We Sipped, Slurped and Savoured at Soupalicious Toronto 2012! Homegrown played a part at the souper savoury culinary experience in at Artscape Wychwood Barns. The funds raised from Soupalicious are dedicated to the support of Plant a Row • Grow a Row which encourages the sharing of the harvest from your garden with neighbours in need. More information here.
iGROW lights change the economics of growing under roof, making it far more economical. Now, anyone can afford to become a grower; to feed their family or make farming their livelihood...more
Barrie Ecofest, a mobile grow tailer with hydroponics and aquaponics.
A success story
From its humble beginnings as a fresh produce shop at the Suva Harbour Centre three decades ago, Joes Farm has continued its success story....read more
Check out the Traditional Chinese Medicine Diet where you will find information of ways to promote good health and maintain a balanced lifestyle through medicated diet.
To Everyone who attended the Homegrown Expo,
We can’t thank you enough for your participation on Sunday.
It’s been declared a winner as approximately 250 people showed up to take part in the day’s events. Wow, not bad for a first effort!
We’ll be taking a look at what went well and what needs work for next time so, any feedback good or bad is always welcome. We’d love to hear from you.
Contact Us
Homegrown Hydroponics is growing to serve you better!
Come meet Alex at our newest location for great info, competitive prices and an excellent selection. Located just minutes from the QEW, in Oakville Ontario. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Outdoor lettuce in water
5 August 2011
Pater Broersen from Waarland is the first Dutch producer, who grows lettuce in water in the outdoor. According to owner Dave Smit, the production is eight times higher than production in soil. Another advantage is that this type of cultivation is better for the environment.
The lettuce is planted in soil in small pots secured in tempex plates, which are floating on the water. The pots are kept just above the water, and the roots grow into the water. Nutrients are mixed in the water. When the plants are ready for harvesting, the tempex plates float through a channel to the processing building.
Smit has no plans to produce in a greenhouse because the outdoor seasons are too long. The planting will in February and the first harvest is expected in April. The frost problem will be solved by heating the water, and by putting a plastic sheet above the plants. Smit doesn’t know whether this will work, but it proved to work well in an experimental station.
According to Smit, the production in water reduces the use of pesticides and labour, and also decreases the release of CO2 while there is no leaching in the soil. The present production area is of 5000 m2 and it is still a trial. The goal is to increase the area to 10 ha. “But we still have to solve a number of problems and I expect more to come”. Smit estimates that it will take five years to achieve a perfect system.
A green revolution on way
By BASMA MOHAMMED, Posted on » Sunday, July 24, 2011
WORK is about to start on the creation of a major training centre for hydroponic gardens in Bahrain where plants can be grown without soil.
The Manama Municipal Council is in the process of finalising the financial costs of the construction of the facility, planned for the Salmaniya Garden.
It has already set aside BD4,000 for the scheme, but is willing to cover additional costs depending on the interest of people in learning about hydroponic gardens.
The facility will include a greenhouse-like structure and a fish tank where fish soil will be moved with water through tubes and distilled on plants and circulated back to the tank.
Council vice-chairman Mohammed Mansoor revealed construction is set to begin within the next month.
"We are now finalising costs of construction and appointing a company to do the work," he said.
"By the end of this month we should be done and work should only take around three weeks."
Free workshops on hydroponic gardens are expected to be run after Ramadan, which begins next month.
"Residents will be able to attend workshops on hydroponic gardening as soon as the centre and exhibition are complete," said Mr Mansoor.
"I think this will only be after Ramadan, seeing the dates change in the holy month."
Mr Mansoor earlier revealed a specialised company had been assigned to handle hydroponic training and showcasing the centre to the public.
The key aim of introducing hydroponics to Bahrain was to encourage people to plant.
Tamkeen has agreed to fund the scheme, which is believed will provide job-seekers the possibility of exploring new markets and opening new businesses.
Council public relations and information committee chairman Fadhel Al Qaidoom earlier said citizens and residents could visit the council to register for the training.
Bahrain's five municipal councils are set to introduce the scheme in homes and buildings for free in a bid to generate interest.
The scheme's launch will be followed by a new municipal obligation that all multi-storey commercial buildings in Manama should have rooftop gardens, with a national law in the process of being drawn up.
Councils believe that this will further help promote green areas and turn Bahrain's concrete jungles green.
A trial of the scheme held at selected social centres in co-ordination with the Social Development Ministry has already been successfully completed.
basma@gdn.com.bh
Vertical garden to tower over Chelsea Flower Show
Skyfarming is getting real, with one wall of the 9m tower covered with plants, all edible, the other with solar panels to power the hydroponic growing system
The 9m-tall B&Q Garden, currently under constructions, will be the tallest ever at the Chelsea Flower show. Photograph: ZPR
Skyfarming, or growing food on the vertical plane rather than the horizontal, is usually the preserve of sci-fi scenarios where the gardeners probably need jet-packs to tend their plants. But a 9m tall food garden is being constructed as I write in London, for the Chelsea Flower Show, the UK's top garden show.
One wall of the steel-frame structure is entirely plants, the other entirely solar photovoltaic panels. The panels power the water pumps that push water from a borehole round the hydroponic growing system. Inside the tower, along with the stairs are greenhouse areas for propagation, and a compost chute.
On the wall, are large window boxes, for plants including tomatoes, peppers and nasturtiums, said Patrick Collins, a landscape architect who designed the B&Q-sponsored garden with architect Laurie Chetwood. Alongside the boxes is a wall of herbs that thrive when clipped, such as thyme, camomile and oregano.
Chetwood acknowledges that people aren't going to put a 9m tower in their city gardens. "But the good thing about Chelsea is it's about larger than life ideas. Our garden is meant to be inspirational but have within it some practical ideas people can take away."
The 'bedrooms' in the insect hotel were designed by school children. Photograph: ZPR
"Our garden is saying anyone can grow their own veg, even in a small garden or a window box," added Collins.
Everything in the garden is edible, even the trees, says Collins: the vertically trimmed lime trees have flowers that can make a herbal tea, while the mulberry trees give a crunchy berry.
"Ninety percent of our food comes from just 20 species of plant," Collins told me. "But there are 100s of edible plants in the world, so our garden illustrates that." One unusual plant is Stevia rebaudiana, which has a very sweet taste and can be used as a sugar substitute, he says.
There is also an insect hotel, where the 90 "bedrooms" have been designed by children. "Some were very literal in their interpretation, and made little beds for earwigs," says Chetwood. "The serious point is to encourage people to establish ecology in their gardens, where these [insects] are getting hammered."
"They say there are only four days of food in London," says Chetwood. "There's a big drive in London to grow more food." As a recent convert to gardening in my tiny city garden, striking ideas certainly act as an inspiration.
A Grow-Off, between an organic fertilizer “Better World Plant Food” and a chemical one “Scott's Miracle-Gro”. The test involves identical plants in contained spaces on a Toronto balcony, and a lazy gardener who knows very little about growing anything. The big questions: Are chemicals needed? Can food be grown in a confined space? Does one really have to work?...Check it out
The 21st annual Greenhouse Tomato Short Course will be held March 8 and 9 at Eagle Ridge Conference Center, Raymond, Mississippi (close to Jackson and Jackson-Evers International Airport, Code: JAN).
Complete details, including the Agenda and registration information, can be found on the web site
DNF Hydro Sparkle is a nutrient solution cleaner and a clean reservoir is more fungus & pest resistant.
DNF Hydro Sparkle has proven to be one of the most amazing products available to hydroponic growers. It enhances the growth and general well-being of hydroponic plants by destroying micro-organisms in the root-zone, without harming the plants or having a toxic effect. It’s the perfect solution to clear the pesky grunge that forms in reservoirs.
*FORMERLY HYDRO-FUNGICIDE, SAME GREAT PRODUCT, NEW NAME.
Dutch Nutrient Formula releases an all in one kit.
DNF has made everything easy for you by putting everything you’ll need for a successful harvest into one affordable box. Just follow instructions and add water and watch your plants grow to their maximum potential. Save money compared to the retail cost and receive a free DNF T-shirt! Order online here.
Hydroponics project advances past semi finals of the Student Business Plan Competition
Proudly representing Marshall University, Keri Fridley is seen discussing her business plan which focuses on fresh, organic hydroponics grown vegetables used in a network of restaurants in her local Huntington WV area. Keri and her husband have been in the restaurant industry for over 10 years and noticed a high demand for fresh grown hydroponics vegetables. So why not capitalize on this and grow them yourself. Keri used her idea and wrote a business plan for her undergraduate course and later entered it into the Student business Plan competition. If her plan continues to win, she could see herself opening a growing facility right in her hometown.
“Our town is widely known for the being the most obese city in America, and we want to have a helping hand in getting everyone here healthy again.” – Keri Fridley
We would like to wish the best of luck to Keri with her competition and hope to see more business plans like this that use the benefits of hydroponics to help the world grow their own fresh healthy vegetables year round.
Students win Best Global Impact Award for Hydroponics vertical farm project.
Recently, a team of 4 students (Scott Mills, Amelia Slick, Elise LaRussa, and Mareya Welsh) from Ballard High school in Washington contacted us at www.hydroponics.com researching background information for their project “Imagine Tomorrow”. This past May, we received notice that the team took their project all the way to the Washington State University to compete and won the award for Best Global Impact. Their project they built a model vertical farm, with the thinking in mind of growing up rather than out, saving space which will help the world because of the growing population and finite amount of space on our planet. The model used filtered rainwater to feed the vertical farm. Mills said that with this type of vertical skyscraper farm built “we wouldn’t need or focus on imports therefore saving money and cutting down CO2 emissions from the transportation.” We congratulate the team and all of their hard work on the project and hope to one day see hydroponics solutions brought forth in their project.
Prepara products now available! Now available in the webstore, Prepara Power plant professional, Prepara Slim, and Power Light. Perfect for counter top herb or flower gardens. Fluorescent light works universally between gardens or with any flower pot.
New articles online Matt lebannister has been busy and has 2 new articles available click here . Feel free to read these as well as many other articles published by our staff in Maximum Yield Magazine. For any questions or feedback on the articles please feel free to e-mail us.
The Botanical Touch The Botanical Touch is the perfect setting for any garden. Fits any winged reflector on top level which allows you to use any level of lighting preferred or natural light. Bottom level is perfect to store garden tools or assemble another garden. Easily mounts T5 lighting on bottom. Product Includes wooden stand and metal frame.
New Book available on Aquaponic Food Production! Written by Rebecca L. Nelson, this book will provide you with everything you need to grow food with aquaponics no matter what your level of interest may be.
Aero Garden featured on City TV!
The aero garden is the easiest all in one kit to get started with hydroponics. This ready to use garden and light will look perfect on any counter top so that you can have fresh vegetables or herbs year round in your kitchen.
New featured at Homegrown Hydroponics or your local Hydroponics Shop!
From its humble beginnings as a fresh produce shop at the Suva Harbour Centre three decades ago, Joes Farm has continued its success story....
Mastronardi is rushing to finish its new state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse on Fillmore Road in Coldwater.
Growing Tilapia and Vegetables with Aquaponics
New hydroponic farm takes root in Buckingham
Pater Broersen from Waarland is the first Dutch producer, who grows lettuce in water in the outdoor. According to owner Dave Smit, the production is eight times higher than production in soil. Another advantage is that this type of cultivation is better for the environment. 
WORK is about to start on the creation of a major training centre for hydroponic gardens in Bahrain where plants can be grown without soil.
The 'bedrooms' in the insect hotel were designed by school children. Photograph: ZPR
Better World Versus Scott's Miracle-Gro
