Hydroponics

[vze57564]

Hey,

 

Can anyone provide some resources where I can do research to start large scale hydroponics plant to grow food crops?

 

I am wondering if I can put this idea together whereas I can provide food to local communities, possibly on a not-for-profit basis through hydroponic gardening.

[ILO]

I don't know how large scale you're looking to get, but V.E.G. Vertical Earth Gardens on YouTube is very helpful, and Vitalii Jidkov on YouTube has the most massive hydroponic greenhouses I've ever seen.

[Dave Bockman]

Check out the 'aquaponics' system curently being developed by Will Allen, founder of Growing Power

 

From the article:

 

In certain circles Allen is referred to as the father of "The Good Food Revolution," which is also the title of his 2012 book. In it he recounts a very personal story of reconnecting with the earth — a reconnection he would like to see made across urban America, and especially in African-American communities.

[vze57564]

Thanks folks.  I will have a look at these resources.

[SBRFS]

While not hydroponic-specific, you might also find "underground" greenhouses to be of use, allowing you to grow crops year round with little or no heating.  In such systems, barrels of water are sometimes used to store heat for night time; perhaps the hydroponic reservoir can serve a similar function.

[Kevin Beal]

The cheapest way of doing it is probably with the "deep water culture" technique and florescent grow lights. You won't get great yields that way though.

 

Typically if you want to do hydroponics right you need a lot of money and it's usually only sustainable for people who are using it to grow marijuana.

[vze57564]

Do you need lots of money to start it up or to maintain it or both?

[Josh F]

the expensive part becomes the lighting costs and climate control costs. 

[vze57564]

Could I mitigate the cost if I use alternative power, like solar?