08-25-2014, 09:07 AM
snorkle -
Hydroponic vegetable production is a good way to produce many types of vegetables. It works, and works well. There were systems available back when I farmed vegetables 30 years ago. They've been around for a long time.
One thing I learned farming was that on a yearly basis a new tool, or growing method or variety of vegetable was announced in the seed catalogs, trade magazines, and in general interest magazines like Organic Gardening. These new discoveries were guaranteed to increase my profit, and keep me ahead of my competitors. Some did, for a time anyway until everyone else caught up. But the real money was made by the seed catalogs, garden writers, and garden magazine publishers selling the seeds, tools and ideas.
After all was said and done, I earned most of my profits from old fashioned, normal vegetables like beans and zucchini, growing in the ground.
A lot of local people have tried to grow hydroponic tomatoes and cucumbers in greenhouses, some have been very successful. But as you drive around Puna you can see the torn shards of plastic on greenhouse frames where people attempted to grow those crops hydroponically. If it was a wildly successful system, the corporate farms in California would switch to growing their crops that way, especially with the water shortage and restrictions that are affecting farmers over there.
Hydroponic vegetable production is a good way to produce many types of vegetables. It works, and works well. There were systems available back when I farmed vegetables 30 years ago. They've been around for a long time.
One thing I learned farming was that on a yearly basis a new tool, or growing method or variety of vegetable was announced in the seed catalogs, trade magazines, and in general interest magazines like Organic Gardening. These new discoveries were guaranteed to increase my profit, and keep me ahead of my competitors. Some did, for a time anyway until everyone else caught up. But the real money was made by the seed catalogs, garden writers, and garden magazine publishers selling the seeds, tools and ideas.
After all was said and done, I earned most of my profits from old fashioned, normal vegetables like beans and zucchini, growing in the ground.
A lot of local people have tried to grow hydroponic tomatoes and cucumbers in greenhouses, some have been very successful. But as you drive around Puna you can see the torn shards of plastic on greenhouse frames where people attempted to grow those crops hydroponically. If it was a wildly successful system, the corporate farms in California would switch to growing their crops that way, especially with the water shortage and restrictions that are affecting farmers over there.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves