The year 2020 has seen so much adversity but we must stay optimistic by finding the silver lining and hanging on to it like a metaphorical lifesaver. Because COVID-19 has affected our job security, the food supply chain, and proved that even the strongest pillars of society can sway with the strong winds of change, we are becoming more aware.  We are aware of our resilience, of the unsustainability of our modern supply system, and best of all, aware that we can only truly have complete trust in our fellow neighbors, our families and in ourselves. Close and personal relationships with our ..read more

Yaupon Holly, aka Cassina, or the less-appetizing Latin misnomer Ilex vomitoria (it does NOT cause vomiting) is the only caffeine containing plant native to North America. Yaupon is extremely common in Southeastern Coast of North America. Many have seen its distinguishing red berries in the winter, but few have realized the potential Yaupon has to make delicious caffeinated tea that many say tastes better than its cousin Yerba Mate. It's the perfect solution for those who want to reduce their dependence on commercially produced caffeinated beverages and save money at the same time ..read more

Aside from the most common killers of hydroponic crops (Read it Here), nutrient deficiencies can be harder than finding your way through labyrinth to correctly diagnose. Luckily hydroponic nutrients are usually nutritionally complete formula so the issue is more simple to approach, Aquaponics on the other hand is a more nuanced agriculture system with more nutrient pitfalls.  Here's a great resource from MSU to visually identify your Mobile and Immobile Nutrient Deficiencies. Know the difference between immobile and mobile and how they affect new and old growth! The first thing you ..read more

The only thing more frustrating than a dying plant is having no idea why your plant is days away from biting the dust. Since gardening can be a patience demanding practice, it's no surprise many shed tears when they lose a beloved plant 3 months into its 4 month life span. In this short guide, I'll run through the most common killers for the beginner or intermediate hydroponic farmer so that you can learn from the mistakes of all the heartbroken growers who had to learn the hard way.  Before I begin detailing what can go wrong, let me preface this post by restating a few tenets of Integr ..read more

If you were to tell someone that they could grow their own tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, cannabis, or other fruits hydroponically their first reaction would probably be to wonder how difficult, or expensive it would be to achieve. The fortunate truth is that hydroponics can be as simple as growing with soil, and much more effective at growing massive yields and incredible fruits, vegetables or medicine. Once you experience the power of your own green thumb you'll feel empowered knowing that you can rely on your own skills to supplement your life with the wonders hydroponics has to offer. Keep ..read more

Gardening at home can be an incredibly therapeutic hobby that builds confidence in your abilities to work with mother nature. All this, to many beginner's dismay, comes after the hurdle of seed germination. It so happens that plants, much like animals, are the most vulnerable within the first month of their life and the degree of their success heavily depends on how well it started it's life from a seed. As with anything in life, it can be insurmountably difficult to succeed without the proper information so keep reading to find out the best way to germinate and start your gardening journey st ..read more

Hydroponics carries a certain stigma within popular culture. Mentioning hydroponics conjures images of advanced nutrient regiments and a scientific approach to agriculture fitting for advanced applications or cannabis. This unfortunately is a stereotype that can easily discourage a beginner or intermediate gardener, but fret not, continue reading and you'll soon realize that hydroponics can be as simple as you make it. To quickly preface, plants generally need a just handful of vital things: 1. Nutrients 2. Water 3. Oxygen/Carbon Dioxide Gases 4. Light 5. Adequate Humidity and Wind Conditions ..read more

This is a quick and simple guide to making a hydroponic mason jar using the kratky method. This is one of the easiest home hydroponic set ups you can make and most, if not all of the supplies can be bought in your local gardening store. Whether you are a beginner or just looking to add something to your windowsill garden, these easy to make kratky jars work great! You will need: Wide Mouth 3" mason Jar (32 Oz) Measuring Bottle (1 L) Distilled or Reverse Osmosis Water (1 L) Hydroponic Mix (In this case Advanced Nutrients 3 Part Mix) Many Mixes Work Proper Measurment tools (Scale for dry powde ..read more

Each nutrient is measured out using a simple scale that is accurate up to a tenth of a gram. Solution is place in 32 Oz Mason jars with holes cut in the the lids Arugula at 10 days from seed. 19 days old. Ready to make a healthy and flavorful salad, or a nutritious garnish with a kick ..read more

In an objective-based view, one can say that hydroponics and aquaponics are simply different routes to the same destination; growing plants without the use of soil. From my experience the more nuanced reality revealed two niches that better suited one or the other method. Of course there are always exceptions to the rule, but generally hydroponics is better suited to massive commercial food production facility especially when the sizes exceed 4-5 acres. Hydroponics allows farmers to fine-tune their nutrient formula to achieve incredible consistency in their quality and quantity while maintaini ..read more