From: Lawrence.London@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Lawrence London)
Subject: Re: Hydroponics 
Organization: Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 03:11:09 GMT

In article <tjgorn01.715290466@starbase.spd.louisville.edu>
tjgorn01@vulcan.spd.louisville.edu (Tim Gornet) writes: 

>I am interested in getting into hydroponics for growing vegetables
>and flowers.
------------------------------------------------
(from posts I found in rec.gardens & misc.rural) 
------------------------------------------------
  
I'd like to recommend a magazine which I have found most helpful regarding
growlights, hydroponics, and gardening in general.  
Its called "The Growing Edge" and
has been around for a few years now, publishing quarterly.  The byline
reads "Indoor and Outdoor Gardening for Today's High-Tech Grower" and the
magazine is just that.  For example, here's a list of the articles in the
Summer '91 issue: 
   Thigmomorphogenesis - Plant Abuse as a Cultivation Technique
   Surfless and Turfless - A New Wave of Integrated Food Production
   Bioponics Part IV
   Good Vibrations - A 'Sound Diet' for Plants
   Drip Irrigation - The Basics
   New Efficiency for Home Lighting And there are a number of regular
columns, one of which reports on recent scientific studies and what was
discovered.  Lots of good info on hydroponic methods as well.  The
magazine is thin and costly ($5 an issue) but quite informative.  You
might check your local university library, or you can call directly for a
sample issue ($6.50 first class mail) 1-800-888-6785.  Several of the
garden shops in Seattle sell the magazine, as does one newstand.  It
appears to be quite popular.  Actually, I don't have a subscription yet
myself, as there is a local library that has it.  The back issues are
particularly informative.  One other source of good information has been
manufacturers catalogs.  They often contain charts comparing light
emission, talk about growing methods, contain advice, etc.  If you are
interested in growing under lights or growing hydroponically you may want
to call and ask for some catalogs.  Here are some numbers: 
     Diamond Lights:  1-800-331-3994
     General Hydroponics:  1-800-486-6001
     Worm's Way:  1-800-274-9676
     Light Manufacturing Co:  1-800-669-5483 Subject: Hydroponic gardening
source A few weeks (?) ago someone was asking for info on hydroponic
gardening.  Today I came across the following: 
        Hydrofarm Gardening Products
        3135 Kerner Boulevard
        San Rafael, CA 94901 as an address to mail to for their free
catalog (lights, hydroponic supplies, books, videos, etc.).  I've never
grown hydroponically nor have I ever dealt with this company, but I
thought whoever was interested might wish to write them.  

>Does anyone out there have knowledge of a good source of information for
>hydroponics? This would include products, reviews of commercial kits,
>recipes for nutrient solutions, instructions for DIY set ups.  Thanks in
>advance.  

I don't know where to get reviews of commercial kits.  Recipes for solutions
can be found in a number of places, including Wyman's Gardening
Encyclopedia, and in a book in the list below.  I'm told, however, that
unless you plan a large hydroponic garden, or just like to experiment, it
is not worth it to mix your own nutrients.  I have this book: "Beginning
Hydroponics: Soilless Gardening" Richard E. Nicholls, Running Press, 1990. 
Paperback, 127 pp.  ISBN 0-89471-741-3.  $8.95.  Has a bibliography and
lists of sources for greenhouses, lighting and hydroponics supplies.  It
includes two recipes for nutrient solutions.  The book "How to Build and
Use Greenhouses" Ortho Books, 1978. $7.95.  Has a section on hydroponics,
including instructions for building growing beds and pump systems, as well
as greenhouses and indoor lighting (does not include halide or sodium
lighting; the book is somewhat old).  A quick look in the latest National
Gardening finds the following suppliers: 

  Hydrofarm Gardening Products 1-800-634-9999 (Hydrofarm West, CA)
                                  1-800-227-4567 (Hydrofarm East, PA)
  Worm's Way 1-800-274-9676
  Diamond Hi Tech Indoor/Outdoor Gardening (HID lighting)
                                  1-800-331-3994
                                  In CA, (415) 459-3994
  Superior Growers Supply, Inc.  1-800-227-0027
  Cropking, Inc.  (216) 725-5656 

Aquaculture Magazine is a good source of
advertisements from U.S. equipment suppliers.  They have a reader response
card you can send in for information from any of their advertisers.  It
costs $21 / year for 6 issues sent to Canada (less I think for the U.S.). 
There is also a yearly buyer's guide for $15.  You can order using a
credit card by calling 704-254-7334.  Also call Argent at 1-800-426-6258
and ask for their free catalogue and their book catalogue.  They have
aquaculture chemicals and equipment, and an extensive selection of books. 
Best book I have found on aquaculture is Huet, Marcel. Textbook of Fish
Culture: Breeding and Cultivation of Fish, Eyre & Spottiswoode Ltd at
Thanet Press, Margate, UK 1971, ISBN o/85238/020/8 Has special sections on
carp, pike, trout, perch, catfish, eels.  And sections of building dams,
feeding, and the usual.  

----*----

Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Mike Campbell is a graduate student in the Agricultural Education &
Studies department here.  He has experience and a great interest in
aquaculture, biodynamics and alternative agriculture.  He is currently
working on developing a curriculum in aquaculture under a fairly sizeable
grant received by his department.  He is not on the net, but if you wish
to contact him, call the AgEdS main office here and ask for him:
515-294-5904.  

----*----

Organization: University of Hawaii >Along these lines, does
anyone know of anyone specifically growin' >abalones? The Dept of Fish &
Game either doesn't plant enough or the >sea otters are getting too
frisky.  There is a research project in Kona looking at the possibility of
generating power from the difference in temperature between surface and
deep sea water, known as ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). As a
sideline in the project, the used cold water is piped to aquaculture
experiments at the site.  The aquaculture experiments have been successful
enough to become commercial, one of them is even doing very well on the
stock market (that's the most important thing, after all!  ;^) Abalone are
grown, as are 'Maine' lobsters, salmon have been spawned, and have
returned and been harvested, edible seaweeds, and others.  Cold water from
the deep has many advantages over surface water, which I can't enumerate.
All in all, the aquaculture experiments have been extremely promising. 

----*----

"Growing Edge" magazine, Indoor & Outdoor Gardening for Today's Grower
This month's issue, Vol. 3 #4, Summer, 1992 is especially interesting;  it
has an article on combining aquaculture with hydroponics and another one
on biologically-intensive waste treatment systems; + many other useful
articles and advertisements. It's an amazing magazine albeit expensive/
size. For those interested in setting up electronic/electromechanical/
computer-based environmental control systems to handle such things as soil
moisture/humidity/temperature/air gas levels, etc. there is an ongoing
series of articles dealing with this topic complete with construction
plans, computer software, whole systems design-construction- maintenance
and materials/equipment/parts access info.  Subscription info:  The
Growing EDGE P.O. Box 1027 Corvallis, OR 97339 1-503-757-0027 U.S.
delivered via 1st class smail and Canadian: $24.95, 1 year/4 issues U.S.
non-1st class smail: 
     $17.95 - 1 year/4 issues
     $34.00 - 2 years/8 issues They also have interesting books for sale
such as:  "Gardening Indoors" George F. Van Patten "Gardening: the
Rockwool Book" George F. Van Patten "The Hydroponic Hot House" James B.
DeKorne * Origin: EARTH*Net*Host:SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Echo*919-9323115
(1:151/502)

































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