Down the Hydro Trail - The Next Hydroponics Generation

Twenty some odd years ago as a teen, a friend (Ken) and I trekked off to Texas to work on an oil rigger. Leaving friends and family for independence, we landed in the Mojave Desert, instead, short of cash and an ailing VW van. Upon arriving we stopped at a truck stop. We got out of the van and proceeded to ask for directions. The next thing we knew a VW van was passing us. Ken turned to me and said, "Hey they have a van just like mine." I said to Ken, "That is your van!" and we both took of running to rescue our ride. Mojave appears to sits in the center of a wind tunnel.

We proceeded to get a job in an aluminum mill -- very hot! Heck, the Mojave is hot, period! Until that first paycheck came in, we discovered many new ways of cooking potatoes.

To help with the budget and having a fascination with hydroponics, I proceeded to make a small hydroponics unit utilizing local pumice and an aquarium air pump. Fortunately at the time, I was able to go to a hydroponics store and buy nutrients and get suggestions. Thank goodness for hydroponics stores! In two weeks, I discovered 12" plants with 8" leaves and incredible foliage. The outstanding produce soon followed. Having been an avid soil gardener through much of my childhood, I was now sold on gardening the hydroponics way.

Fast-forward several years. Another of my passions has always been building. Involved in the building field in one way or another for many years, five years ago my wife and I decided to take the plunge and design and build a house for ourselves. We found that we loved it - so much so that we are about to embark on house number four this coming spring. Each time, we design and build for ourselves, but always keep an eye toward special, custom touches that others will find intriguing. Though still on the drawing board, number four will incorporate a fairly well equipped hydroponics garden room. We hope to include such things as a built-in work/water center and stone floor, perhaps with an underground water reservoir connected to rain gutters. The reservoir would act as a heat sink for passive solar with a southern exposure, picking up heat in the daytime during the winter that can then be radiated into the house in the evening. Who knows, there may even be an indoor waterfall and an outside greenhouse that gets its water supply through a gravity feed from the reservoir. Although we will incorporate some of these ideas, others will probably have to wait till number five!

So today, working not only in the hydroponics business but also as a homebuilder, I am very excited about bringing these two longtime interests together and exploring ways in which hydroponics and passive solar can be efficiently and productively incorporated into homes. My current home (number three) was partially set up for hydroponics gardening (lots of windows at the southern end of a great room/country kitchen and a gas fireplace for plenty of CO2), and it has become a key-testing site for many of the wonderful new products for many of the hydroponics stores. The reservoirs for the hydroponics act as the heat sink for the passive solar. This set-up has reduced the heat cost of the home by 75% and we get fresh produce all winter long - not to mention what a lush, indoor garden does for the soul.

The garden space in the photos is the southern end of the country kitchen. The mass of scotch bonnets on the right-hand side is seven huge plants extending from floor to ceiling. These are the same plants shown at six weeks from plug in the root shot. The peppers have over-grown the walkway and are heading into the living space. I have hidden all machetes, scissors, and knives from my wife! The peppers are so prolific that we donate much of the crop to a couple of the local restaurants where I know they're appreciated. In fact, we dropped off a pint of peppers yesterday and I detected a trace of fear. When I cut the ends off the last batch of peppers they melted a hole in the rubber gloves I was wearing. This brings a new definition to the concept hot! These plants are growing in a relatively new, deep-flood system where air is injected into the roots. No more figuring out flood cycles. The Aeroflo system, to the left/center, has Swiss chard, lemon basil, sweet basil, miniature basil, cilantro, chocolate bells, and dill. The Swiss chard, tender and succulent, is a workhorse, generating three meals a week. My favourite restaurateurs say they have never tasted cilantro or basil so good. My garden area also hosts baby romaine, ginseng, hostas, a variety of houseplants-and one very happy baby!

Actually, to keep everyone safe, most of the time baby gates separate the hydroponics systems from baby Jared. But on occasion I remove them and Jared and I stroll among the plants - what a joy to see the wonder in his eyes! Truly, the next hydroponics generation....