Varietal Choices
5 Mt/Miryai Mt. Criteria for Variety Selection
In the Living Gods, Let the hallowed Light of Transcendent Truth be praised. Let the Sweet Mystery of Miryai awaken in the heart of hearts.

 
The following is for determining the wisest crop choice for any given area based upon space, time, weather, water, nutrient constraints, etc.. There are twelve criteria for judging the value of any given crop:
 
• Weight of edible food produced per 100 square feet per fortnight. (weight balanced against space the crop occupies during prime growing periods)
• Calories produced  per 100 square feet. (calories per fortnight of prime growing time)
• Biomass produced per 100 square feet for composting. (weight of biomass produced per fortnight. Example: Grains, Pseudograins, Sunflowers, Flax and Fava residues. 30-60 lbs dry biomass, +50% soil, = 3-6 5 gal buckets finished compost for 1/4"-1/2" per 100' bed)
• Exceptional or needed nutrients produced per 100 square feet. (Andi score, Orac score, Flavanoid level, omega 3 oil, etc. Example: Flax must be grown for needed Omega 3 oils, despite its low productivity.)
• Efficiency in water and fertilizer use per grow period. (Low, medium or high water and compost levels needed. Example: Carrots grow with a lot less nutrients than does corn. Aprox. 1000 gallons are needed to irrigate 100 sq ft all season.)
• Value in providing the needed weight for its Element. (Example: It is hard getting enough weight in the Earth Element without using a lot of beets or wild blueberries, beets being vastly more productive.)
• Value providing a rotational alternative within its Element. (ex: Quinoa as pseudograin alternative to grains when they are not allowed on the menu due to rotation)
• Value of taste, desirability and cuisine enhancement.(ex: Corn's value on Mexican cuisine day)
• Resilence of crop (ability to produce consistantly despite unusual weather, pests, off years, weed pressure, late plantings, neglect, etc.)
• Ease of production (time consuming planting, pruning, harvesting, nursery time, processing time. Example: Camelina oil seeds are hard to harvest in quantity and require special tools to press for oil)
• Niche efficiency (ability to be planted very early or late, handle frosts, or to fit in narrow planting windows between other crops. Example: Japanese millet matures quickly during a couple month window of the summer, spinach produces quickly in frosty weather.)
• Beauty and Spice (Color, texture, seasoning and shape of the crop in both field and on the plate. (Example: Edible flowers, garnishes, and spices like Cayenne or Cumin.)


Each crop is scored between 1 and five in each of the twelve criteria, and the total is added up as indicative of the crops overall value comparred to other crops.

Climate and water availability determines what foods one can grow and when they are to be planted. This chart above is based on the climate of the Laughlin Range with data from the Howard's Forest Weather station 2 miles away. (The frost dates have been adjusted by 19 extra days to account for global warming. See Kootenay Climate Study) Most areas will have a weather station and climate data to determine the exact growing environment of any location.  The data often includes what is called a frost free growing period, based on the likelihood of killing frosts on certain dates. Frost dates are usually based on a 50% probability of a frost, but here it is for a 20% chance of frost. If your garden is going to freeze half the time, then it cannot be relied upon to consistently furnish ones food. The 20% frost dates are more workable, because they are less than a week off an almost 0% chance, and this week can be checked against local weather for a 99% frost free planting date.

For Miryai Mt this 20% frost date falls on 5/1 in the spring and on 10/23 in the fall. (0% frost at all is likely between 5/8 and 10/11, just 7 days later and 11 days earlier than the 20% Frost Date used for spring planting.). This 20% frost date gives a 175 day frost free growing period (80% of the time) and a 239 day hard freeze free period from 3/28 to 11/21.

Growing Degrees are a way for farmers to determine how much heat is available to grow plants. The Growing Degree Days of this site are 2850. This figure has been adjusted from the historical data because of global warming. (266 gdd were added for global warming for the 2020's, during the 2030's an additional 7 day lengthening of the frost free period and increased gdd can be expected.)

* (The Chart is based on the climate of the Laughlin Range with data from the Howard's Forest Weather station 2 miles away. (The frost dates have been adjusted by 19 extra days to account for global warming.)Frost dates are usually based on a 50% probability, here it is for a 20% chance of frost after 5/1 and before 10/23. (No frost at all is likely between 5/8 and 10/11, just 7 days later and 11 days earlier than the 20% Frost Date. By watching weather forecasts, all frost should be avoidable even in the coldest of years since weather forecasts are usually accurate within this time frame.) The 20% frost date gives a 175 day frost free growing period (80% of the time) and a 239 day hard freeze free period from 3/28 to 11/21. The Growing Degree Days of this site are 2783 (266 gdd added for global warming in 2020's, during the 2030's an additional 7 day lengthening of the frost free period and increased gdd can be expected.)
**(+266 gdd added for global warming in 2020's) See Kootenay Climate Study)
*** Garden Space during warm months is more valuable than in cold ones, making grains that grow mostly during frost times more valuable per growing time. They also produce biomass to keep the compost cycle going and mature without irrigation, compounding their value. A Garden Bed is considered only 1/4 as valuable during frosty April and Nov as during summer, and cooler May and October are considered only 1/2 as valuable as a summer bed where increased sunlight and warmth accelerates growth.