Getting Started with the MARSfarm Version 1 (MV1)

[Peter]

Comprehensive Documentation for new MV1 Customers

Please feel free to include your students in this assembly and installation process. If you have any questions or feedback based on your experience - please share it in a reply below!

1. Shipping

• After ordering an MV1 from the MARSfarm store or submiting your PO, you will receive an Email from ‘Shippo’ with links to track your packages.
• Every purchase of an MV1 has two packages. The larger package contains the frame and electronics. The smaller package contains the irrigation system and consumables packages.

2. Assembly - LARGE package

• Start by opening the large package.
• Locate your printed copy of the MV1 - Assembly Guide.
  • Use the first page to identify and confirm all of your parts arrived safely without damage.
• Unwrap all of the parts and remove film.
  • Remove the protective plastic film from the bottom panel and reflective panels. This may be clear, white, or even blue.
    • This is a very common step to miss (in the video Jenn Luna actually misses this herself - oops!) and can be done after assembly if forgotten.
• You may also find this video of the MV1 assembly helpful to get an overview of how it all comes together.
  • Over the next few months, some parts of the assembly may change slightly. So when in doubt, refer to the assembly guide document and not the video.

3. Software

• Once the MV1 is fully assembled, plug the included power supply into a regular 120V power outlet, or ideally a surge protector / power strip.
  • The lights should come on within about a minute.
  • Connect your MV1 to the internet using the MV1 Internet Connection Guide.
• Your MV1 is collecting environmental data and photos every hour, while it’s turned on. Once connected to the internet, data is stored online so it is accessible from anywhere.
• You and anyone else in your district may login to the MARSfarm web application to access data from your devices mv1.marsfarm.com using their school login credentials.
  • None of their data is stored by MARSfarm - we never collect anything about students.

4. Assembly - SMALL package

• Now open the smaller package and remove the two bins.
  • Set aside your printed copy the PredictablePlants - Red Lettuce Guide.
• Remove the shallower bin (flood tray) from the deeper bin (reservoir).
  • Inside of the reservoir you will find two sets of PredictablePlants consumable materials.
    • The plastic bag that contains 6 pots, also has 12 ‘peat plugs’ (6 for each lab), and most importantly your ‘Outredgeous’ Red Lettuce seeds for the labs as well.
    • There are also two bags of media (ProMix potting soil, with fertilizer mixed in), one for each lab set.
  • Remove the PredictablePlants labs and separate the materials.
    • Set one of the lab kits aside to be used later once the first is finished.
• Place the flood tray and reservoir into your now fully-assembled MV1.

5. Labs

• Follow the instructions on the first page of the First page of the PredictablePlants - Red Lettuce Guide to prepare your irrigation system.
  • Go ahead and fill up the reservoir, even if you aren’t starting any plants yet in order to test that everything is installed and working correctly.
  • Finish by installing the irrigation tubing with a plastic straw on the end (coming from the MV1s top panel) through the flood tray and into the two gallons of water in the reservoir.
  • Continue to follow instructions on the first page of your to test the LEDs in your MV1.
• Even if you don’t intend to plant seeds yet, continue through the first three pages of the PredictablePlants - Red Lettuce Guide.
  • Get comfortable with the ‘Update Trial’ feature. Use it to change the ‘Recipe’ (temperature, light, irrigation) being used by your MV1. Try out several of them!
• Videos
  • 2-minute video demonstration of Predictable Plants ‘Red Lettuce’ lab.
  • Red Lettuce lab results from two MV1s with different recipe settings (red light vs blue light): Red vs Blue Light - Timelapse of PredictablePlants Red Lettuce Lab
• Red Lettuce Lab - Supporting Research on ‘Outredgeous’ Cultivar - Google Docs

6. Curriculum (more to come)

• MARSfarm is working to create curriculum for our PredictablePlants labs in partnership with STEMworks, a program created by the Maui Economic Development Group.
  • Our plan is to create three units with 4+ lessons each. Each lesson is designed to last 1 week and be covered in 1-3 class periods, depending on your school’s schedule.
  • This means that the standards and some of content may be specific to Hawaii. Most it should be nationally applicable though and could be adapted to suit your needs.
• Here is the complete draft of lesson plans for all three units: MARSfarm- Foundations AFNR - Lesson Plans for Units 1-3 - Google Docs
• Presentation slide decks for Unit 1. Unit 3 will be completed soon and lastly Unit 2 in Spring.
  • Red Lettuce - Unit 1 - Lesson 1
  • Red Lettuce - Unit 1 - Lesson 2
  • Red Lettuce - Unit 1 - Lesson 3
  • Red Lettuce - Unit 1 - Lesson 4
  • Red Lettuce - Unit 1 - Lesson 5
• Lastly, I recently did a four hour professional development training session in Arizona. Many of the slides used for that presentation came from the decks above: Food Tech for the Future (FTF) - Fall 2024 & Spring 2025 Training

7. Community

• Recipes to Germinate 300+ Seedlings in our MV1s
• Corn in the MV1
• MV1’s as a tool for studying Medicinal Plants
• MV1 Summer Trials
• Student Case Study - Jamira
• Wisconsin Fast Plant recipe