Hydroponic gardening???

visit earthbox.com.

Thanks eagleray, do you have one/more in USVI? Are they working OK? What are you doing about mosquito control?

They had one in Anguilla for years & now there's another there (don't know if the original is still going or not.)

Their website has a video showing that the gov of Tobago is experimenting with them.

You can contact UVI on STX. They do it. Maybe you could even take a class there.

rps.uvi.edu/AES/Aquaculture/aqua.html

Tours will be given on Sunday Oct 19 as part of World Food Day events.

Thanks folks, I think it might be worth pursuing...

Hi aquaponics, thanks for the info. I wish I were going to be there for the short course; it sounds very interesting.

I don't think I'd start out trying to take on fish and plants (aquaponics). And, I get very worried about power outages. The EarthBox looks like a reasonable compromise, and an easy first step into this field. With my house design, I could have many EarthBoxes, or the equivalent that I might design myself, right on the uncovered section of the galley - right off of the kitchen... easy to maintain... easy to harvest! So, hmmmm, an EarthBox might have to go on my xmas or B'day list (no reason to wait til I get to STX to start the experiments).

Also visit; agardenpatch.com
nothing nicer than a fresh salad off your porch in paradise.
Sometimes fresh greens are hard to come by, and green onions too!!
Remember in the tropics you are dealing with 12 hour days +/-, no long day length crops.

Yeah, fish and plants is a whole other.......

i have friends here that have had wonderful production of herbs and greens using Earthboxes. I don't think you will be disappointed.

For some simple systems you can build yourself, do a search for hydroponics and DIY. DIY = Do it Yourself. There are some really neat systems out there.

Maybe we'll see you here at UVI for World Food Day??

Anytime,
Charlie

I used to be editor of he Growing Edge magazine. Check out the Web site at growingedge.com. Hydroponics is a lot simpler than it was, there are a LOT of options. We ran a story on the UVI aquaculture program, and there are several features each issue about low-cost, simple ways of growing hydroponically. Also stories about full-scale, industrial and pretty expensive programs, of course.) I've heard of a farm on the west end of STX that uses hydroponics, but haven't tracked it down yet. I don't have a hydroponic garden yet, because I only moved here three months ago and I'm still renting. But as soon as I get a long-term place, I'll definitely be setting up a system. It's the only way to go to have tomatoes year-round while still conserving water.

Thanks again folks, for even more info...

Charlie, sadly, I won't make it this year, but in the future I most definitely want to check out everything UVI is doing, agriculturally (at a minimum).

EagleRay, yup those somewhat constant 12 hour days is attractive to me... fairly stable light conditions make it a bit easier to study+control related issues (watering cycle, pest schedules, etc.)

JohnB, thanks much for that lead also.

I saw ideas to control mosquitoes with EarthBox:
1) put BT tabs in fill hole, periodically
2) block overflow spout with custom sliding cover (off while watering; on other times)
3) cotton in overflow spout did not work, but local birds were happy about the soft nesting material
4) a few drops of mineral oil in water will form film that suffocates larve - unfortunately, not good for plant roots and soil either (not confirmed).

There was once a farm here in Bolongo many years ago. Just phased out I guess.

Congrats on the move down John! I hope you and your wife are settling in safely. Let me know if you want to link you sometime. I'm not familiar with a hydro system out west, but that doesn't mean there isn't one. Out east there used to be a hydro farm. It's now called Southgate farm. they only do organic soil production currently and I can testify the food is delicious! They are located at the corner where Cheesburgers is located.

Maybe we'll see you for World Food Day?

Charlie

Thanks, Charlie. I look forward to it. Just let me know when and where.

jb