Local Fair

[fintuckyfarms]

Went to the local fair today (will be there all week) and there is nothing about hydroponics there at all. Tried talking to a few guys there from WSU (local college extension like master gardner) nothing...... interesting may have to do some sort of educational display next year.

[GpsFrontier]

I know what you mean, there is never any hydroponics related displays at any of our local functions either. I found out from our local master gardeners program that there's only one hydroponics farm in our county (unfortunately, I have yet to visit it). And the only hydroponics supply store within a 3 hour drive only just opened about 6 months ago. Also the only collage/school with courses in hydroponics in the state is at the university of Arizona's Controlled Environment department in Tuscon. That is about a 7 hour drive away from me, so I wont be able to commute even if I had the money to attend. Heck even our local library system only had one book on the subject of hydroponics at all to begin with, and someone checked it out and never returned it, so they don't even have that anymore.

I cant do much about the local schools courses, or libraries (unless I donate the books). But I plan to increase public awareness about the benefits of hydroponic farming myself. Of coarse I wont be able to do it all at once, but in time I plan to have a operating hydroponics farm growing all kinds of different fruits and veggies for our local community, and expanding it all the time. I'll be selling the produce fresh right on site, as well as showing the people how the plants are grown. Probably even having tours for the local schools. As well as having a booth at all our local functions to aid in awareness, along with druming up business. Even creating jobs in the industry as I grow and expand the business.

But ya, I know what you mean. It's surprising there is so little use of such a viable, productive, environmentally friendly way of growing produce. But along with the old timers that don't know any other way, or just set in their ways and don't want to try something new. In some communities the term "hydroponics" actually creates fear. I read about one community in particular that actually blocked the opening of a hydroponics retail store after already giving the OK, because the city counsel felt it would cause increased drug use in their community. That's just a case of a bunch of old farts that are unaware (ignorant) about the potential of hydroponics because all they hear about is drug busts on TV, so they think you cant grow anything else with hydroponics.

Sure there will be people using it to grow pot, but blocking the opening of a hydroponics supply store wont keep them from doing that in the slightest. What, is there some ban on having things shipped to their town? Pot growers have been ordering what they need online, and/or through mail order for decades? Only the old farts that cant use a computer don't know that. So their fear just hurts everybody else. All they wind up doing is limiting economic growth for their community, and making pot growers pay for shipping.

[jamromhem]

Why would pot growers pay for shipping? There are a ton of hydroponic stores online that give free shipping over a certain price. From my readings they spend a lot more than I am willing to on different nutrients and additives lol..

There isn't much here about hydroponics either.. Virtigrow is just up the street, but I was less than impressed with their settup. you can't really tell if they are doing hydroponics without knowing that they told you it, because you can't touch the plants to move a leaf or they yell at you....

There are regular events about an hour away in Orlando though. From what I understand there are hydroponic nerd collectives there that run hydro conventions. (kinda like a scify only with plants)

[jamromhem]

just an update. I refered to the people as nerds because one of them told me they were going to the "Hydroponicon" and that sounded a little nerdy to me :P Someone put too much thought into that lol

[fintuckyfarms]

Soooo this month the fair board went to the state fair in Puyallup and saw something they want to create at our local fair. One of the boardmembers contacted me about helping them to create a "living garden" for fair. Basically that consist of raised garden beds that are started in the spring and harvested during fair by local gardening clubs. They asked me to do a hydroponic garden. TOTALLY overwhelmed but also inspired.

Any ideas??? Not much shade and our fair is 3rd week in August. I also will be going on a cruise mid June so something really simple that somebody else can help take care of.

[T'Mater]

At my son's Jr High they have 2 greenhouses and so my son asked whoever run's there program if they did hydroponic's. They said Hydrowho? so my 12 year old had to explain to a teacher what it was.....

[fintuckyfarms]

So I am starting to gather the specifics for my fair display. I am wondering if I can use some of your photos for examples of the different types of systems and to show how sucessfull hydroponics is. If you agree, you can either give your consent here or e-mail me at fintuckyfarms@charter.net

Thank you in advance, Tracy

[fintuckyfarms]

So super great news regarding the fair display!!! They got back to me today and want me as a planner/consultant/meet & greet person. Fair is paying for everything starting with a $500 budget (awaiting final aproval 02/14) and they have got the on site grounds guy involved and he is very excited to take care of the system on a daily basis; I just have to train him. I don't have to use any of my personal supplies and they will let me have a sign up sheet to start a hydroponics club. CAN'T even tell you how excited I am eventhough it's gonna be a lot of work.

[GpsFrontier]

Hello fintuckyfarms, Sounds like like great news. I'm not sure what your planing exactly, but I would suggest treating it like a business and make a budget. Decide what systems you want to do, the plants that will be in it etc.. Then make a list of everything you'll need to complete and grow everything. Get prices for it all, and add it up. $500 is a good chunk of change, but wont go too far for a large display. Especially with multiple systems, as well as when you add up all the small things, and/or if you need to have anything shipped to you. I know it will be a lot of work, but I know you'll be successful, and you'll even do ten times as well the next year.

P.S.
I don't know if your interested in any of the pictures that I have taken, but I'll e-mail you in a day or so. Also I would like to know what you have in mind for the hydroponics club? That's an interesting idea, and maybe I can fallow suit here in havasu. Got a Name for it yet? Something Like "Hydro growers of ????." Do you plan a weekly newsletter, website, regular monthly/weekly meetings, forum, etc.. Do you plan a separate group for pot growers and fruit and veggie growers (or plan to filter them out) so pot growers don't wind up being the majority of the club, then turning off the fruit and veggie growers?

[fintuckyfarms]

GpsFrontier, I just want to thank you for all of you advice and wisdom. I have learned so much here and I love that you let everybody do their own thing while giving some constructive feedback and some life lessons you have gained with experience. I learn from everything you say but still feel that I can do my own thing and will still have your support. Anyway thanks for being here even though I know you have your hands full trying to start your own project.

I definitely will have a solid plan with both design and budget. I am thinking about doing some vertical towers one with strawberries and one with some eye catching color either flowers or some heat tolerant veggies. I also want to do a "nursery" with some small plants started after I get back from the cruise but old enough to have some roots hanging down in the solution. The bulk of the display will be education boards with everything from history to small window gardens to large commercial projects. I plan to talk about the different system basics and how there are so many variations on each. If I
have space and $$$ left over I might try for that pvc vertical set up you designed for me. I also will be given fair entry so I plan on getting some shirts made with the hydroponics club name and be available for questions a couple of times a day. I also wanted the picts not only for the display boards, but also kind of an idea book so people can see all the different designs and applications.

The club name and how it will work have not gotten much thought. I work for the sheriffs dept so if I know about an illegal grow I have to report it so that could be touchy. (Would appreciate some ideas on that). Personally I couldn't care either way but I don't want to be around it because..... wait for it.... I'm allergic to it. Knew that would get a laugh out of you. Besides I don't really know all the much about it and don't know how much of a help or support I would be for somebody interested in that type of growing.

I would love to do some sort of web page, but I don't really know that much about it. I will probably have to ask my son to help me with that part but I could also just have a facebook page. That I know I can do! Probably will be referring lots of people to this site since it's so awesome! I probably need to set up a separate e-mail address also for people that don't have facebook and design some sort of busn card or pamphlet to give out.

I have lots to do but it's my son's 22nd birthday tomorrow so I have that to do also. I want to have everything done and in place except for the last minute stuff before our cruise in June, I hate waiting last minute for stuff but if I don't get done I will have almost a month before fair at the end of August. AND I still have my systems to plan cuz I want some more of that zuchinni.

I will be greatfull for ANY ideas anybody out there has!

[GpsFrontier]

fintuckyfarms
Thank you for the very kind words, I really appreciate them. I always try and help as much as I can, and that may vary depending on the time I have right then. But at the same time I always try not to sound like my preferences are the only ones.

It sounds like your doing very well at planning things out. It also sounds like it will be a well rounded, and even educational display. Even the small starts with roots they can see will be a great display. People seem to be fascinated to see the roots they normally wouldn't see because their in soil. Also the Idea booklet is a great idea, I cant tell you how many ideas I get from seeing other peoples designs. Simply seeing all the types of systems, and different designs will be very inspirational (and get that hamster turning the wheel in peoples heads). It's too bad I wont be able to get up there to see it, but I hope you'll post pictures and let us know how things went.

I hadn't ever thought about starting a hydroponics club. Well nothing beyond my hydro website which I haven't had time to update, but is planed to be a interactive site for growers to communicate, and without people trying to sell them stuff. But I like the idea of a local club as well. Perhaps even using a library, or local collage meeting room (possibly even for free because it's educational), or at least for a real low cost. That way they can meet other local growers face to face and talk about their grows, as well as make friends with like minded people and share ideas.

Is there anything your not allergic to (LOL)?? As for pot growers, I don't have anything against them, and I don't know what the laws are like in Washington state. But here it's legal to grow it for personal use (a certain amount anyway) if you have a medical card. Each time I go to our local hydro shop, well lets just say I have never met anyone there that is really growing fruit and veggies. That just tells me most of the local interest seems to be in growing pot.

I personally would like to change peoples stereotype thinking that pot is the only crop you can grow hydroponically. When people hear the word "hydroponics" they automatically associate the term with growing drugs. Therefore they never even consider it as an option for growing anything else. That's what I want to change. It is just imbedded into my vocabulary now that when I tell people about my greenhouse plans/operation I always use the term culinary herbs." If I didn't they would automatically think I was talking about growing pot. I didn't even realize I used that therm (it's so automatic), but I was registering for a free class for business retail tax a few days ago, and after I finished my sentience she said "good, I was holding my breath". Until I specified the herbs were culinary herbs, her mindset was automatically assuming pot because I was growing them hydroponically.

How I would do things with regard to the club if it were me would vary depending on your local laws. But for me here regardless, I would want to make sure people knew it was a fruit and veggie growing club only, and simply wont tolerate illegal acts, and will even report any illegal acts. Make it well known in the clubs literature, but not focusing on it in hopes to not feed into peoples already stereotype thinking, and thus possibly scare anyone from trying hydroponics. That alone would probably filter most of them out. If the people in the group are really only interested in growing fruits and veggies, that should weed out (no pun intended) anyone else wanting to test the clubs real intentions. The pot growers wouldn't have anyone to talk about growing pot with. Another way to drive home the fact it's a fruit and veggie growing club, is starting with the club name. Perhaps something like "Hydroponic fruit and veggie growers." Or a sub title/slogan like:

Club name (something like)
"Hydro Growers of Washington"

Sub slogan (something like)
"Growing better produce to feed your family hydroponically'"
or "Growing hydroponically for better fruit and veggies"

Basically just something to drive home that the club is about growing fruit and veggies (food) and not pot. If I had time to deal with it (and depending on your local laws), I may find a friend with a medical card that was interested to run a separate club for "legal" pot growers, but again wont tolerate and will report any illegal acts. Perhaps even put the Sheriffs office emblem next to the statement with a number to report illegal acts to. That alone would probably be enough to scare off anyone doing anything illegal.

As for a website, I wouldn't' even consider doing a hydro club without one. There are just so many ways a dedicated website is better than a Facebook page. Starting with an easy to remember domain name, easy to spell, and descriptive. When people share things in conversation with their friends that will be extremely important. Descriptive for two reasons, first so it makes easy scene and easy to remember, second for search engine rankings. If your familiar with Facebook, that's fine have one of those also, but a dedicated website will be 100 times better in the long run (even if only one or two pages). I know Facebook is huge, but there are lots of people who don't use any social media (I don't myself). Beyond that without writing a book, there are just so many differences between Facebook and your own dedicated website.

I can help you with that, but I will need to talk to you to find out your level of experience. I don't really have a lot of time these days, and I don't think you will either. So it would need to be something you can handle comfortably. But depending on you and your sons comfort level on the computer, I'm sure I can find a reasonable option for you. The cost can range from free, to less than $10 a month. If your not selling products you wont need secure ordering, and even reduces website design difficulty and costs. My "Home Hydro Systems" website costs me $6.99 a month. But there are some you can do free (well after you pay for the domain name that you can get for between $2 and $10 a year). And range in difficulty from click and build, to creating your own website template like I did with my site.

Jeff