AlgaeLab

Welcome to Algae Lab!

admin — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Grow your own Spirulina superfood algae at home! We sell books, kits, and live algae culture, and teach in-person and online workshops, to help you get on your way. See our ever-growing FAQ for answers to common questions.

NEW NEWS: Our long-awaited book, Grow Your Own Spirulina Superfood: A Simple How-To Guide, is now available! This unique book, drawing on our experience with hundreds of amateur Spirulina farmers, explains step-by-step, in detail, how to grow, harvest, and eat your own Spirulina. It includes recipes, growth and maintenance tips, ideas for expanding your setup, a troubleshooting guide, instructions on growing up from small culture samples, and references for further reading. Written by our founder, NASA algae scientist Dr. Aaron Wolf Baum! Copies are available here.

Why are we so obsessed with algae here at AlgaeLab? Because algae are amazing, and everyone should know about what they can do! They enable a new kind of agriculture that can be done almost anywhere and is incredibly productive, even in small spaces. They can be grown using minimal resources, and flourish as they clean up waste water and combustion exhaust. They can produce a vast array

of products, and their economic potential exceeds that of all of agriculture existing today. In the last several years, dozens of new algae companies have plunged hundreds of millions of dollars into research and development – so jump on in, the water’s green!

We are algae experts here at Algae Lab, so if you want us to develop a product we don’t have, or need expert consulting, please let us know (we are friendly scientists): http://www.algaelab.org/contact/

We are working on writing a book on growing algae, algae science trends & technology, and aquaculture from micro to large scale. We teach workshops at various levels, from beginner to advanced. If you are interested in hosting and organizing workshops in your area or for your organization, please contact us.

Ask us any algae-related question you like!
Once a week, Dr. Baum will post an answer to a popular question (and expand our ever-growing FAQ…).

New Online Workshops for May and June!

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:55:04 +0000

Our first workshop was a great success; already many of you are clamoring for more… In response to your requests, we are offering additional sessions of our first course, “Introduction to Algae Farming”, plus a new course: “Getting Started With Spirulina” – see descriptions below. These courses compliment each other well, so see you there!

The E-lecta online classroom interface

Our Online Classroom:

We are very pleased to offer these teachings through an advanced web platform, pictured here. The online classroom includes live audio and video, slides and movies, the ability to text private or public questions, and the ability to ask questions through your webcam/microphone. A recording of the teaching session will be made available to each student completing each course.

Online workshops:

Introduction to Algae Farming
An overview of algae farming technique, and all of the considerations that go into algae farming – including growing, harvesting, and processing – as well as common solutions. The goal is to provide a solid foundation for further exploration of algae farming. A 2-hour course, followed by a half-hour question and answer session with Dr. Baum.

Getting Started With Spirulina
Spirulina is the best way to start algae farming, and this course is the best way to be sure you’ll be successful! Dr. Baum, founder of AlgaeLab and creator of our Grow Your Own Spirulina kits, takes you through all the steps: obtaining and caring for starter culture, growing it out, harvesting, maintenance, and best technique for keeping your culture pure and healthy. A 2-hour course, followed by a half-hour question and answer session.

Dates:
Introduction to Algae Farming:
Saturday, May 25th, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8)
Saturday, June 23rd, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8)

Getting Started With Spirulina:

Sunday, May 26th, 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8)
Saturday, June 23rd, 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8)

Note: There will be more online courses and workshops! Please suggest subjects, times, and dates…

The Instructor: Dr. Aaron Wolf Baum

While working on the NASA OMEGA algae biofuel-bioremediation project, algae scientist Dr. Aaron Wolf Baum founded the Shipyard algae teaching lab in Berkeley, CA, and developed mobile, educational algae installations with the Chlorophyll Collective. He founded AlgaeLab.org, providing kits, culture, and workshops to the public since 2008, and has co-founded two new algae companies — GreenSpring, an innovative algae farm in the San Francisco Bay Area, and SpiraLife, a developer of consumer-oriented, turnkey algae superfood photobioreactors. Aaron is author of the recently-published book, “Grow Your Own Spirulina Superfood: A Simple How-To Guide.”

Course Fees:

$59 for one course, plus access to recording of the class.
$99 for both courses, plus access to recordings of both classes.
Special package deal: $129 for either online course and access to class recording plus 1L bottle of Spirulina Starter Culture, and “Grow Your Own Spirulina Superfood” book, shipping included – a discount of over $30! (U.S. only)
Super-special package deal: $169 for both online courses and access to both class recordings, plus 1L bottle of Spirulina Starter Culture, and “Grow Your Own Spirulina Superfood” book, shipping included – a discount of over $50! (U.S. only)

(If the button does not work for you, just go to PayPal.com directly and send your payment to payment@algaelab.org. Be sure to specify in the notes part of your payment which classes you are signing up for, and you will receive an email explaining how to enroll in our online university…
See you there!

AlgaeLab Online Workshops (finally) Announced!

admin — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:23:18 +0000

Do you live too far away to come to our popular in-person workshops, or would you like the convenience of learning at home?

Here is your chance: learn from and talk to NASA algae scientist and AlgaeLab founder Dr. Aaron Wolf Baum about all of your algae farming questions — online workshops through AlgaeLab.org…

Our first is the “Introduction to Algae Farming” module, a 2-hour course covering all the fundamentals of algae growing, harvesting, and processing, with a focus on Spirulina as an example, followed by a 30-minute question and answer session.

Dr. Aaron Wolf Baum, AlgaeLab instructor

The E-lecta online classroom interface

We are very pleased to offer these teachings through an advanced web platform. The online classroom includes live audio and video, slides and movies, the ability to text private or public questions, and the ability to ask questions through your webcam/microphone. A recording of the teaching session will be made available to each student completing each course.

The first module will be offered on:
Saturday, April 20th
from 1:00-3:30pm Pacific Time (UTC-8).

Please email us (contact at algaelab.org) to let us know any other times that work for you, as we will soon be scheduling more offerings… also, please suggest topics you might be interested in!

Course fees:
$59 for “Introduction to Algae Farming” online course, including diploma.
$129 for “Introduction to Algae Farming” online course including: diploma, 1 L bottle of Spirulina Starter Culture, and “Grow Your Own Spirulina Superfood” book, shipping included – a discount of over $30! (U.S. only)

Send your payment to payment@algaelab.org via PayPal.com, specify the course module you wish to take, and we will contact you with details and set up a test session so we can be sure the online classroom will work for you.

From the heart of the chloroplast,
The AlgaeLab Team

Come Meet Us At Maker Faire!

admin — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 02:33:03 +0000

We will be at the Bay Area Maker Faire, on May 18 and 19 at the San Mateo County Events Center, San Mateo, CA. This is a tremendous event, huge, fun, and incredibly inspiring, so pay us a visit!

When do I add nutrients to my algae culture?

admin — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:21:42 +0000

Hello AlgaeLab,

I just joined the Algae Lab community. I’m an engineering student (and an algae enthusiast) doing a project on algae. I’ve been working on algae for about a month now. I’m trying to optimize the growth conditions of a local algal strain at lab-scale. I’m working on the physical factors (light, temperature, CO2, pH, salinity). I can’t figure out how often should I add more nutrients in my culture. What indicators should I look for, to know its the right time to feed my algae?

Thank you in anticipation. =)

Hello and welcome to the community… this sort of question comes up a lot. It is easy to throw some nutrients into water, add algae, and get it growing (though this can take some tweaking to get it right), but eventually the algae consume most or all of one or more critical nutrients, and growth slows or stops; if left alone long enough, nutrient-starved algae will die, though some species will form long-lived cysts. This sort of growth process, where the algae are taken through a sort of life cycle, is called batch growth.

The alternative is called continuous growth; the goal is to maintain the algae at a constant density – generally the density at which they have the highest production rate – while keeping the level of every nutrient in the optimum range for maximal growth. This is the most productive way to grow algae, as they are always growing and reproducing at their fastest rate. It is a lot more work, though, as you must harvest and add nutrients continuously at a rate exactly matched to the growth rate, and watch the levels of all the nutrients. Nutrient levels are measured using colorimetric chemistry – adding chemicals that change color depending on the concentration of the substance you are interested in; this color is then measured exactly by a device called a colorimeter (most popular models are made by Hach). Probes can also be used (pH for CO2 concentration, dedicated sensors for ammonia, nitrate, etc.). But this is generally expensive and (excepts for pH) above the level of most DIY-ers.

For our kits we try to strike the best possible balance between robust growth and ease of use; as the nutrients absorbed from the medium can be calculated from the weight of the algae you harvest, we simply add nutrients back to the culture in proportion to the amount harvested. We call this mix of nutrients “Make-Up Mix”; you cannot use Starter Mix (used to mix the initial culture medium) for this purpose, as it contains a number of ingredients that create the right salinity and alkalinity, but which are not consumed by the algae. For our Spirulina make-up mix, happily this works out to a very simple ratio: one teaspoon of mix per tablespoon of harvested Spirulina. Once these nutrients are back in the culture, your Spirulina will have just the right nutrients to keep reproducing rapidly until your next harvest. If you harvest frequently, this is somewhat like continuous production; if you harvest in frequently, it is more like batch growth.

Hope that is helpful.

From the heart of the chloroplast,
Dr. Baum

March 9th Workshop: Get A Free Copy of Grow Your Own Spirulina Superfood!

admin — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 22:21:31 +0000

For non-local algae enthusiasts, online training will be starting soon as well…

Grow your own superfoods and biofuels at home…

Instructor: Dr. Aaron Wolf Baum, algae scientist with the NASA OMEGA project and author of Grow Your Own Spirulina Superfood.

Saturday, March 9th, 11-5 pm

Ace Monster Toys (makers’ co-op), 6050 Lowell St, Oakland CA 94608

Grow plentiful food and fuel in a small space.

DIY Algae Workshop:

Algae can make impressive amounts of food or fuel but do not require land, soil, or fresh water. They can be harvested every day, producing many times more output than land crops, and some of them (e.g. Spirulina) have amazing health benefits as food.

You can grow algae too — in your own home — and I would love to show you how.

Come to the Hands-On Home-Grow Algae workshop series. Go home with your own Spirulina Home-Grow Kit with everything you need to grow your own Spirulina superfood algae in your own home!

One personal algae photo-bioreactor in one sunny window can provide enough spirulina to significantly supplement the diet of one person every day. Larger installations can provide biofuel and organic fertilizer, and perform important services, such as cleaning up water, and eliminating greenhouse gases from exhaust.

In addition to an introduction to an overview of algae farming, and a discussion of the practicalities of setting up your own farm, we will have an extended hands-on section of the workshop where I will show you how to set up and run your personal photo-bioreactor kit — it’s easy!

All participants will receive: one copy of Dr. Baum’s book, Grow Your Own Spirulina Superfood, copies of all the instructional slides, and a one liter bottle of live spirulina culture to start your own tank or pond…

Course Fees:

$379 for workshop and Grow Your Own Spirulina Superfood book, plus Full Spirulina Home-Grow Kit (shown above), including 1 liter of live culture, heater, air pump, air diffuser, air tubing, thermometer, two tubs of starter and one tub of make-up nutrient powder mix, iron solution, special pH strips, harvesting tube, harvesting cloth, clips, plug timer, and measuring spoons. This is a $50 savings from the online kit price. This is enough gear to be able to harvest from a 10-gallon tank every other day for approximately one year.

$129 for workshop, Grow Your Own Spirulina Superfood book, copies of all workshop slides, and a 1-liter bottle of live Spirulina algae culture (a $70+ value!).

Send payment via PayPal (payment@algaelab.org), or by mailing a check to:
ALGAELAB.ORG
772 Santa Maria Road
El Sobrante, CA 94803

To receive the personal photo-bioreactor at the workshop, be sure to pay at least a week before the course date so that materials can be ordered…

ALGAELAB.ORG:
DIY Home-Grow Algae for Biofuels and Superfoods

AlgaeLab-Related Job Opening!

admin — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:26:17 +0000

Greetings fellow algae-philes!

Would you or someone you know like to have a job working on innovative algae farming systems? A new company, GreenSpring LLC (AlgaeLab founder Dr. Baum is one of the two co-founders), is looking for its first full-time employee, to begin building prototype systems right away. Have a look at the job description below, and send resumes and cover letters.

Best,
Dr. Baum

P.S. My book, “Grow Your Own Spirulina, A Simple How-To Guide” is in the last stages of preparation for publishing and will be available this month!

((((()))))

Here is the job description:

GreenSpring LLC is looking to hire a full time builder-technician to construct and operate algae growth systems, including prototypes and production facilities. The primary goal of the project is to create and run a medium scale algae farm in the San Francisco Bay Area. This will involve the development, implementation, and operation of custom designs, methods, and protocols for algae production.

Job title: Builder-Technician

Job summary:
This position will have a critical role in the success of this project. This person will be responsible for primary construction and operation of algae growth, harvest, processing, and maintenance systems, under the supervision of the scientific and technical project lead(s). A high level of attention to detail is essential.

The job will require carpentry, metalwork, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and electronic skills, as well as performing sampling and measurements according to protocols. It will be essential to be able to follow written and drawn instructions and plans, and to provide feedback when necessary to assure the success of the project. The job holder will have to be able to operate independently, without close supervision, and to communicate closely with other team members.

As this is small but growing company, the responsibilities of this position are expected to evolve, including the possibility of managing other workers.

Starting salary will be $15-25 per hour based on experience. This is a full-time position.

Key responsibilities
Build pond, greenhouse, electrical and mechanical systems according to plan
Order and obtain required materials
Operate algae production facilities
Laboratory analysis of samples
Ongoing communication with supervisor and co-workers
Completion of tasks according to timeline

Minimum job requirements
Education: Training in relevant areas – construction, project management, biology/microbiology – is preferred.

Experience: We are seeking applicants who combine experience in constructing technical facilities with experience operating such facilities. Experience with microbiological production, especially algae, is particularly sought.

Special skills: Specific desired skills are knowledge of basic carpentry, plumbing, wiring, electronics, and laboratory technique. Must be able to use drawn and written plans to construct according to specifications. Communication via email and text message will be essential.

Physical requirements
Must have ability to safely lift minimum of 65 lbs. without assistance and be able to work full-time at a location to be determined, within an hour’s of San Francisco.

Disclaimer
This job description is intended to be only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder might differ from those outlined here, and may include other duties, as assigned.

Your Culture in the Wintertime

admin — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:22:23 +0000

Hello fellow algae-nauts!

Some folks have had winter-related concerns about their cultures:

1. The bottle will freeze on its way!
This is a legitimate concern. We have tried putting “hot hands” packs and insulating our cultures, but 24 hours in our freezer still partially froze the culture. (Most of the Spirulina survived this, though complete freezing would kill them.) One customer has had a bottle freeze on his doorstep. Please think about this before you order…either make sure that the culture will arrive to a place well above freezing, or wait until temperature are higher…

2. My algae isn’t growing well!
If your culture drops below about 50F at night regularly, it won’t grow well. This is especially likely to happen when culture volume is low, e.g. when you are starting out. The best remedy for this is to put a second heater (generally it can be smaller than the main heater, say 50W), set it to 60F or so, and leave it plugged in – i.e. not into the timer. You should see a significant improvement in growth.

Good growing, and keep your questions coming…

From the heart of the chloroplast,
Dr. Baum

New Workshop Series: March 9th in Berkeley, CA!

admin — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:07:44 +0000

There’s been a lot of demand for a new workshop series, now we’re getting started! See you there!
For non-local algae enthusiasts, online training will be starting soon as well…

DIY Algae Workshop:

Grow your own superfoods and biofuels at home…

Instructor: Dr. Aaron Wolf Baum, algae scientist with the NASA OMEGA project and author of Grow Your Own Spirulina Superfood.

Saturday, March 9th, 11-5 pm

Ace Monster Toys (makers’ co-op), 6050 Lowell St, Oakland CA 94608

Grow plentiful food and fuel in a small space.

You can grow algae too — in your own home — and I would love to show you how.

Come to the Hands-On Home-Grow Algae workshop series. Go home with your own Spirulina Home-Grow Kit with everything you need to grow your own Spirulina superfood algae in your own home!

Course Fees:

$129 for workshop, Grow Your Own Spirulina Superfood book, copies of all workshop slides, and a 1-liter bottle of live Spirulina algae culture (a $70+ value!).

Send payment via PayPal (payment@algaelab.org), or by mailing a check to:
ALGAELAB.ORG
772 Santa Maria Road
El Sobrante, CA 94803

To receive the personal photo-bioreactor at the workshop, be sure to pay at least a week before the course date so that materials can be ordered…

ALGAELAB.ORG:
DIY Home-Grow Algae for Biofuels and Superfoods

Grow Your Own Spirulina Superfood: Book Out Soon!

admin — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 02:48:42 +0000

Great news!
My new book, Grow Your Own Spirulina: A Simple How-To Guide, is ready for publication and will soon be available! Building on our experience here at AlgaeLab, this book provides detailed, illustrated instructions on how to go from a small algae sample (such as those you can get from culture libraries internationally) to a system that can feed a family! A troubleshooting guide, fresh Spirulina recipes, growth and maintenance tips, and a guide for expansion of your setup are included, along with much algae inspiration! Links to sneak peeks of the book are below… Join our mailing list to hear the moment it is available!

GrowYourOwnSpirulinaSample1
GrowYourOwnSpirulinaSample2

From the heart of the chloroplast,
Dr. Baum