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Sunday, May 29, 2011

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Organic vs Hydroponic Growing ...

The debate on "Organics" and "Hydroponics"

from General Hydroponics..to read more go to:

ORGANIC VS HYDRO

There is a huge popular debate about the value of "organic"

fertilizers and methods, many people would like to apply

"organics" to hydroponics. Currently accepted organic fertilizer

components are dependent upon organisms in the soil to convert

the "organic" materials into a useable form for plants.

In hydroponics we provide the minerals required for plant growth

directly, completely eliminating the need for soil and soil organisms.

The result is much higher growth rates, yields and even

crop quality than organic methods can achieve. This is not what

some people want to hear, but it is the simple scientific truth - and

practically all scientists and educators in the fields of agriculture

and chemistry know it and will be the first to agree.

In fact, the kinds of materials which are permitted for use under "organic" regulations are not of sufficient purity to be used for hydroponic culture.

With this in mind it's important to recognize the reasons that

"organically" grown produce is gaining such popularity.

Consumers want to buy produce which is not tainted with

hazardous chemicals or poisons. There is an increasing public

demand for methods which are gentle on our delicate planet and

which don't harm the soil, water or ecosystems. Hydroponic

farming methods fit properly into this system of values if used

appropriately.

Hydroponics protects us from tainted soil because it doesn't use soil.

Less water is required for hydroponic culture and consequently

more food can be cultivated with less water.

The fertilizers we use for hydroponics are ultra-pure and leave no residue in the cultivated fruits and vegetables.

Since hydroponic technologies are more efficient than soil methods, more people can be fed with less area and ecological impact.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The Tower is Filling out with Vegetables

Two months after planting from seed the Vegetables and herbs on our first tower are
thick and delicious ..also it is fun to pick vegetables for a salid that you are eating
ten minuets later! Here is Mai yesterday getting lunch ready.

Friday, December 24, 2010

New York Restaurant Uses Towers To feed Customers

Red and yellow watermelons, ripe strawberries, squash blossoms, heads of romaine and Bibb lettuces and fresh chickpeas are among the crops being lowered, using a pulley system, from the rooftop garden on a building in Greenwich Village.

These will supply the kitchen of Bell Book & Candle, a restaurant opening in a month or so on the building’s ground floor.

John Mooney, above, the chef, and his partner, Mick O’Sullivan, are growing more than 70 varieties of herbs, vegetables and fruits using a hydroponic automatic watering system of vertically planted structures, like little towers studded with openings for the plants.

The pulley system is an alternative to hauling produce down six flights of stairs (there’s no elevator).

The partners are sharing their harvest with neighborhood restaurants, but once they open, Mr. O’Sullivan estimates they will grow about 60 percent of their own restaurant’s produce.

Friday, December 17, 2010

One Hydroponic Plant Tower can Feed a Family !!

Just took this picture ..on just this one tower I have growing 4 types of Lettuce ..two different types of Tomatoes..Vietnamese Herbs..Purple Cauliflower..Cucumbers..mint and Spearmint .. Black Basile ,Swiss Chard and Greek Oregano..They are all growing happily close together with the same hydroponic nutrition soaking their roots...and the tower,including the water tank below is only 2 and 1/2 feet diameter..and has wheels to move it around easily .