maximize my production yields whilst minimizing the space needed to grow.
• I make my own organic "living" soil mixture, consisting of a 1:1:1 ratio of compost, peatmoss, and pumice, as well as added minerals and nutrients to boost the mix to a proper fertility. I have sold 5 gallon buckets of this mix to local shops in Bellefonte PA, such as Woodrings Floral Gardens and Smith and Front.
• I make my own organic compost tea with a 5 gallon bucket, air pump, bubble snake, and a mesh bag that acts as a large tea bag in which I put worm castings. Soil inoculant, molasses, coconut extract powder, and fulvic humic acid are mixed into the water, as well as Quillaja Saponaria extract powder to act as a surfactant for a more even soil drench. The tea is then aerated for 24 hours before it is watered into the soil.
• I have four worm bins, three contain Eisenia Fetida (Red worms), and one contains Dendrobaena Hortensis (European Night Crawlers). These bins not only give me a surplus of beneficial worms to add to my outdoor garden and fabric pots in my grow tents, but also allows me to have a continuous free source of rich worm castings.
• Experience in grafting fruit trees. I have grafted over 30 fruit trees, all in the genus Prunus.
• Over 60 ornamental plants and 8 homemade terrariums.