Green Winter Farm Selects LumiGrow LED Horticultural Lighting to Bring Fresh Vegetables to Alaskans
By George Chan (www.lumigrow.com)

LumiGrow, Inc., the leader in LED-based horticultural lighting solutions, announced on Sept. 19 that it will provide energy-efficient illumination for Green Winter Farm, an indoor farm in Palmer, Alaska. LumiGrow LED lighting solutions will enable Green Winter Farm to grow vegetables with half the energy consumption and cost required by current farming methods.

A family of four in Palmer, Alaska spends an average of $1,300 more on groceries each year than does the same-size Portland, Oregon family, according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service. This is largely because 98 percent of Alaska’s produce is imported from out of state, per the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Greens travel great distances to reach Alaskan consumers, running up fuel costs along the way.

Greenhouses with conventional lighting systems make it possible to cultivate crops in challenging climates, but are expensive to operate because of their high energy demands. Alaskans pay among the highest rates for electricity in the US. Their rates are 50 percent higher, according to the US Department of Energy.

Green Winter Farm founder Crystal Boze sought a more economically and environmentally viable alternative to conventional greenhouse light fixtures, which rely on high intensity discharge (HID) technology. HID lights waste half the energy they consume because they emit broad swaths of the color spectrum unusable by plants. The USDA Farm Services Agency pointed Mrs. Boze to energy-efficient LED lighting, which can be designed to emit only those portions of the color spectrum that trigger healthy plant responses.

A USDA loan helped Green Winter Farm establish a hydroponic basil farm, illuminated exclusively by LumiGrow LED systems, within a windowless steel building. “As a farmer and mother of two young children, I know just how important it is, yet how hard it can be to put healthy food on the table,” said Mrs. Boze. She continued, “Green Winter Farm required a lighting solution proven to produce bountiful crops without the high energy price tag. In reviewing third party studies, I realized that not all LED lights are created equal. LumiGrow is the clear winner.”

LumiGrow LED lights will also make it easier to regulate the farm’s temperature. Mrs. Boze explained, “LumiGrow LED systems don’t produce waste heat. With hot-running conventional HID lights, we’d be forced to take in outside air or blast an air conditioner, or even both, to keep the temperature at an acceptable level.”

In addition to basil, Green Winter Farm will grow strawberries, peppers, rosemary and cilantro. All of the farm’s crops are grown pesticide-free. Green Winter Farm currently sells through farmers’ markets and recently signed a distribution agreement with Carr-Safeway grocery stores.

“Green Winter Farm exemplifies the resourcefulness of growers,” said Kevin Wells, CEO of LumiGrow. “We’re pleased to support a local farmer in serving her community with affordable and healthy greens,” added Mr. Wells. For more information, call LumiGrow at 1 800 514-0487.
www.lumigrow.com

Dr. John A. A. Thomson Passes Away at 100

Founder of Vitamin Institute and Inventor of SUPERthrive^®
By B. Bredoux

Dr. John A. A. Thomson, Ph.D., founder of the Vitamin Institute and inventor of its key product, SUPERthrive^®, died November 28, 2011 in North Hollywood, five days after celebrating his 100th anniversary.

I was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Thomson at the Vitamin Institute headquarters in North Hollywood, in April, 2007. He was then 95 years old and still worked a full shift, overseeing the activities of the Institute and of its employees. I was struck by his energy and his deep involvement in his daily work. Here was a man of extraordinary capacity, an example for all of us who yearn for retirement and think life is over at 80. 

John A. A. Thomson developed the SUPERthrive formula in 1939 and, a year later, created the Vitamin Institute to market this extraordinary supplement whose secret formula, through the years, would change very little. He was very proud of this lasting success and he confided to me during our meeting: “Gradually, I improved it but I can tell you that any leftovers from the product that I still have from many decades ago still beat the heck out of anything else on the market, even today!”

Dr. Thomson held a Ph.D. in biochemistry. He earned several prestigious awards during his distinguished career. In 1940, SUPERthrive won the Gold Medal of Science and Industry at the Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco. In 2006, the Lawn & Garden Marketing & Distribution Association granted him a Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2009, he received the Lifetime Environmental Awareness Award, the highest citation from SEE (Sustainable Environmental Education).

For more information, read the extensive interview that Dr. Thomson gave us in 2007 (published in our Vol. 3, Issue 1—July/August 2007).

                         

Also see: superthrive.com or call: (800) 441-VITA (8482).

Technology: Algae to Omega Selects LumiGrow LED Solution for Energy-Efficient Indoor Algae Farm

By George Chan (www.lumigrow.com)

LumiGrow, Inc., the leader in LED-based horticultural lighting solutions, announced last month that it will provide energy-efficient controlled illumination for Algae to Omega’s vertical indoor farm. LumiGrow LED lighting solutions will boost algae crop yield significantly at Algae to Omega’s 60,000 square foot facility in Oakland Park, Florida.

Algae to Omega cultivates algae for high-value products including nutritional supplements, cosmetics and fish meal. The company’s indoor farm receives natural sunlight during daylight hours. LumiGrow LED solutions provide supplemental lighting through the night. The use of LumiGrow systems allows Algae to Omega to significantly scale production within the same footprint, enabling the company to meet fast-growing market demand while it minimizes environmental impact and operating costs. Without the LumiGrow lights, Algae to Omega would need twice the space to produce the same amount of crops.

“As a company committed to green technologies, we were drawn to the LumiGrow solution’s demonstrated ability to cut energy use and costs by half versus traditional greenhouse lighting systems,” said Geronimos Dimitrelos, CEO of Algae to Omega. “But what really drove our selection is that the LumiGrow system’s adjustable color spectrum makes it the best choice for boosting algae growth.” Mr. Dimitrelos added, “The algae grown under the 23 LumiGrow fixtures we have already installed is a vibrant healthy green.”

Among Algae to Omega’s corporate objectives is to be a no-waste facility. This policy extends to lighting. Unlike other greenhouse lighting systems that emit broad swaths of the color spectrum unusable by plants, all light emitted by the LumiGrow solution elicits healthy plant responses. Further, Algae to Omega technicians can adjust the LumiGrow system’s color output to meet the algae’s specific photosynthesis requirements. This precision yields energy savings of greater than 50 percent as compared to other lights.

“Algae to Omega sets an example of how forward-thinking growers innovate to keep abreast of changing market conditions,” said Kevin Wells, CEO of LumiGrow. “We’re delighted that the LumiGrow solution is helping Algae to Omega realize their vision of a highly productive and cost-efficient vertical farm.”

About LumiGrow, Inc.:
LumiGrow, Inc., the leading provider of high-efficiency LED lighting solutions for horticulture, enables commercial growers and agribusinesses to achieve operational efficiencies, reduce energy consumption and improve crop yield. LumiGrow offers a range of third-party proven solutions for use in greenhouses, indoor farms and scientific research chambers. LumiGrow solutions are eligible for energy efficiency subsidies from Pacific Gas & Electric, Puget Sound Energy and other utilities. The Company’s 500 commercial and institutional customers include Dow AgroSciences, Duke University and the USDA. Headquartered on Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay, LumiGrow is privately owned and operated. For more information, call (800) 514-0487 or visit www.lumigrow.com.

About Algae to Omega:
Algae to Omega Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries manufacture and market algae-derived products using highly efficient, proprietary methods. Combining environmentally clean technologies such as rain capture and anaerobic digestion, the Company is gearing up for commercial scale production and distribution of high-valued nutraceuticals and feedstocks including super-antioxidant Astaxanthin, pure contaminant-free Omega 3 fatty acids and superior-quality feed for the livestock and aquaculture industries. The Company’s proprietary system generates faster algal growth rates versus less efficient open pond and non-continuous, closed-loop systems. Headquartered in Oakland Park, Florida, Algae to Omega is privately owned and operated. For more information, call (888) 261-7110 or visit www.algae2omega.com.

LumiGrow is a registered trademark of LumiGrow, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

pH Perfect Plant Nutrient Products! or “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”—Leonardo da Vinci
By Jo Mantha (www.advancednutrients.ca)

           

Finally! A brain-dead-simple nutrient growing system that does all your pH balancing and adjusting work for you—automatically—making it easy for you to get maximum results, consistently, no matter what your skill level!

As growers, we all want to get the most production out of our growroom, maximize our yields, and do it consistently, harvest after harvest…

That’s why you’re going to want to pay close attention to the Bigger Yield pH-Perfect™ bundle Boxes System™ from Advanced Nutrients. Here’s what makes these bundles so special:

• Never worry about your pH! The formulations contain a proprietary “smart” release of acid and alkaline molecules, called pH-Perfect™, which corrects your pH to optimum levels automatically in your reservoir and keeps it there. Never again fool with pH pens, meters or corrosive pH up, Ph down or balance your pH ever again! The cations and anions are perfectly balanced for the types of plants you’re growing!

• Bundles to match your skill levels! No matter how much experience you have, there’s a bundle made for you. Choose from the Hobbyist level, Expert Grower level, Professional Level, or Grand Master Level.

• All-in-one solution! Each bundle comes with all the supplements you need whether growing hydroponics or soil. Most of the products are 2-in-1, even 5-in-1 solutions saving you hassles and money (when you buy a bundle box you get one of the nutrients in the box free!), while at the same time, giving your plants the exact macro and micronutrients they must have for superior plant growth.

• No guesswork! The simple feeding chart provided with each of the bundles has been perfected to give your crops optimal nutrient levels and ratios for maximized yields every time. It makes it incredibly simple to mix: all base nutrients mix at 4-ml’s per litre and all supplements are a scant 2-ml’s per litre.

• As simple as it gets! Just select your skill level bundle, follow the simple mixing instructions and feeding chart, let the pH-Perfect™ Technology auto-correct your pH and get ready for a harvest that you can be proud of!

Products’ Fast Facts

Voodoo Juice

- Faster growth, bigger yields.

- Stronger, safer plants.

- 117% root mass increase.

Big Bud
- Larger, heavier, denser flowers.
- Flowers with more essential oils, aromatics & other potency factors.
- Measurable, significant increases in overall harvest, weight and market value.

B’52
- Better survival rate for seedlings, transplants and clones.
- Plants more resistant to stress & disease.
- Increased growth and yield.
- Stronger roots for more nutrient uptake.

Overdrive
- Larger, denser flowers
- More essential oils, aroma, taste and larger harvest.
- More attractive flowers for higher market value.
- More production per watt during lasts weeks of bloom phase.

Piranha
- Bigger and more potent flowers.
- Protects plants from root diseases and stress.
- Increases root mass, so you get stronger plants that produce more per watt.

Bud Candy
- Better taste, more aromas.
- Larger yields, faster growth.
- More essential oils, potency, overall look and market value.

Final Phase
- Cleans crops
- Flushes and purify s.

Tarantula
- Increases growth rate and yield.
- Gives stronger roots and protects plants.
- Specially bred microbes.

Nirvana
- 100% organic, very rare extracts.
- Larger, tastier and more potent flowers.
- Boosts plants energy, as well as metabolism for larger and faster growth.

SensiZym
- Cleaner and less pathogens and disease in root zone.
- More nutrition for faster growth and bigger yield.
- Save money on root zone materials.
- Feed beneficial microbes.

Bud Ignitor
- Bigger yields and more budding sites.
- Earlier floral development.
- Save time and money.
- Larger flowers with more essential oils.
- More crop cycles per year.

Rhino Skin
- Increases trichome structures and increases heat resistance by 35%.
- Increases mite, mildew, and mould resistance.
- Overall sturdier plants.

Bud Factor X
- 35% more essential oils.
- More aromatics and natural taste.
- More resistance to stress, pests and diseases.
- Larger plants for heavier harvest.

More Info on 5 Products

Final Phase Clearing Flush Solution: Flushing of Your Edible Plants is Important to Your Personal Health

Final Phase clearing flush solution removes excess hydroponic nutrients, heavy metals and pollutants from your plants' root zone.

When you use Advanced Nutrients Final Phase, it forces your plants to consume all of the internal nutrients that have been stored in their tissues. After those nutrients are utilized you end up with the natural taste and scent that Mother Nature intended.

Final Phase contains Citric Acid Chelate, Free Form EDTA Chelate and Magnesium Sulphate which makes it one of the most powerful, most full-spectrum plant flushing formula that's safe for you to use in your indoor garden. Flushing of your edible plants is also important to your personal health as it removes chemical fertilizer and heavy metal residues which can build up in your body to create medical problems.

When you want to eliminate all chemical taste in your produce, Final Phase is a great solution. Use Final Phase during the last two or three weeks before harvest. Your friends, family and other growers will notice the positive difference you create using Final Phase.

Nirvana: Enhances the Metabolism of Any Crop all Season Long

Nirvana is a 100% organic, growth-promoting supplement designed to enhance the vigour, immunity, and metabolism of any crop all season long. You see better growth and yield using Nirvana. Its unique combination of ingredients—including L-amino acids, vitamins, and extracts of kelp and alfalfa—combines with humic and fulvic acids to ensure rapid growth and larger yields with organic flavour and aroma. Nirvana also contains high-quality surfactants to help spread nutrients out over the largest surface area, providing broad, even coverage—so Nirvana is prefect for root and foliar applications in all types of gardens.

Bud Ignitor: Watch Your Plants Bloom Faster and Produce More Budding Sites

Ignite a bounty of extra budding sites that mature earlier and give you more flowers per inch of stem when you get Bud Ignitor and use it right away to make your bloom phase more profitable. Bud Ignitor contains the right ratios of phosphorus, potassium and other ingredients that ramp up your harvests and increase harvest size, giving you more and bigger harvests per year!

Bud Factor X: Now Your Plants are Protected... and They Pump Out Higher Amounts of Essential Oils Too

You’ll be glad to hear we figured out how to protect your plants by stimulating their immune systems, which produces an added, very important bonus: immune system stimulation creates more essential oils and larger flowers. Get Bud Factor X today, and you’ll see your flowers get larger and more sugary.

Bud Candy: Like Cotton Candy at the County Fair!

Bud Candy is a bloom enhancer composed of a combination of the Advanced Nutrients products Sweetleaf and Carboload. This product is 100% organic and increases carbohydrate reserves so your plants can be healthier and produce larger, heavier fruits. Bud Candy does this by providing vitamins, aromatic esters and sugars to your plants, while also reducing carbon and nitrogen. Bud Candy gives your plants flavour, aroma, and enhances your plant yield while you enjoy the smells and aromas you enjoyed as a kid when you first tried cotton candy at the local county fair. Remember that time and bring those memories and flavours back to your garden!

To try any of the bundles 100% risk-free, simply visit your local hydroponics store and tell them you want to start using the "Bigger Yields Flowering System™" right away.

You risk nothing and make no commitments testing this system out because Advanced Nutrients backs each bundle with a 100% money-back guarantee of satisfaction.
_ _ _
Our products are offered in the finest stores. For more information, call our toll free line at
1-866-969-7711.
Visit: www.advancednutrients.ca.

 LumiGrow Expands Management Team, Adds Neil Coppinger as VP Sales and Caroline Nordahl as VP Marketing
Green technology veterans will drive market adoption of energy-efficient LumiGrow LED lighting solutions for horticulture
By George Chan (www.lumigrow.com)

LumiGrow, Inc. (www.lumigrow.com), the leading provider of LED lighting solutions for horticulture, today announced the appointment of two executives to lead sales and marketing strategy. The Company named Neil Coppinger as vice president of sales and Caroline Nordahl as vice president of marketing.

“Green agriculture solutions like LumiGrow^® LED systems are taking off because they improve crop yield and growers’ margins,” said LumiGrow CEO Kevin Wells. “We’re excited to welcome Ms. Nordahl and Mr. Coppinger, both of whom have a proven track record for driving rapid market adoption of sustainable technologies,” he added.

Neil Coppinger, vice president of sales, joined LumiGrow from the smart water management leader HydroPoint Data Systems, where he developed and led national accounts. Prior, he held sales management positions with Sprint and SHL Systemhouse. Vice President of Marketing Caroline Nordahl, also from HydroPoint, has been creating demand for green technology solutions for over a decade. Ms. Nordahl previously held marketing management positions with BuildPoint and Robert Half International.

The two executives will focus on furthering the company’s mission of delivering energy-efficient lighting solutions that enable greenhouse growers to produce healthy crops and cut operating expenses while they comply with AB32 and bans on wasteful lighting products.

Over $20 billion of crops are grown in greenhouses in the US. Greenhouse growers supplement sunlight with high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting to boost crop growth throughout the seasons. According to USDA census data and Purdue University research, 75 million square feet of commercial greenhouses are lit with HID fixtures. Based on technology intended to provide general illumination rather than to promote photosynthesis, HID lamps waste more than 50 percent of the energy they consume, costing large greenhouse facilities millions of dollars in electrical bills annually.

LumiGrow LED lights offer a straightforward, drop-in implementation process for phased roll-outs, complete HID retrofits and new installations. LumiGrow customers include two of the world’s leading agribusinesses, one of the nation’s largest basil farms as well as numerous research institutions. The combination of increased yields, energy savings, utility subsidies and financing options frequently makes LumiGrow a cash-positive or cash-neutral investment right from the start.

About LumiGrow, Inc.
LumiGrow, Inc., the leading provider of high-efficiency LED lighting solutions for horticulture, enables commercial growers and agribusinesses to achieve operational efficiencies, reduce energy consumption and improve crop yield. LumiGrow offers a range of third-party proven solutions for use in greenhouses, indoor farms and scientific research chambers. LumiGrow solutions are eligible for energy efficiency subsidies from Pacific Gas & Electric, Puget Sound Energy and other utilities. The Company’s 500 commercial and institutional customers include Dow AgroSciences, Duke University and the USDA. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, LumiGrow is privately owned and operated. For more information, call (800) 514-0487 or visit www.lumigrow.com.

LumiGrow is a registered trademark of LumiGrow, Inc.

 Rambridge Wholesale Supply — 2011 Carnival Appreciation Nights (Laval, Nanaimo & Surrey)         

In the current issue of our French language magazine Le Jardinier d’intérieur (www.issuu.com/magazine_jardinier_d_interieur/docs/novembre-decembre2011), we publish a very lively review of the Fall Rambridge event that took place in Laval a few weeks ago.

Our review of the Rambridge BC events in Nanaimo and Surrey will be featured in our Jan/Feb 2012 issue. Don’t miss it!
 
                                      

                                        

 Hydrotimes, Laval (Qc), Announces Their Fall Warehouse Sale!

By Brian Demers

At Hydrotimes, 1533 Cure-Labelle, Laval (Qc), you'll find everything for your garden! Everything must go!

Tel: 450-688-4848

Fax: 450-688-5261

BALLAST (LUMATEK)            50% off

    400 w

    600w

    1000w                                    

BALLAST                              See our store

    Naked Universal 1000W

    White Box 1000W                                                                 

TURBO CLONE                     75% off           

    44                                           

    96                                                       

    144

ROCKWOOL/COCO              See our store                           

       Mix Box                                                                                                                                  

AIRBOX                                50% off           

    1                                                                                                                                

    2                                                                                                                                 

    3
    4

Refill                                     50% off                                   

TRIMMER                              30% off                                  

    HEDGE HOG                                                                                                 

    AUTOMATIC                                                                                    

    PRO CUT MOTOR                                                                                       
    P2X                                                                                                                

    PRO CUT MANUAL                                                                         

    ELECTRIC SCISSOR                                                

FAN/BLOWER                       25% off

    G-10                                       

LIGHTS                                40% off

    SUNMASTER

    HORTILUX CONVERSION

    HORTI/BLUE

FERTILIZER                         up to 75% off

HERB SCIENCE                   75% off

    1 Litre

    4 Litres

    10 Litres

HEAVY HARVEST                50% off

    10 Kilos

    20 Kilos

BIG BUD                            25% off

    130 Gr

    500 Gr

B-CUZZ                              75% off           

    350 ml

    Root – 1 Litre

    Root - 4 Litres

    Grow – 1 Litre

    Grow – 4 Litres

    Bloom – 1 Litre

    Bloom - 4 Litres

GREEN UP                         25% off

1 litre                                       

4 litres                                     

JACKS /PETERS

    11kg                            25% off

EARTH JUICE FOOD          75% off

JURASSIC                        25% off                       

CAL MAG

    500G

    1 KILO

    5 KILOS

    10 KILOS

CARBO BOOST                                                                                

     500G

     1 KILO

     5 KILOS

     10 KILOS                                                                  

GROW

     500G                                                                                      

     1 KILO                                                                                   

     5 KILOS

     10 KILOS

BLOOM

     500G  

     1 KILO

     5 KILOS

     10 KILOS

FLOOD TABLE                  50% off                                   

    4X4 GH

    4X4 BC

    4X8 BC

TRAY INSERT                   75% off

    Propagation

    B’cuzz rockwool         

    Prop Organic

ECOSYSTEM                    85% off

    System

CANNA                            25% off

    25% off on price tags   

CANNA AQUA/SUBSTRA   50% off

    50% off on price tags

POLLINATOR                   up to 75% off

    Medium

    Large

    Aluminum

REFLECTOR                     25% off

    8” AIR COOLED

ODOR SOK “filter”           75% off           

    4”

    6”

    8”

    10”

CHARCOAL FILTER         75% off           

    4”

    6”

    8”

    10”      

BUBBLATOR MACH.        75% off           

    Machine

XTRAT. BAGS 3/Bag      50% off

    Gold Digger

        1-Gallon

        5-Gallon

        14-Gallon

GREEN AIR PROD.        85% off           

UP TO 75% DISCOUNT on other products and used equipment!

    “WING” REFLECTOR                                                                 

    1000W BALLAST                                                     

    Etc.     

1533, Cure-Labelle, Laval, Qc, H7V 2W4, Canada

Tel: 450-688-4848
Fax: 450-688-5261

 Introducing Hazel Aquariums

By Mr. Jing (www.hazeltech.net)

       

We would like to introduce our company and products. We are a factory specialized in the manufacture and export of mirage wall aquarium. Here are our product specifications:

1. Fully automated ‘phantom’ technology;
2. Programmable automatic stock feeder;
3. Adjustable light timing device;
4. Automatic water purification system;
5. Ambient and tank temperature indicator.
6. Thermostatic water temperature control;
7. Automatic oxygen level adjustment;
8. Electric carbon dioxide generator;
9. Perpetual calendar with time and alarm;
10. Low food and low oxygen alarm signal.

www.hazeltech.net

 Phototron Holdings, Inc. Launches New T5 PHOTOTRON Hydroponic Grow System

Indoor Unit Grows Crops Faster, Uses Less Energy, and Automates Process of Hydroponic Gardening

By Business Wire (www.businesswire.com/news/home)

Phototron Holdings, Inc., the designer, manufacturer and seller of the innovative PHOTOTRON Hydroponic Indoor Grow System, recently announced that it has released its newly designed T5 PHOTOTRON Grow System.

"Our new PHOTOTRON T5 offers more benefits to the home grower. We’ve replaced the standard fluorescent bulbs with higher output and more energy efficient T5 lights,” said Craig Ellins, Phototron Holdings, Inc.’s Chairman of the Board. “It contains six high-output, T5 bulbs and has a carbon filter to remove organic odors. Our T5 model comes with or without our built-in proprietary ECO-Brain, featuring automated lighting, and sensors to detect water level and monitor temperature.”

Traditional hydroponic growing requires gardeners to assemble tents, buckets, pumps, water chillers, fans, hoses, and reservoirs. These custom built systems do not come with an instruction manual, and cost upwards of $5,000 or more. The PHOTOTRON T5, on the other hand, is a turnkey, highly automated agricultural growing unit which only requires users to plug it in, plant their seeds, and add water and nutrients. The entire setup process takes less than one hour. In addition to being a superior growing chamber for fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs, the PHOTOTRON T5 is also well suited for licensed growers of medicinal cannabis.

Mr. Ellins continued, “Growing in the PHOTOTRON T5 offers hydroponic gardeners a very cost-effective and desirable grow solution. Standing just 4.5 feet tall and 2 feet in diameter it requires far less space than typical hydroponic gardens. Phototron’s grow units offer the perfect growing solution for people who live in condos and apartments.”

Phototron is capitalizing on the rapidly increasing demand for safe, organic produce and alternative medicine. The company is committed to further establishing itself as a leader in the sale of indoor mini-greenhouses and will continue to develop its proprietary technology and nutrients while expanding its global reach through a series of organic growth opportunities and marketing advancements.

                   

About Phototron Holdings, Inc.

Phototron Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: PHOT) designs and manufactures cutting-edge indoor mini-greenhouses capable of growing herbs, vegetables, flowers, fruits and terrestrial plants stronger and faster than traditional farming methods. The PHOTOTRON Hydroponic Indoor Grow System is the result of decades of research into the precise temperature, light, water and nutrient needs of plants, and allows for indoor gardening 12 months of the year. The PHOTOTRON System uses proprietary lighting that mimics the sun's rays to grow nutrient-rich, pesticide-free, eco-friendly crops faster and in more bountiful quantities than those of traditional gardening methods, resulting in fruits and vegetables of superior taste and quality. PHOTOTRON systems and accessories are available for purchase from the Company’s MLM network marketing affiliates. Phototron supports the sale and use of its products to the home medical marijuana market where compliant with applicable laws. Phototron also supplies a full range of parts, accessories, advanced nutrients and innovative gardening tools and supplies to more than 50,000 customers. For more information, please visit: www.phototron.com and click on Phototron Holdings, Inc.

T

Growers Boost Yields and Cut Lighting Costs by Half
By George Chan (www.lumigrow.com)

LumiGrow, Inc, the leading provider of smart horticultural lighting, today announced the launch of the LumiBar™ solution. The LED-based LumiBar system delivers the optimal spectrum and light level for multilayer crop production without the high energy demand and uneven light quality inherent to conventional fixtures. LumiBar customers boost crop yields, reduce costs and gain productivity.  Applications for the LumiBar solution include seedling production and agricultural research. The LumiBar solution is ideal for use in controlled environments including climate cabinets, growth chambers and production units.

The LumiBar system provides numerous advantages to growers, researchers and facility managers. The solution provides 50 percent more photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) per Watt and consumes as little as half the energy required by the fluorescent and incandescent fixtures it replaces. Fluorescent and incandescent lamps are based on technology intended for general illumination, not plant growth. In emitting portions of the color spectrum that plants can’t use, these lights consume far more power than necessary. The LumiBar system also operates at lower temperatures, minimizing environmental cooling requirements.

The LumiBar solution eliminates the light quality degradation issues posed by fluorescent and incandescent fixtures. Degradation is of concern to scientists because it presents an uncontrolled variable that potentially compromises research. By contrast, the LumiBar solution provides constant and uniform lighting for more than 50,000 hours, eliminating the need for frequent bulb replacement.

The LumiBar system delivers precise lighting control. Users may apply default settings or tune the LumiBar system to their preferred light intensity and color ratio for every stage of crop growth. A white light setting enables growers to assess crop characteristics.

Additional key features of the LumiBar solution include:

·  Tunable PAR-centric (400 to 700nm) color ratio;

·  Far Red 740nm LEDs (option);

·  Fully adjustable intensity;

·  Uniform coverage area of 48” x 18” when mounted 12” - 16” above plants;

·  0 - 200 micromoles at 12” above plants (fully adjustable);

·  175 Watts;

·  Efficient LumiGrow PowerDrive™ LED controllers;

·  All-in-one simplicity;

·  RoHS compliant;

·  LumiGrow Customer Support;

·  Energy efficiency rebate eligible.

“We’re committed to growing produce sustainably, from both environmental and financial perspectives,” said Gail Robin, general manager, Golden Point Organic Produce. Ms. Robin continued, “LumiGrow fits our strategy because it improves our yields and our margins. We’ll see 50 percent energy savings compared to T5 fixtures. LumiBar will pay back our investment in 17 months.”

“Our customers in academia and industry require superior lighting solutions that free them from frequent light bulb replacement and high electrical bills,” said LumiGrow CEO Kevin Wells. He added, “We’re pleased to bring the advantages of LumiGrow lighting to multilayer applications.”

 New from Sunleaves

                                                 

Keep Heavy-Duty Odors at Bay with Sunleaves DuraFilter

Keep the air in your indoor garden clean and fresh with Sunleaves DuraFilters. Available in 4”, 6”, and 8” diameters with the 6” and 8” also available in both regular and tall sizes, each filter contains a 2.5” pelletized carbon bed within a zinc-anodized steel housing. A pre-filter is also included, and all filters come with flanges attached. Each DuraFilter carries a one year warranty, and has about a 12 month life span.

Sunleaves Micro-Sun Great for Small Spaces

Gardeners looking for a compact lighting option for their indoor spaces will love the Sunleaves Micro-Sun! This reflector measures 20.25" x 13" x 7" and features a 120V/60Hz operation powered by a digital, non-dimming ballast (max wattage of 150W, 250W or 400W, depending on the Micro-Sun model). Both HPS and MH lamps are powered by the Micro-Sun, and light is reflected onto plants with a premium European specular aluminum insert. Other convenient features include a back-lit on/off switch, a glass lens, 4" vent flange incorporated on top, horizontal lamp orientation, the added safety of a built-in breaker, and an 8’ power cord. The Sunleaves Micro-Sun also includes a 5-year warranty.

New Sunleaves Ballast Makes Indoor Gardening Simple

Looking for an economical ballast to power your indoor garden space? The Sunleaves Simple Ballast is the solution! This 1000W magnetic two-way ballast powers HPS and MH HID lamps with either 120V or 240V operation. A 120V power cord is included, and the ballast features a one year warranty. It measures 14”L x 4.25"W x 6.5" H, and is sure to get your garden growing with less fuss!

Get Your Plants Moving with Heavy-Duty Dollies

Move large pots, heaters and water reservoirs with ease with Plant Dollies. Each dolly is durable and features wheels with steel ball bearing casters for smooth transport. The 12" has four wheels and can hold up to 200 pounds; 16" has five wheels and can hold up to 250 pounds; 24" has six wheels and can hold up to 500 pounds; and the rectangular 16" x 11" has six wheels and can hold up to 200 pounds. Look for it at your favorite hydroponic retailer today!

ScareCrow Some Fear into Outdoor Garden Pests

Keep pesky animals out of your prized gardens and flower beds without the use of harmful chemicals with the ScareCrow Sprinkler. Deer, raccoons, unwanted dogs and other animals are blasted with a short burst of water when they come within the 1,300 square feet the ScareCrow Sprinkler covers and are scared away because of the sudden noise and movement. Just connect it to a garden hose and position it so your desired coverage area is within its 105-degree sensor radius. The animals learn to avoid that area in the future, and the long lasting nine-volt battery (up to six months) makes sure to keep them at bay day and night. The ScareCrow uses only two to three cups of water per deterrence, and can be linked to other ScareCrow systems to create an effective and large water barrier. Find it at your local gardening supplier today!

Natural Grass with Frass

Get sassy with your plants and give them the vital nutrients they need with Insect Frass. This 100% natural fertilizer is pure insect frass, or waste product, and is low in sodium and chloride. It’s water soluble and great for all stages of plant growth. Use in a variety of ways, including as a hydroponic additive, a compost tea extra, as a foliar spray, a pre-mix for soil or potted plants, on row crops and raised beds, or as a root drench. Find it at your local hydroponic retailer today!

 Amateur’s Corner

Why turn to hydroponic cultivation? – Part 3

By Loup-Claude Leblanc (with Bob Ramirez’s collaboration)

Once again, I would like to analyze the reasons behind hydroponic cultivation. Theory, advantages, comparison, environment... Okay, I will let theorists theorize. I will rather focus on the three latter elements. They are always the points to explore in order to convince the most stubborn gardeners (mind you, if you are perusing this website, your interest has likely been sparked already.)

A garden with no improper soil

Among the many reasons to use the very efficient system that is hydroponic cultivation, or soil-less cultivation, the most important seems to be the opportunity to cultivate without any consideration given to the fertility of a plot, a substrate, or an amendment. Indeed we no longer need to use soil, which is quite an advantage for those whose soil is too rich or too poor. Hydroponic cultivation is the solution to all problems linked to soil that is improper for agriculture. All treatments and interventions are performed directly on the plant, which fosters an optimal control over plant growth. Soil-less cultivation carries the advantage of avoiding contact with soil when some elements it contains would be unfavorable to the plant. As such, this horticultural method minimizes the risk of an attack on the roots by pathogenic agents.

Many people wonder: “why hydroponics?” As a promoter of soilless cultivation systems—whether they use hydroponics, aeroponics or ultraponics—I advocate the use of a wide variety of options, from a simple system for beginners and hobbyists to customized systems for professionals. It has been recognized that medicinal plants, vegetables, fruit, etc., that are grown using hydroponics contained twice as many active ingredients as the same plants grown traditionally. The interest of producers is thus easy to explain. With hydroponics, you can grow most flowering plants, vegetables (local or exotic), all kinds of fruit and trees, indoors, in a greenhouse or outdoors, in any season and at a low cost. Since hydroponic techniques save on water, you can control the use of fertilizers, get vigorous plants and exceptional yields, all for a high quality final product.

A garden that lives all year long

Among the other reasons to use hydroponic principles is the opportunity to garden all year long. Seasons do not matter indoors, and that makes your work easier. Indeed a hydroponic garden requires less work than the maintenance of a classic garden. You no longer need to manipulate soil, and more soil. You no longer have dirty hands, dirty clothes or a dirty home. Hydroponics is clean. It also does not require you to carry heavy loads. Since systems are built with humans in mind, you no longer need to bend over to work for hours. Your garden can quickly become independent: you can use timers to trigger lighting, water pumps and all kinds of electrical tools that will do the work, or at least control it, in your place. You become the supervisor for all this sophisticated and reliable equipment. These advantages provide us with the joy of having a garden all year long. Indoors, in any season, you can grow fruit, fine herbs, vegetables, small trees and shrubs, exotic plants, cacti, succulents, orchids, rare plants, collections of horticultural rarities, cuttings, mother plants—anything you want, without a single worry regarding the weather, and without watching the weather channel! Artificial lighting advantageously reproduces the seasonal cycle.

       Exotic plants                                        Cactus and crop leafs                                       Eugenia myrtifolia

A garden that is alive, reactive and healthy

It has been proven that plants in a hydroponic or aeroponic system grow 20 to 75% faster than in soil and that, as a result, their yields are two to five times higher than in soil. What's more, the lack of soil means fewer parasite and pathogen infestations, fewer diseases and fewer insects. Hydroponic gardening is healthy, because most of the products designed for hydroponics are natural. Nutrients like EcoFlor (or Terra Acquatica 3-1-6) are complete organic biological nutrients. With this type of product, you use a single biological nutrient for all your indoor and outdoor plants. Thanks to this type of environmentally friendly products, you obtain a unique solution to fertilize the soil and feed your plans. A hydroponic product such as EcoFlor contains, among others, nettle-based liquid manure, liquid worm-casting compost, bat-guano extracts and untreated wood ashes. In hydroponics or aeroponics, your plants’ health and vigour also largely depend on the alkaline or acid nature of your nutritive solution, because this nature determines the release of the fertilizing elements contained within the substrate. If the substrate is too acidic or too alkaline, these elements can be trapped inside insoluble components—and can even become toxic. Your hydroponic garden’s reactivity will thus also depend on your ability to manage the pH within your cultivation system.

A garden that is “bioponic”, or “fertigation”

Thanks for hydroponics, the indoor gardener can discover “bioponics”, or the “liquid soil” concept. General Hydroponics, for example, is dedicated to ensure the satisfaction of indoor gardeners. With over 35 years of research and experience in the field, it offers one of the best mineral nutrients in the world: Flora Series. I also suggest you try two other complete hydroponic nutrients, both manufacture following of the “bioponics” concept: EcoFlor and BioSevia from GHE. They are declined as a whole line of organic biological nutrients, are manufactured in France and can be used for biological agriculture (according to French regulation 2092/91). But they are complete, unique nutrient formulas, that can be used in soil, hydroponics and “fertigation” (as a complement to Bioponic Mix, a micro-organism mixture offered by GHE). Fertigation, according to phosphate-chemistry Belgian industrial group www.prayon.com, is defined as: “By opposition to field-wide fertilizers, that are often offered as granules and applied as is to the soil, fertigation consists of providing the plant with the necessary nutritive substances, in a dissolved form, in the “irrigation” water, in the widest sense of the term. This water input can be obtained in various ways: pierced ducts, sprayers, drip-irrigation system…” In fact, it is the very principle of “bioponics” or “liquid soil” that justifies this type of culture.

A garden that can be “cleaned”

Since no soil is used in hydroponics and aeroponics, other “supports” are used, such as clay pellets. These can be recycled and reused, but they require some maintenance. “Why not wash clay pellets in the dishwasher?”, I was asked one day by an indoor gardener on a hydroponic gardening discussion forum : “I love hydroponics, but the only thing I don't like is, of course, cleaning the clay pellets between two crops. It hurts my knees, my back and my bathtub! I would say it takes away some of the joy I get from hydroponics! I was even told that mold on the pellets was not a problem. They can be rinsed in clear water, but that is also long and annoying. So in the end, I wondered (after a tiring cleaning): why not put the clay pellets and a large basket, type we use for utensils, and then in the dishwasher—washing with very hot water and no product, of course! After that, they would need some buffering, and be ready. The idea doesn't sound half bad to me, but I would like to have your opinion on the matter”. His idea wouldn’t leave my head, and many solutions started to germinate. After all, the dishwasher is only one, two or three rotating arms with sprinklers that release very hot water on the dishes without ever filling the machine... so the pellets should stay in place if they are maintained. I thought of placing the pellets in this container because it is covered in tiny holes.

                        Material required for clay pellets in the dishwasher (a pierced tray and a net for oranges or onions).

If I covered it with cheesecloth on top, or wrapped them in the kind of net that is used for oranges or onions, and placed it all at the bottom of the machine, I think my lazy gardener could do it. And if he put his clay pellets in a tight-enough net and covered it with an extremely tight net, it would create an insulating effect, and perhaps his dishwasher would suffer less. Unfortunately, stopping by the bathtub is unavoidable, to take the worst off first... because the problem with what this hobbyist is explaining is that small residue (roots, etc.) will not be evacuated, even with my blue pierced bucket idea (which might not be that great after all), and those can cause irreparable damage to the dishwasher. Revising my proposal, I think it would be best to use the net for oranges or onions around the internal basket of a salad spinner, or the dishwasher's utensil basket filled halfway.

I gave it a try. After disassembling and inspecting the machines filters, I realized that if the clay pellets stay in place during this cycle, all dirt and residue will be stopped by the variously configured filters (up to the very, very fine filter at the bottom of the appliance), can the machine bears absolutely no risk. Simply rinse the machines filters well when you're done. The only question I need answered before I attempt the experiment again in is whether I should add salt during the wash. I usually use 5-in-1 tablets.  I believe salt would allow for an improved ionization of water, which would help to repel fatty substances, but I do not know if it is required for the dishwasher to function well. In a hydroponic system, you can easily use 25 liters of clay pellets—that’s a lot of stuff to wash at the end of a cultivation cycle! If you decide to try the dishwasher, you must first think to protect the machine by containing the pellets. If they start flying inside the dishwasher while it is in use, damage will occur for sure!

A garden that is pleasant

At the risk of repeating myself, hydroponic gardening should not be a chore, but rather a fun hobby. Ways to make your life easier do not necessarily include extreme experiences, such as washing pellets in the dishwasher. I touched upon it because the question had been asked of me, but I still believe that manual rinsing is safer. It is also a matter of water usage. I understand the gardener who asked the question: my dishwasher only uses 18 liters of water per cycle, and it would make me feel better if I could use it for my clay pellets. Washing them in the bathtub, I use approximately 50 to 60 liters of water—perhaps even more! And I cannot wash them at 65, 70 or 75°C. As for the regenerating salt ($1.50 for 4 kg), I have done some research. It works just like the softener integrated to all dishwashers to remove lime and other mineral deposits found in tap water. So it's good, and I would use it to clean my pellets. I do not know, however, whether bleach is recommended in the dishwasher. But in my opinion, if it works, this lazy gardener will be copied!

                                                            
                                                                            IGS system by Growth Technology

For the joy of gardening, and since washing his clay pellets annoys him so, I would advise my gardener to switch to substrate-free aeroponics using neoprene discs. American Agritech (www.americanagritech.com) offers very good aeroponic systems designed for this purpose. Of course, aeroponics is quite a step, but so is NFT (nutrient-film technique), for example with a small “homemade” IGS (Indoor Growing System) system (www.hydroponics.co.uk/Hydroponic-Systems/Drip-Irrigation-Systems/IGS-Indoor-Growing-System). It would be perfect, if it wasn't for this “lead pellet washing” mission. I suggest buying Gurney’s (http://gurneys.com) Mini Grow to make cuttings one at a time, since there is not space for more in the system. Using it, you only have 10 litres of clay pellets to clean. To close the subject, I will add two reactions from forum readers with regards to this clay pellet discussion: “I clean my clay pellets just like I washed the gravel for my old terrarium, using a well-closed net (like the one for oranges on your picture—what matters is finding the proper hole size) with the gravel inside and placed on a few large stones, using a spray. I add a tiny bit of vinegar or a few drops of oxygenated water, because I think it helps...” And another gardener who seems to have a large garden: “I thought of something else. My garden contains a pond, and I use these clay pellets in one part of my filter. I can clean them with a high-pressure spray by plugging it into my hot water tap, placing the pellets in a tight 25-liter net, holding the bag over the pond’s filter. It works very well to remove the dirt!”

An effort-less garden... does not exist

To conclude, you must know that any gardening endeavor requires a minimum of effort. Weather in soil, hydroponics, aeroponics, even if controllers take over part of the work, nothing can replace the human eye and the human hand to observe, feel, gauged the foliage’s firmness, the plant's coloring, the progress of flowering or fruit production. Hydroponics and aeroponics are good, environmentally friendly and advantageous. But what sets each gardener apart is the little plus you bring to your garden. Personal care is even better! Believe me: try it!

* The first parts of this article are available below (see our September and October sections).

 Hydrotimes Is Proud to Present Its Herb Science “Acme Series” Product Line

Herb Science is the brand of hydroponic store Hydro-Times, based in Laval, Québec. This product line covers the entire lifecycle of your plants, from rooting to fruit or vegetable ripening, including growth and flowering. These products are manufactured in Canada by a company that now has over 20 years of experience in the world of hydroponic gardening. These products have been specifically designed for your favourite plants. The application recipe is extremely easy to follow. Seven products form a recipe for success. Use them, and be the envy of countless indoor gardeners!

• Herb Science “Acme Series” Growth and Flowering Three-part Fertilizers

This three-part mixture of nutritive elements is easy to use. It is composed of a growth product (Acme Grow 2-2-5), a flowering product (Acme Bloom 1-4-4), and an all-in-one micro-base formula (Acme Micro 4-0-2), to be used throughout the lifecycle of a plant grown for its production of fruits or vegetables. These products are made using high-quality ingredients; they contain fulvic acid for an improved absorption of nutritive elements, and their pH has been adjusted so as not to impact the nutritive solution’s acidity or alkalinity.

• Two-part Nutritive Elements

The 2-Part Food comprises two products for growth (G1: 5-0-2 and G2: 1-5-8) and two for flowering (F1: 6-0-3 and F2: 1-4-8). This mixture is particularly designed for each stage of a plant’s life, and specifically for the crucial steps of growth and flowering. See growth and flowering formulas of 2-Part Food are manufactured in a way that preserves an adjusted pH, which won’t have an impact on the nutritive solution’s integrity.

• Miracle Thrive B1

This is a vitamin B concentrate. Its high-quality formula contains auxins, cytokinins, as well as other hormones. Miracle Thrive B1 reinforces a plant’s immune system, allowing it to better resist stress, pathogenic insects and fungal diseases. This product also stimulates and accelerates growth and flowering.

• Mag-I-Cal

Mag-I-Cal is a nutritive supplement containing magnesium, iron and calcium. It prevents overdoses from fertilizers. It’s a basic element, giving you greener and more luxuriant plants with proper chlorophyll content and a strong stem.

• Other products in the Herb Science brand are XL Blood 0-40-25, XL Bud 0-50-30, and Bat Guano 0-2-0

Distributors welcomed, please contact Jeff at 1 450 688-4848, or 1 800 327-4367 to place your order.

 LumiGrow Closes Series A Funding from Clean Pacific Ventures

LED Horticultural Lighting Technology Leader to Accelerate Market Expansion
By George Chan (www.LumiGrow.com)

LumiGrow, Inc. (www.LumiGrow.com) announced today that it has received an undisclosed sum in Series A financing from Clean Pacific Ventures, a leading venture capital fund with a specialization in clean technology companies related to energy, water, agriculture and materials. The financing will accelerate the market expansion of energy-efficient LumiGrow^® lighting solutions for commercial agriculture and horticultural research. Clean Pacific Ventures’ General Partner and Chief Investment Officer Sean Schickedanz will join LumiGrow’s Board of Directors.

                                       

                                                  LumiGrow Solutions Illuminating Commercially Grown Basil

“Agriculture hasn’t seen a breakthrough this exciting in decades,” said Mr. Schickedanz. He explained, “More and more of our crops are grown in illuminated greenhouses, yet legacy lighting technologies frequently cost more to operate than they contribute to the bottom line in yield gains. Growers are moving quickly to replace these inefficient lighting fixtures with LumiGrow solutions to improve yield and cut electrical expenses. It’s because of this no-compromise value proposition that LumiGrow is rapidly emerging as the clear leader in a market segment on the brink of exponential growth.”

“LumiGrow technology is a giant and irrevocable leap forward for horticultural lighting, and this investment from Clean Pacific Ventures allows us to bring our solutions to new customers faster,” said LumiGrow CEO Kevin Wells. He added, “We’re thrilled to welcome Mr. Schickedanz to our board. His expertise in guiding clean technology companies to rapid and sustainable growth makes him a tremendous asset to the LumiGrow team.”

Common industry practice among greenhouse growers is to supplement sunlight with high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting to boost crop growth and extend growing seasons. But traditional lighting fixtures were designed for general illumination. Most of the light they produce is unusable for photosynthesis; the rest is energy waste. Greenhouse growers are often the leading energy users in their local utility service areas.

LumiGrow LED lighting systems consume 50 percent less energy than the outmoded lighting fixtures they replace because they emit only the color spectrum essential for photosynthesis and healthy plant growth. Energy bill savings, utility subsidies and financing options frequently make a LumiGrow installation a cash-positive or cash-neutral investment that provides substantial savings, year after year.

About LumiGrow, Inc.
LumiGrow, Inc., the leading provider of high-efficiency LED lighting solutions for horticulture, enables commercial growers and agribusinesses to achieve operational efficiencies, reduce energy consumption and improve crop yield. LumiGrow offers a range of third-party proven solutions for use in greenhouses, indoor farms and scientific research chambers. LumiGrow solutions are eligible for energy efficiency subsidies from Pacific Gas & Electric, Puget Sound Energy and other utilities. The Company’s 500 commercial and institutional customers include Dow AgroSciences, Duke University and the USDA. Headquartered on Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay, LumiGrow is privately owned and operated. For more information, call (800) 514-0487 or visit www.lumigrow.com.

About Clean Pacific Ventures
Clean Pacific Ventures is a venture capital fund that invests in promising early stage clean technology companies. Clean Pacific focuses primarily on clean technologies related to energy, water, carbon reduction, agriculture and materials. In addition to LumiGrow, the portfolio includes Carbonflow, Clean Power Finance, HydroNovation, Marrone Bio Innovations and SunLink. For more information, visit www.cleanpacific.com.

 Growshop Profile

B & S Électrique, Inc.: Everything under One Roof!

Since 1996, B & S Électrique has been located in an immense former warehouse on Pitt Street, in Montreal. Simply getting in is a trip in itself, but going down the staircase to the basement store starts a real adventure in a kind of Ali-Baba’s cavern with innumerable treasures. Indeed, piled from floor to ceiling along several alleys are thousands of pieces of electrical equipment for every imaginable use, from indoor gardening to movie making, home heating and decorating or any other project you may have in mind.       

Indeed, the B & S Électrique store offers everything under one roof, so you can make all your purchases for hydroponics in one single store! Visit its 4,645 square meters of electricity and green spaces—you’re sure to find everything you need, and more. You’ll find an incomparable selection of new and used electric equipment, both for sale and rental: relays, switches, ventilators, transformers (5 kV to 225 kVA), wiring (18-500 MCM), panels (up to 600 V), power switches (250 and 600 V), heaters (5 and 30 KW), and breakers (15 to 1,200 A), Etc.

You’ll also find everything you need for indoor gardening: ballasts, bulbs and lighting equipment, lamps, reflectors, carbon filters, various hydroponic systems, ozone controllers, fans, timers, and—of course—an entire range of various fertilizers, starting with Advanced Nutrients products, since B & S Électrique is one of the manufacturer’s authorized Canadian retailers.

> 2240 Pitt Street, Montréal, QC, H4E 4H1, Canada.

Phone: 1-877-931-3817 or 514-931-3817 – Fax: 514-933-4865,

Note: If you would like to submit a candidate for our Growshop profiles, in the U.S. or in Canada, please e-mail the details to: submit@tigmag.com. Our future issues will feature more profiles of the best growshops in North America!

 New Addition to Grodan^®’s North America Retail Team

Ryan Halvorsen joins Grodan’s elite North American Retail Team, starting August 15. He holds an MBA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oregon. His logistical training during his six years in the Navy as a Supply Officer helped provide a sturdy foundation to catapult his education and later his career. 

In his spare time Halvorsen volunteers with A.C.O.R.E. (American Counsel on Renewable Energy), and is a current member of the US Navy Supply Corps Association. Part of his responsibilities with Grodan will involve visiting and supporting Grodan stores on the West Coast.  His superb business qualifications, logistical experience, and passion for gardening compounded by his charmingly quirky personality embody an excellent fit for the Grodan team.

Finding Halvorsen among hundreds of other applicants was a most difficult process, but definitely worth the effort.  Please join us in our enthusiasm in welcoming Ryan Halvorsen to the industry. 

For additional information on Grodan, visit www.grodan101.com.  

About Grodan:

Grodan has been manufacturing hydroponic products since 1969, and leads the industry in first-class horticultural stonewool. By consistently producing quality goods and providing professional product support, Grodan’s excellent reputation has steadily evolved. Grodan’s continued efforts to respect the earth while maintaining the highest quality standards will perpetuate their leadership role into the future of the hydroponic industry.  

 Hydro One Relocates to St. Thomas, ON

By Robert Wheeler & Daniele Gauvin

The St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce both the relocation and expansion of Hydro One Networks Inc. (Hydro One) into two separate buildings in the City of St. Thomas, ON. Hydro One has purchased a 21,300 square foot building at 320 South Edgeware Road and a 20,000 square foot facility at 425 South Edgeware Road.

At the 5-acre 320 South Edgeware Road location, Hydro One will employ approximately 12 mechanics to service some of the over 7,500 vehicles that the company uses in Ontario. Hydro One will be moving into this building in the early fall of 2011. Prior to Hydro One’s acquisition of this property, it was used as a pre-delivery inspection facility as part of the former Sterling Truck Assembly operation.

At the 425 South Edgeware Road location, Hydro One will employ 25-30 Transmission Line Maintainers and will service an area that ranges from Niagara Falls in the east to Windsor in the west and midway to Owen Sound in the north. The investment in this facility will include an addition of over 4,000 square feet on the 20-acre site. In addition to the employment mentioned above, there will also be a number of administrative and support staff in each of the facilities. This property was previously used by Active Transport and was also part of the former Sterling Truck Assembly operation. St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation President Dennis Broome was excited by the news and remarked that “these are high-quality jobs in a very solid sector. This announcement should serve as an example that St. Thomas is moving forward and well positioned to support companies of any size from a variety of sectors”.

Hydro One selected the St. Thomas sites based on the central location in South-western Ontario, the easy access to Highway 401, the strong employment base, the availability of suitable facilities and the reasonable cost of doing business in the City. Both of these investments are relocations from Hydro One-owned and leased sites in the City of London, Ontario. The proximity to the company’s previous sites will allow many of those currently employed in London to continue working for Hydro One in St. Thomas. St. Thomas Mayor Heather Jackson-Chapman welcomed the announcement and stated: “We are proud to be associated with a true leader in its field and a company that is dedicated to making the right environmentally and socially responsible choices in every facet of their business”.

Hydro One is the largest electricity transmission and distribution company in Ontario and owns and operates approximately 96% of Ontario’s transmission capacity. Including all of their subsidiaries, the company operates with over 5,700 full-time employees and over 2,000 part-time and contract employees.

Although the Hydro One brand is just over a decade old, the company itself dates back over 100 years and continues to grow today as one of Ontario’s best corporate citizens and top employers.

For further information, please contact:

Robert Wheeler

General Manager

St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation

Telephone: (519) 631‐1680 Ext. 4132

Email: rwheeler@st‐thomasedc.on.ca,,

www.st‐thomasedc.on.ca.

Daniele Gauvin

Senior Media Relations Officer

Hydro One Networks Inc.

Telephone: (416) 345‐6868

Email: daniele.gauvin@hydroone.com.

www.HydroOne.com.

 "Green" your Garden by Recycling Rain with RainPerfect™
New solar-powered pump provides eco-friendly, affordable solution

By Jeanne Wallace and Rachel Greenstein

With abundant snowfall throughout most of the United States this winter season, now is the best time to "think spring" by planning for a greener garden. In addition to garden design and new plantings, this year is the perfect time to consider ways to "green" your garden through increased environmental efforts. One way to make a big impact is to recycle your rain and turn to the sun. With the new solar-powered RainPerfect™ pump system from Rule^® the reality of greening your garden just got easier. The solar RainPerfect pump made its debut in January 2011 and is now available to consumers nationwide for the first time.

RainPerfect offers an easy way to be twice as green by using a solar-powered rain barrel pump to gather "off grid" water.

RainPerfect's features include:

·  A rechargeable NiMH battery, powered by the included solar panel;

·  Easy and quick top-mount installation, adaptable to most rain barrel styles;

·  Standardized garden fixturing, ensuring compatibility with all major hose brands;

·  Pumping up to 100 gallons on a single charge, emptying most standard barrels.
 

"Planning new designs for an existing garden or starting a brand new one is inspiring and fun, individually or for a whole family, especially during the winter doldrums," said Gina Arnone, Marketing Manager, Innovation Lab, at ITT Flow Control. "This year, we're encouraging people to try one new ‘green’ initiative for their garden by focusing on water conservation. One of the best alternatives to traditional watering is recycling rain; and, the RainPerfect pump system makes this goal easy and affordable."

A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need to water plants or wash a car. Rain barrels provide an ample supply of free "soft water" containing no chlorine, lime, or calcium making them ideal for gardens, flowers, or potted plants. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a rain barrel can potentially save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months.

Increasingly, these ecologically minded efforts are being rewarded. With many states mandating rainwater usage, RainPerfect comes at the ideal time. In fact, your RainPerfect pump and rain barrel purchase may qualify you to receive a rebate from your local service utility company or government. Rebate amounts and qualifications vary by utility company or government and not all may qualify for a rebate. Please contact your local utility company or government for instructions on how to redeem rebates.

RainPerfect is available online and through select retailers nationwide. RainPerfect retails for approximately $139.00 (MSRP). Visit www.rainperfectpump.com for more information.

About RainPerfect™
RainPerfect™ is a solar-powered pump for use with rain barrels. The RainPerfect pump system uses water harvested in rain barrels by providing enough pressure for your garden hose spray nozzle and to run low-pressure sprinklers. It works with solar energy, which eliminates the need for an electrical outlet. RainPerfect is energy efficient and eco-friendly. For more information, visit www.rainperfectpump.com. RainPerfect was developed and produced by ITT Corporation's Flow Control division.

About ITT Flow Control
With an innovative history spanning over 65 years, Gloucester, Massachusetts based Flow Control is a leading producer of pumps, valves, membranes, and related products for the marine, beverage, general industrial, and developing region markets. The flow control portfolio includes the brands Alcon, Flojet, Jabsco, Midland-ACS, Rule, and PCI. For more information on ITT Flow Control and an archive of its press releases, please visit www.ittflowcontrol.com.

About ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation is a high-technology engineering and manufacturing company operating on all seven continents in three vital markets: water and fluids management, global defense and security, and motion and flow control. With a heritage of innovation, ITT partners with its customers to deliver extraordinary solutions that create more livable environments, provide protection and safety and connect our world. Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the company reported 2010 revenue of $11 billion. www.itt.com.

 Amateurs’ Corner

Hydroponic Cultivation: Advantages for All

By Loup-Claude Leblanc

A Passion to Arouse

Why turn to hydroponic cultivation? I would answer that there are many reasons. First, hydroponic cultivation is the most practiced indoor growing method. Although this technique is not the easiest for beginners, it nevertheless remains the formula offering the highest level of control for indoor plant cultivation. Second, many gardening magazine offer detailed articles, over and over, on indoor cultivation in soil, but few touch upon hydroponics. Unfortunately, they abandon a part of their readership who would be interested by such an activity, without exposing them to the possibility of an “ah-ha” moment, which could only occur with an increased awareness of the technology. It is never too late to correct the situation. Third, hydroponics can fit into practically any budget. Indeed the technique, with a large selection of systems, provides the grower with many options. Options offered go from the simple irrigation table with an air pump, a water pump, an irrigation tray and a reservoir, to the EcoSystem and the Omega garden in its carousel, to the most sophisticated rotating gardens.

Finally, hydroponic cultivation is the cleanest growing method. No more soil to mix and amend, no more refuse and dirt to get rid of, no more endless repotting as the plants grow. When a problem occurs, nutritive correction, pH or electrical conductivity adjustments can be done almost immediately. Hydroponics require perhaps more vigilance, but the gardener’s task is lightened, giving him or her more time to focus advantageously on the other aspects of gardening.

Teaching Comes First

My objective as a teacher of hydroponics has always been to demystify the alleged complexity of hydroponics and to help the reader distinguish between hydroponics, aeroponics and hybrid (aero/hydroponics) methods used by gardens such as General Hydroponics’s Aerofarm, which combines both techniques into a single system (see our volume 3, issue 2, pages 40-42). I am trying to help our readers make a better-informed decision. The systems most representative of those currently offered evolve and change quite rapidly, following often short-lived trends and non-stop innovations. Who still remembers the sophisticated hydroponic bucket with a root-pruning trap-door called “GroZilla”, developed by our friend Richard Billette (from San Rafael, California)? It had barely reached the market when it vanished... Yet it was an innovative and ingenious system (as proof, take a look at its patent, still found online on the Canadian Intellectual Property Office’s website [http://patents1.ic.gc.ca/details?patent_number=2455929]). That is how the market works, one system pushing another one out. The characteristics, advantages, disadvantages and retail cost of basic systems also vary greatly from one garden type to the next.

The improved design of the discontinued Grozilla apparatus (patent CA 2455929)

1. This apparatus for hydroponic cultivation is a bucket;

2. The growing chamber;

3. The nutrient solution reservoir;

4. The root prune window;

5. The root retaining mechanism.

Ideally, we would all go deeper and experiment in detail a few of these systems. Most of this magazine’s collaborators have what it takes to keep you informed of the latest technology and gadgets as well as of the evolution of techniques. Their role is to inform, to promote, to sensitize and to arouse the will and means to use the latest hydroponic techniques. The magazine’s community involvement progresses exponentially in time.

Techniques Adapted to Plant Well-Being

There are two main gardening techniques in a very humid environment. There is hydroponics, with all its variations, in which roots are submerged in a nutritive solution for a period varying in length according to the system used, and there is aeroponics, in which roots get moisture through a nozzle that releases the nutritive solution, also for a varying length of time. In aeroponics, nozzles can diffuse fine droplets or a mist of fine droplets. In the case of a mist, the droplets are microscopic and their diameter is under 0.1 micron, versus an average of 5 microns in standard aeroponic systems (hence the new term, seen more and more: “airoponics”). Water-based techniques generally lead to an increased yield, both quality and quantity-wise. Furthermore, some plant varieties only offer an optimal yield with water techniques. Others will thrive in soil, but most plants behave well with any technique. Other factors must of course be taken into account when choosing a technique. Some gardeners always prefer a soil-grown product and consider it less “artificial”. Almost all growing methods, however, be they aeroponics or hydroponics, can lead to quality vegetable and fruit if the nutrition, pruning and ripening methods have been adapted.

Among the advantages of water techniques, there are those already mentioned: no more need to eliminate and manipulate large quantities of soil, the ability to rinse with more ease and speed when intoxication occurs (and unfortunately, it does), to then apply corrective measures and see their effects almost immediately, the ability to control and evaluate what the plant absorbs (in parts per million, or ppm, thanks to devices such as pH-meters and conductivity meters), and the increased potential for root oxygenation.

Unfortunately, water techniques also have disadvantages. Disease can spread faster, at least inside the same system. Since plants are in contact with one another at the root mass level, contagion can spread quickly. Few water systems allow for large plants; most are focused on quantity rather than size, which is not a disadvantage in a context where the number of plants is unlimited. Water techniques can, however, offer the best of both worlds. The same technique can use the advantages of soil-based gardening and those of hydroponics or aeroponics.

Constant Innovations

Every day, the designers and researchers who work for nutritive element developers, research centres and laboratories work to modify, improve or create new systems that are easier to control and use and more and more automated. Their aim is to see plant diseases vanish little by little from more and more sophisticated systems. Most of these systems do not come cheap. Indeed, in the short term, the cost of most advanced systems is still prohibitive, but as the market develops they will progressively become more affordable. Of course, some manufacturers only think of the commercial aspects, as the goal of any business is to make a profit, but others take to heart their goal of improving and simplifying the indoor gardener’s life.

Developing products with that goal in mind changes the point of view and the orientation of research. The objective then becomes the ability to produce flowers, fruit or vegetables that will bring new meaning to the consumption of healthy and organic products with no toxic residue, and at a reasonable cost. Large equipment and nutrient manufacturers allow us to raise our readers' awareness, from them to answer their own questions more often and more precisely. We are a lab in the making.

And now, time to grow!

* Sources: “B&B Hydroponic Gardens: Bringing Hydroponics Gardening To You Since 1985”, by W. Sutherland, 44 pages, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, 2004 and http://patents1.ic.gc.ca/details?patent_number=2455929.

 Botanicare’s^® Is Proud To Announce:
By B. Busenbark (info@botanicare.net)

                                              

Strapped™:
Unsulfured Blackstrap Molasses
A Sweet™ Alternative for Soil Feeders

Give your plants a sticky treat with Botanicare’s newest carbohydrate addition––Strapped™. Made from unsulfured, black strap molasses, Strapped provides soil growers an alternative to the hydroponic additive Sweet™ during the final weeks of flowering. Large amounts of flower plumping nutrients fill the sticky molasses of Strapped and help to increase your crops’ harvest yields and essential oil production.
 
Unsulfured blackstrap molasses is made by extracting the juice of fully mature sugar cane and then evaporating it down to thick syrup. The minimal refining process allows unsulfured BSM to retain higher levels of potassium, sulfur, magnesium and other micronutrients than more refined grades of molasses such as those made from beet sugars.

Benefits to Your Plants
• Molasses feeds beneficial microbes in soils and potting mixes. The boosts of energy that they receive help them to convert nutrients such as nitrogen to a more efficient form unlocking the full potential of your fertilizers.
• Plant roots can absorb some of the carbohydrates into their tissues thus carrying other essential minerals into the plant.
• Molasses can increase the levels of potassium to the plants which promotes fruiting and flowering.
• Our unsulfured molasses can also feed endo and ecto-mycorrhizae which increase availability of all plant nutrients for uptake.

Uses and Application Rates
• Dilute 1-2 TBSP per gallon of water as a root drench once per week.
• Perfect for use in compost teas and diluted as a foliar spray.
• Do not use with aerated or recirculation hydroponic systems that add oxygen to the nutrient solution. Using air stones or aerated systems will cause foaming in the reservoir and could contribute to microbial growth.

Botanicare’s^® New Hercules Pots

Botanicare’s® New Hercules pots are formed with a unique shape to give your plants the guidance they need to keep from becoming root bound. Air holes positioned around the sides of the Hercules pots encourage grow media to dry more evenly between feedings giving growers increased control over plants’ nutritional and watering needs. Hercules pots are available in 5 sizes from 8” to 16”.

Roll with Botanicare^®!
Botanicare^® Rolling Green––Longboard Skateboard––Tray promotion!
 
Enter Botanicare’s Rolling Green Skateboard giveaway for a chance to win one of 17 collector’s edition Botanicare Longboards.

One winner will be drawn every week during the promotion period of September 1, 2011 at 8:00 am, MST through December 31, 2011 at 10:00 pm, MST. One entry per person.

Official Rules: Complete rules and requirements may be viewed at www.hydroponic-gardening-supplies.com/news/promo-rules.
Follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. www.botanicare.net

Botanicare’s^® New Cultivation Trays



Botanicare’s^® Original Inside Dimension Trays

Botanicare’s® redesigned white premium ID trays offer professional hydroponic gardens with superior quality and performance. The ID trays now include a 7” deep sidewall* that accommodates larger root masses, taller pots, and deeper saturation. Rounded, wider, drainage channels simplify cleaning while newly engineered corner gussets allow for greater support. The ID trays maintain Botanicare’s® standard true, inside dimensions for maximum growth space. Made from recycled and recyclable ABS plastic. [*measurement from top of drainage grid to top of tray.]

Botanicare’s^® New Outside Dimension Trays

For these compact spots that require precisely measured components Botanicare® has developed new Outside Dimension Trays. These trays sit in the precise footprint that their name suggests and fit easily into all growing tents on the market. The Botanicare® OD trays, available only in black ABS plastic, are formed with an easy to clean diagonal drainage grid to direct water towards drainage fittings.

Superior rigidity over other OD trays on the market, these new OD trays are an economical purchase for the space minded consumer.

Botanicare’s^® New Low Tide Trays

Why pay for extra plastic when all you need is a little water catchment? Our newly expanded line of Low Tide trays, now offered in black, are a perfect match for growers who need just a little something to put under their plants.

These newly designed trays offer a diagonal drainage grid that directs water out of the tray and sits in the same footprint as its growing space. The 3.5” tall* Low Tide trays are designed with the nutrient solution, conserving gardener in mind.

Visit: www.botanicare.net.

 BWGS is Happy to Announce That Its Vast Selection of Quality Indoor Gardening Products Just Grew Again!
By D. Krinn (www.bwgs.com)

For over 16 years, BWGS has provided indoor gardening retailers unmatched customer service and the best products the industry has to offer. Call BWGS-CA (888-316-1306), BWGS-CO (888-316-1306), BWGS-IN (800-316-1306), or BWGS-NC (800-316-1306) to find out how you can turn their experience into your success!

Killer Tea

Two years of testing and selecting only the best ingredients possible went into the production of Humboldt County’s Own Killer Tea. This ultra-potent pure worm casting tea with seabird and bat guano is formulated with only two specific seabird guanos, one bat guano and one variation of worm castings to ensure the best results without any unnecessary filler.

Great New Tools Now Available for Indoor Gardeners

Look to Barbed Reducers, available in three different sizes, for your next project. The reducers are double barbed for increased retention, and their sharp edges create a leak-proof seal. With increased strength and UV stabilization for long life, these are sure to hold up to even the toughest projects. They’re also heat, chemical and wear resistant. And the new Standard Mesh Bottom Tray fits snugly inside and outside of standard flats. The mesh bottom makes it a great option for suspending young plants or cuttings in nutrients.

Plant Success Orca Now Available from BWGS

A healthy root system is the basis for a healthy plant, and Orca from Plant Success is packed with the mycorrhizae to promote both. This all-in-one concentrated liquid mycorrhizal inoculant includes four highly effective endomycorrhizal species with 11 super aggressive bacteria strains. The liquid formula is also cleaner and easier to apply than other mycorrhizal products. In addition, this natural root booster will increase plants’ uptake of nutrients and water, protect against transplant shock, prevent drought stress, and result in an overall higher yield.

All Natural Neem Oil an Effective Method of Pest Control

NimBiosys Neem Oil is cold pressed to ensure higher potency and quality than regular neem oil. This EPA-approved pesticide works on as many as 200 different kinds of pests without harsh chemicals or toxins. This all-natural derivative of the neem tree works in a variety of ways; depending on the insect type, it can repel them, disrupt their growth hormones, or prevent their ability to reproduce. Recommended for use against aphids, beetles, stink bugs, leafhoppers, whiteflies, mealy bugs, mites, weevils, scale and thrips. This product also includes azadirachtin, a naturally occurring compound that’s extremely important for effective pest control.

Sunleaves Liquid Guano is a Refreshing Choice

Gardeners looking for easy to apply and extremely effective fertilizer will love Sunleaves Liquid Guanos. Derived from bats, the Liquid Mexican Guano (0.8-0.5-0) encourages robust vegetative development and can be applied as either a foliar spray or directly onto soil. For bigger blossoms and juicier fruits, try Sunleaves Liquid Peruvian Seabird Guano (0-2.5-0), which can also be applied as either a foliar spray or directly onto soil. Both have the active ingredient of kelp extract, which will provide organic matter as food for soil microbes. It’s also the only liquid guano with a fresh spearmint scent.

BWGS-CA Welcomes New Outside Sales Rep

Nikhil Parulkar is proud to be the newest Outside Sales Representative for the BWGS-CA team. His parents instilled a love of gardening in him at a young age through their indoor cultivation of Indian herbs and spices. He moved on to work in greenhouses and nurseries throughout high school and college, so the transfer into the hydroponic industry was natural for him. For three years, he managed a hydro shop in Oregon. Nikhil will be serving customers in the Northern California region, and his time working in Oregon helped him create a solid foundation in organic gardening to better serve people there. “I look forward to meeting everyone and creating lasting friendships,” Nikhil said. He can be reached at nparulkar@bwgs.com, or by phone at (888) 316-1306, ext. 2.

 Salt Cultivation

Guérande Salinas

By the Coopérative des paludiers de Guérande

                                  

Near Brittany’s two regional capitals (90 minutes from Rennes, an hour from Nantes), with Nantes’ international airport and high-speed-train station and Rennes’ regional airport and high-speed-train station, the Guérande salt-marsh worker cooperative is at the heart of the Guérande peninsula, in the neighbourhood of La Baule. From La Baule, follow the Batz-sur-Mer/Le Croisic direction by taking route D774, pass the first roundabout, then take the first road to your right, towards Congor/Pradel. Go to Pradel, about two kilometres further. Then take the first road off your left until the stop sign. The Guérande salinas are on your left, in the heart of the Atlantic coast’s salt-marshes. You will discover a magnificent landscape of square salinas bordered with dykes and run-off networks, where the crystals of fleur de sel shine where they are ripe for harvest. The landscape, lost in morning fog, leads to the depth of the ocean.

                                         

Solidary Salt-Marsh Workers

During the 1960s and 1970s, the profession of salt-marsh worker almost vanished with its natural working place, as large-scale dealers and real-estate developers threatened both. After this difficult period, salt-marsh workers got together to protect the natural patrimony and revive the traditional salt-harvesting activities to overcome competition from salt industrials. A structured collective financial set-up is devised: qualifying training, creation of an agricultural cooperative, storage policy, quality standards and, finally, the creation of a welcoming structure. From then on, salt-marsh workers have control over salt’s trip from producer to consumer, without negating the ancient gestured that still make up the identity of Guérande salt. As part of the coopérative des Salines de Guérande, 190 salt-marsh workers who are members are working on 70% of active salinas.

A Craft Skill

The profession of salt-marsh worker is one of the few agricultural professions using no heavy machinery and no chemical products. The millennia-old craft-skill production produces quality salt while preserving the natural site. In Guérande, harvesting occurs daily, and exclusively manually. Guérande’s salt-marshes are one of the last remaining craft salt-production in France. Guérande salt is an entirely natural and complete product: it is not refined or washed and contains no additives – all its benefits are preserved. Compared to industrial salts, Guérande salt has a lower sodium content and a diverse mineral composition, notably bio-available magnesium, potassium, calcium, and trace elements. Guérande salt is sold under the brand name Le Guérandais and is found all through France and abroad.

How Does a Salt-Marsh Work?

During great tides, sea water is stored in the primary pond, then admitted into the salina maze. Thanks to slight level differences and careful set-up of the flow, water circulates through the various ponds. The sun and wind, as well as the salt-marsh worker’s know-how, will allow its evaporation until salt crystallizes in the small ponds.

Coarse salt: In the summer, salt-marsh workers harvest pan salt daily using “las” (tool made of rectangular planks and a long handle) in the small ponds.

Fleur de sel: Salt-marsh workers harvest fleur de sel with a ponter which they carefully pass under the fine salt film at the water's surface. Sought-after for its flavour, fleur de sel is finer and whither than coarse salt, which is usually slightly grey. Its production is limited: for a ton of harvested coarse salt, the corresponding fleur de sel harvest will be approximately 40 kg.

The Salt-Marsh Worker’s Four Seasons

Salt is harvested in the summer, but production is prepared in winter and the proper functioning of a salina is a year-long affair: alone or with others, the worker must adapt his work to the seasons.

Winter: Cleaning of the primary pond and repair of any damage caused by strong tides and storms.

Spring: Preparation of the salina for harvest.

Summer: Harvest of coarse salt and fleur de sel. A salt-marsh worker exploits on average sixty small ponds.

Fall: Safe storage of the harvest and time for exceptional chores, such as renewal of salinas for new workers who wish to exploit them and join the cooperative.

Ethics and Values

Guérande salt has always been backed by strong values shared among those who have worked and keep on working in the cooperative.

Sharing: Sharing is an essential value within the cooperative. Indeed, putting all harvests together, collective work (to maintain common spaces, clean the dyke, revitalizing old salinas for new workers) and know-how transmission are an integral part of our values.

Solidarity: Since 1989, the salt-marsh workers of Guérande have been supporting Univers-Sel. The association was created by the cooperative’s members to offer technical support to African salt producers.

Breaking new ground: The cooperative was the first to fight to make the public aware of Guérande salt. In 1991, our salt obtained the Label Rouge, and it remains its only holder. The cooperative has also become an international ambassador for fleur de sel.

Ecology: Salt culture has allowed the Guérande peninsula to preserve its environmental patrimony. The 2,000 hectares of salt-mashes are one of the most ecological developments ever realized and have been included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance and have been certified Natura 2000. The site has been protected since 1996 in order to protect the patrimony maintained by salt-mash workers.

These are the values that make Guérande salt a product with a unique soul and character.

Taste and Use of Salt

Tender, flavourful and perfumed, Guérande salt dissolves in water much faster than other salts. Its salty flavour is without bitterness, allowing the original flavour of food to come through.

Coars salt: Slightly grey, it gives a delicious flavour to pot-au-feu, court-bouillon and cooking water (for pasta, vegetables, etc.).

Fine salt or ground salt: Coarse salt is dried and ground, without altering its specificity. Fine salt is used for cooking or on the table to salt your dishes.

Fleur de sel: Sought-after for its violet fragrance, it is recommended for the table, grills and crudités. Don’t forget it should not be cooked: it is heated and should be sprinkled after cooking.

                                 

Quality Labels

The quality of Guérande salt if now attested through several labels and certificates that are regularly monitored by independent organizations.

Label Rouge: The “Label Rouge” guarantees the superior quality of a product. It is the result of severe and monitored requirements at every stage of production, design and commercialization.

Nature & Progrès: The Nature & Progrès endorsement guarantees environmentally friendly agricultural practices and certifies the natural and organic nature of Guérande salt.

SGS System Certification: This ISO 9001:2000 quality-insurance certificate guarantees the mastery of all storage, sifting, conditioning, shipping and commercialization activities regarding Guérande salt.

Preserving Salt

Don’t keep your salt in its original plastic wrapping. Never! Put it in a stone or wood jar. Natural salt needs to breathe. Around Guérande, you will find a multitude of salt containers in local shops. These containers often come with a pretty wooden scoop, useful to serve fleur de sel at the table.

Terre de Sel, a Regional Tourist Reference

Created at the initiative of the cooperative’s salt-marsh workers, Terre de Sel proposes to allow people to discover how salt-marshes work and how salt is produced.

Guides tours around the salinas: Offered every day of the year with salt-marsh workers and nature guides. Tours offered for families, cultural or school visits, company committee visits, etc.  Tours go from ten a day in July and August to two a day between October and March (three a day in April, May, June, and September.)

Exhibition Space: You will find exhibits describing the various aspects of salt-marshes. From landscapes to the work in the salt-marshes, including their fauna and flora throughout the seasons. Salt-marshes are also an exceptional site for bird-watching. A young adventurer’s game is offered for kids aged 6 to 12. Finally, a panoramic terrace offers a 180°-view of the Guérande basin: orientation table and refracting telescope are at your disposal.

Shop: The shop offers Guérande coarse grey salt and fleur de sel harvested by the cooperative’s members, as well as many regional original quality products (try the Guérande coarse salt butterscotch!).  The shop also features a counter for local craft artists and corporate gifts.

To Conclude, a Recipe: Chicken Baked in a Guérande Salt Crust

To cook a 1.5-kg chicken, you will need 2 to 3 kg of Guérande coarse salt. Tie the poultry as if you were roasting it. In a casserole dish, put 3 cm of salt. Put the chicken on its keel (its “belly”). Cover with 3 cm of salt, packing it all around. The poultry should be completely covered. There you go: no more than 10 minutes of preparation. Place the casserole in the preheated over (at maximum) for 90 minutes. Do not cover. To serve, flip the casserole dish, take everything out: the slat block has become so hard you’ll need a hammer to break it. Break the crust and extract the chicken, perfectly cooked. Your chicken will be cooked to perfection, golden and tasty, and not too salted.

 Amateur Gardener’s Corner

Why turn to hydroponic cultivation? – Part 1

Why Not an Outdoor Hydroponic Garden?

By Loup-Claude Leblanc

Although they are not very popular and thus not in high demand, hydroponic systems for outdoor cultivation carry many advantages over traditional cultivation methods. They are easy to assemble and can be installed practically anywhere where cultivation is appropriate. The soil’s mineral and geological properties matter little or not at all, and digging or leveling the soil is not required. Furthermore, these systems use a lot less water than a more traditional culture. Maintenance of hydroponic systems is easy, because they generally require no drainage. There is no water flowing into the ground and very little of it evaporates.

Watering Savings

Outdoor hydroponic units automatically irrigate the plants and are extremely efficient to fulfill plant needs for nutritive elements. These conditions trigger a rapid growth, since nutrients, water and oxygen are all absorbed quickly. This technique is quite convenient for outdoor cultivation, because the plants are exposed to intense sunlight, and no deficiency impedes the distribution of nutritive elements, so nothing slows the healthy growth of plants.

Hydroponic systems used outdoors are most often portable, and can as such be moved quickly without disturbing root development. Remember that there can be many reasons why you want to move a plant—it can be because the sun's position has changed during the day or the season, or simply for safety reasons (easy access for children or pets). A portable plant can always easily be placed in a location where sunlight will be more intense. Used in remote areas, portable hydroponic systems offer benefits that more traditional systems do not. Because no part of the nutritive elements provided is lost in the ground, plants grown in a hydroponic system absorb one third less water than those grown in conventional containers.

Water accumulates in the unit’s reservoir until it is absorbed by the plant; only a small quantity will evaporate. Systems can be designed to accumulate and keep large quantities of water in reserve, allowing for less frequent maintenance visits. In areas that get a lot of rain, reservoirs can be refilled automatically if they are equipped with a small rainwater catchment system and a bottle or cistern.

                                       

Making Your Own Outdoor Hydroponic System

Many hydroponic systems are easy to assemble, and you can make your own. There are in fact a few books on this topic. The simplest systems to assemble and maintain are those equipped with reservoirs and a wick-feeding system. These so-called passive systems work without electricity, using small mechanical parts that regulate the input of water. When containers are all at the same level, a float valve can be connected to a large reservoir, and individual float valves can be used for containers placed at different levels.

The wick system and the reservoir-equipped system favour rapid growth. The wick system uses a braided nylon rope, 0.95 cm in diameter (0.375 inches). The rope must be long enough to hang from both drain cavities all the way to the reservoir (filled with water containing nutritive elements) underneath. The container contains a substrate made up of vermiculite, perlite, or a soil mix. Water is drawn from the reservoir underneath by capillary action, which leaves the mixture permanently moist.

The reservoir system is even simpler to use. The container rests in a shallow basin filled with water containing nutritive elements. For example, a 51 cm (20 inches)-high pot will rest in 7.5 cm (3 inches) of liquid and will be filled with a dry substrate, such as expanded-clay pellets, granulated volcanic rock, or a mixture of perlite, vermiculite and sand. A float valve can be used to regulate the flow of water from a gravity-activated reservoir. Such units can be buried in the ground or left on the surface, depending on the situation.

Buying a System for Outdoors

Some people consider it more practical to purchase a ready-made hydroponic unit in store. There are different types of units, but many gardeners use the drip-irrigation system, the ebb-and-flow system or the NFT technique (nutrient-film technique). These systems generally work well and are rapidly installed, but they can only be used outdoors in places where there is a preexistent access to deal electrical network, because electricity will be required to activate the pumps.

NFT systems create a constant stream of nutritive solution on the roots, at the bottom of a slightly sloped channel. The pump only uses a minimum of energy to put water back in circulation, and it can be powered with a solar battery. Drip-irrigation systems pump the reservoir's water through injectors that deliver the nutritive solution, drip by drip, all the way to the pots. The ebb-and-flow system fills the trays with water, which is then recycled back to the reservoir and again available, since the system functions as a closed circuit.

                                      

Of the Sun: Friend or Foe Outdoors?

During the day, the sun's rays can heat the water to such a point that the roots will burn. Dark-coloured reservoirs are the worst, because they better absorb the sun's rays. Dark trays also reheat water: the darker their colour, the more they absorb and retain heat. White, however, reflects light: trays and the water they contain remain cool. During the fall, water can cool down overmuch during the night, but roots do better when the temperature is above 18.5°C (65°F). A water heater (or a heating mat) will maintain an adequate temperature when the weather gets colder. There are many other ways to modify the reservoir's temperature. The first is to hide the reservoir, so that solar radiation cannot reach its surface.
 
You can also use dirt, rocks, sand, plant residue, or live aquatic plants. You can also irrigate plants only at certain times of day, when the water temperature is adequate. The pump can also be plugged directly in a solar battery; this will slowly irrigate plants at sunrise. The pump will work hardest around noon, when sunlight is more intense; its power will diminish towards the evening and stop after sundown.

Fertilization: Learning to Play with Outdoor Factors (Temperature, Water, Wind, etc.)

There are many brands of hydroponic fertilizers. Each brand has its own enthusiasts. Hydroponic fertilizers offer benefits that conventional ones do not. They all contain nutritive elements that fulfill the plants need and are specially designed to be used in irrigation systems (no matter what eating principle is used). Water quality varies greatly across regions. For this reason, a fertilizer that gives great results in a certain area may give different results when used with water from a different area. In the same way, conventional fertilizers are made and formulated to be used with soil and do not give the greatest results in hydroponics.

During summer, the light outdoors is much more intense than in an indoor garden. Plant growth is more dense and quick.

Plants grown in a sunny location have higher needs for nutritive elements and water. Cultivation units must be irrigated more frequently during the long warm summer days. Plants need a larger quantity of water, and it is best to irrigate more often without worrying about saving water (you can save elsewhere!). As a consequence, if your nutritive solution is always balanced the same way during the hottest months and the coldest months, plants will absorb to many nutritive elements. The chosen fertilizer should be slightly more diluted during the warm season. If nutritive needs increase, and you provide your plants with more water, plants will absorb more nutrients, unless you've adapted the dilution rate. This simple precaution will prevent over-fertilization. While heat and a high content in phosphorus (P) improve the plant’s vertical growth, the fertilizer must contain more nitrogen (N) than phosphorus.

Plants’ need for irrigation decreases in the fall when the intensity of sunlight diminishes and temperatures fall below 21°C (70°F). The fertilization solution must then be a little more concentrated, so that plants can absorb essential nutritive elements while consuming less water. At this stage, the fertilizer must contain more phosphorus (P) than nitrogen (N) in order to stimulate flowering. Most fertilization formulas designed for flowering are balanced in this fashion.

To Conclude

 Mystic Beat Lounge Recommends Earthdance Festival 2011 (Sept. 23-25, 2011)

By Mystic Beat Lounge (info@mysticbeatlounge.com)

Earthdance 2011 is the Bay Area’s only 3-day camp out music festival with music all day and all night with over 70 acts on 6 stages, plus 3 late night venues!

"Not just a festival focused on music, but rather a festival of
spiritual consciousness, environmental and
political activism and awareness..." — Jambase.com

Earthdance 2011 Northern California is a three day camp out celebration for World Peace and Unity, set amidst the beautiful grounds of the Solano County Fairgrounds.

Featuring 6 music stages and 3 late night venues (at no extra cost). Highlights will include the Playa Art Promenade featuring the works of Karen Cusolito; Yoga For Peace with internationally renowned yoga teachers; an expanded Kids Village; daytime DJ Poolside Parties at the Marriott Hotel showcasing west coast DJ collectives; Sonic Cinema Lounge a 44-ft dome complete with visionary video art and late night movies; a Wisdom Council featuring indigenous leaders from many nations; workshops and panels; and the Activist Circle where festival patrons can interact with both local and international non-profit groups; All Night Music Cafes and much more!

Special Festival Event!

Give Peace A Dance: Global prayer for peace link up (4 PM Saturday, Sept. 24) uniting over 400 locations in 70 countries!

MAIN STAGE
ZIGGY MARLEY • GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY • BRETT DENNEN • BALKAN BEAT BOX • IVAN NEVILLE'S DUMPSTAPHUNK • LES NUBIANS • THE COUP • TREVOR HALL • FAUN • SEAN HAYES • KEVENS • ACORN PROJECT • VAGABOND OPERA • VIBRANT EYERIS • LOCURA • DGINN • HONEYMOON • THE KINGDOM TRAVELERS and many more...

UNITY STAGE
IVAN NEVILLE'S DUMPSTAPHUNK • BEATS ANTIQUE • MIDNITE • ROOTZ UNDERGROUND • EOTO • KARSH KALE (LIVE BAND) • SEE-I (FROM THIEVERY CORPORATION) • DELHI 2 DUBLIN • MC YOGI • FAUN • VAGABOND OPERA • ALCYONE MASSIVE • OKA • WOODLAND • EL RADIO FANTASTIQUE • FORT KNOX FIVE and many more...

ELECTRONICA TEMPLE
TIPPER • MIMOSA • GAUDI • OPIUO • EMANCIPATOR • NASTYNASTY • SUB SWARA • DAVID STARFIRE • INVISIBLE ALLIES (BLUETECH AND KILOWATTS) • STICKY BUDS • LOVE AND LIGHT • ILL ESHA • DRAGONFLY • BIRD OF PREY • AUDITORY CANVAS FEAT. JILLIAN ANN and many more...

YOGA FOR PEACE
SHIVA REA • PETE GUINOSSO • MICHELINE BERRY • KK LEDFORD • KERRI KELLY • DEBBIE STEINGESSER • ANNE MARIE KRAMER • DONNA DE LORY • SUZANNE STERLING • MC YOGI AND AMANDA GIACOMINI • TODD BOSTON • KARSH KALE • FANNA-FI-ALLAH SUFI QAWWALI • CRAIG KOHLAND/SHAMANS DREAM • DESERT DWELLERS • DRAGONFLY • RARA AVIS • AMANI FRIEND • JESSE HENDRICKS

Tickets selling fast! Don’t delay, get yours now!
The excitement is building and tickets are continuing to sell faster than ever. We recommend buying your tickets in advance.

www.earthdancelive.com  
Solano County Fairgrounds, Vallejo, CA

Festival Publicist - Yvonne Hendrix
Email: yhendrix@earthdancelive.com or yhendrix@sonic.net

Press Release: Download press release as a word doc here

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 Introducing CANNA Start: Now Available
By Canna (www.canna-hydroponics.com)

Cuttings and seedlings have different needs than established plants. Therefore a normal nutrient for the vegetative stage is not suitable for cuttings and seedlings because you run the risk of overfeeding. Diluting a vegetative nutrient to make it more suitable for cuttings and seedlings isn't the answer either. Such a dilution doesn't contain enough micro and macro elements. This causes yellowing of the plant material; not a good start for your crop. To ultimately achieve strong, healthy plants at the end you have to start off right at the very beginning. That's why CANNA developed CANNA Start; to get the exact ratio of all nutritional elements for cuttings and seedlings right.

CANNA Start is a unique, balanced, one-part nutrient to meet the needs of seedlings and rooted cuttings. It can be used on various propagation substrates like Rockwool plugs, coco pellets, jiffy plugs, seedmixes and most other propagation mediums.
CANNA Start gives you all the primary, secondary and micro nutrients for a cutting or seedling to develop into a strong healthy plant. CANNA Start is a nutrient (not an additive for root development) and can be combined perfectly with a root stimulator like CANNA RHIZOTONIC.

For more information about CANNA Start please visit www.canna-hydroponics.com.  

 New Product from Nova Biomatique: New Software for the iGS-221 All Around Controller

By Réal Adam (tech@igrowing.ca)

Listening to customers always bring benefits. The new iGS-221 "complete controller" is getting a new software version 1.29. iGS-221 ventilation control functionalities are vastly improved.

The new software 1.29:

1. Allows to adjust the hourly cyclic ventilation from 0 to 30 minutes;

2. Allows to set the ventilation (fan) to start in case of abnormal high temperature

3. Allows to set the ventilation (fan) to start in case of abnormal high relative humidity.

4. Now allows to control temperature and humidity in a cold climate using the ventilation instead of an air conditioner and a dehumidifier.

Improvements 2 and 3 should provide for emergency in case the AC unit or the dehumidifier is temporarily out of order. That way the "Fan" outlet on the iGS-221 will be usable for manual emergency activation, for adjustable cyclic ventilation if needed, for emergency cooling or dehumidifying.

Plug'N'Grow iGS-221 is a "complete climate controller" for indoor gardening. It controls all climate adjusting equipment including ventilation, CO2, humidifying, dehumidifying, air conditioning (cooling) and heating. With such a complete controller, plants will remain in their optimal productivity zone and keep their stomas opened for maximum yields.

Owners of iGS-221 are invited to contact Nova Biomatique's Plug'N'Grow technical support to get the new iGS-221, version 1.29, software FOR FREE and reap the benefits of all the improvements (1-888-577-6274 or chat or email at tech@igrowing.ca). iGS-221 manual and other fine Plug’N’Grow climate controllers are presented on novabiomatique.com.

                          

 Company Buzz and New Products from BWGS

By BWGS

A – Company Buzz

New Outside Sales Representative at BWGS-IN

BWGS-IN is excited to announce the promotion of Austin Vickrey to outside sales representative. After starting out in the gardening retail field several years ago, Austin will now be a part of the outside sales team serving the Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio area. He also has many years of personal experience with gardening, and has been an avid organic gardener for 10 years and a hydroponic gardener for three.

“I’m honored to be a part of an amazing BWGS sales team,” Austin said. “I look forward to using my knowledge and love for gardening to help your store succeed!” He can be reached at (800)316-1306, ext. 4, or avickrey@bwgs.com.

Sales and Gardening Experience Combine in New Outside Sales Rep    

BWGS-CA is proud to announce Jeremy Thompson’s promotion to outside sales representative. He brings seven years of customer service and sales experience to this already strong team of sales reps. Jeremy has also been an avid gardener for nearly a decade, and is a “true believer in learning by first-hand experience.” He’s spent many hours diagnosing problems in his gardens and those of his friends.

“I look forward to bringing these attributes to my new position as the BWGS outside sales representative for the Los Angeles and central coast regions of California,” Jeremy said. He can be reached at (888)316-1306, ext., 2 or jthompson@bwgs.com.

BWGS-NC Promotes New Outside Sales Rep

John Thach, a passionate gardener and experienced salesman, is now the newest outside sales representative for BWGS-NC. His enjoyment and love of the horticultural supply industry and gardening is sure to aid in your company’s success. For the past decade he’s been an outdoor gardening enthusiast, and also has seven years of personal experience with his own indoor gardens. Before this position with BWGS, he managed an indoor garden supply store and worked for five years in the horticultural retail sales industry. He’s sure to be an invaluable resource to your company. John can be reached at (800)316-1306, ext., 1 or jthach@bwgs.com.

Bay Area Has a New Friend with New BWGS-CA Outside Sales Rep

BWGS-CA is proud to announce Joe Saito as the newest outside sales representative for the central and bay areas of California. A lifelong passion for hydroponics and indoor gardening has led him to this career, and he is excited to help make his experience your success. “I am proud to be with the BWGS family and I anticipate a great future with them,” Joe said. “I am looking forward to providing superior customer service and the highest level of professionalism to you.” In addition to his personal interests in gardening, Joe also brings nine years of customer service, retail and wholesale experience to the table. He also is currently working on his BA in agricultural business. To contact Joe, call (888) 316-1306, ext. 2, or email him at jsaito@bwgs.com.

Willetts Named BWGS Regional Sales Manager for the Western U.S.

BWGS is pleased to announce that Kevin Willetts has been promoted to the position of Regional Sales Manager for the Western United States. He will work with National Sales Manager Chris Keck to oversee all sales functions in the western U.S. and ensure that BWGS customers continue to receive the high level of service and personal attention to which they’re accustomed.

A BWGS veteran who previously served as a sales representative for BWGS-CA and BWGS-CO, Kevin has extensive experience in the indoor gardening industry in addition to being an avid gardener for most of his life. He can be reached at (888) 316-1306 or kwilletts@bwgs.com. 

B – New Product Announcements

Waste Not and Reap the Benefits with Sunleaves Worm Farm!

The Sunleaves Worm Farm turns kitchen waste into rich, all-natural fertilizer that’s great for any garden. The farm is a four-layer home for red wiggler worms, which will eagerly devour those unwanted food scraps and other wastes. Fill each layer with items like egg shells, newspaper strips, vegetables, garden trimmings and fruit peels and watch as the worms transform it into rich, dark soil. The bottom of the farm also houses a collection tray for “worm tea,” a nutrient-rich liquid by-product that results from the decomposition and processing of all the natural waste in the farm. This unit, when used properly, is virtually odorless and can be used indoors all year or outdoors so long as the temperature remains between 50° and 85°F. Gardeners will love this environmentally friendly and resourceful way to produce their own fertilizer right at home.    

New Tools from Sunleaves Arrive Just in Time for Summer Gardening!

With outdoor garden season upon us, Sunleaves is proud to announce several new items to make this year your most successful harvest yet! Check out the Sunleaves Digital 4-way Soil Meter, an all-in-one tool that’s great for testing your pH levels, environment sunlight intensity, moisture levels and temperature. The meter has a large, easy-to-read LCD screen and is attached to an 8” long probe to reach root-deep into the soil being tested. Other features include an automatic power off function and a low battery indication. If support is what your plants are yearning for, try the Sunleaves Steel Stakes and all-natural Bamboo Stakes. Both are extremely durable and handy for holding up vines and other top-heavy plants, or for marking off areas of the garden. Bamboo Stakes are available in 25 packs of 2’, 3’, 4’, or 6’ heights. Steel Stakes come in heights of 3’, 4’, 5’, or 6’. 

That Is Some Good-Looking Trash…

Give kitchen waste a shiny, eye-catching receptacle with the Sunleaves Stainless Steel Compost Can. The can stands 11" tall with a 7" diameter, and has a 1.16 gallon capacity. The exterior also has an attractive satin finish. The lid includes a double layer replaceable carbon filter (one round filter for the top of the lid and one square filter for the bottom of the lid) to keep odors at bay.

Float Gardening Worries Away with the Sunleaves Floating Thermometer

Looking for an easy and hassle-free way to monitor the temperature in your indoor garden? The new Sunleaves Floating Thermometer is a great solution! This thermometer has a Fahrenheit and Celsius display, and floats for monitoring the temperature all throughout your water-based garden and in other liquids. It also has a suction cup that can be mounted anywhere there’s a flat surface. Great for aquariums, too.

Don’t Put Your Plants in the Dark

The light generated by HID and compact fluorescent lighting systems is great for plants, but it can be a source of frustration if your living area is cramped or doesn’t have an extra room for an indoor garden. With a DarkRoom, however, those frustrations are a thing of the past. Secret Jardin’s DarkRoom 120W (48" x 24" x 63.6") is the foundation of a completely self-contained indoor garden, featuring a lightweight, durable, washable interior reflective lining that keeps more light going where it’s supposed to go: to the plants. The frame supports up to 65 pounds of lighting, ventilation or other equipment, and every unit has access ports that accommodate ducting or other equipment. DarkRooms are lightweight (the 120W weighs in at just over 21 lbs) and can be assembled without tools in minutes by one person, and collapse just as quickly for storage.

Hip to Plant in Squares

The Smart Pot gets a makeover with the new Square Smart Pot, great for placement in long rectangular flower beds or other areas where it’s geometrically suitable. Just like their circular SmartPot counterparts, the soft material they’re constructed of allows more air to reach the growing medium and the roots, which improves drainage and keeps the root system from overheating. Plant roots also benefit from their natural tendency to grow into soft surfaces like the Smart Pot, becoming thick and healthy instead of circling the inside of the pot and becoming root-bound.

Call BWGS-CA (888-316-1306), BWGS-CO (888-316-1306), BWGS-IN (800-316-1306), or BWGS-NC (800-316-1306) to find out how you can turn their experience into your success!

 Turning Indoors Green With Sentier Urbain

By Sentier Urbain (sentierurbain@videotron.ca)

Although the green outdoor activities offered by the organization are over for the summer, not everything stops in the fall at Sentier Urbain. In October, indoor horticultural displays will be brought back to the walls of schools and community organizations of the Centre-sud neighbourhood in Montreal, Quebec (Canada). At a time of year when vegetation is discreet, the Sentier Urbain’s team keeps on turning indoor spaces green by bringing in tropical plants, bird aviaries, water cascades and goldfish. Indeed when the organization’s gardens close before the first frost, bird aviaries and potted plants that occupy the gardens throughout summer are transferred to elementary schools and other buildings. Marguerite-Bourgeoys and Garneau schools, the “80, Ruelle de l’Avenir” project, the Comité social Centre-sud and the Atelier des lettres organization are hosts to the fauna and flora this winter.

Each year, approximately 850 students from Garneau school take part in thematic workshops in a horticultural space filled with plants and birds. This room, developed a few years ago, is an exceptional learning space for an initiation to horticulture and the environment, as well as a horticultural production space. In 2008, the ambitious “80, Ruelle de l’Avenir” project was born near Garneau school to welcome the neighbourhood students in its thematic spaces, including the one for horticulture. The new building maximizes natural lighting and is host to many plants throughout the floor. Sentier Urbain is one of the partners responsible for the design of that space. Elsewhere, plants in the hallways of Marguerite-Bourgeoys school embellish the daily lives of over 230 school employees and pupils. Comité social Centre-sud is a first-line organization that welcomes over a hundred persons every day, offering meals and various services. It too has seen its environment transformed, thanks to the arrival of tropical trees and water cascades. As for the Atelier de lettres, about thirty people benefit from greenery and a calming ambiance while progressing with alphabetization.

These children and adults benefit from the effects of plants on their quality of life. It is now recognized that plants have a real effect on human health. Indeed, indoor plants hold a genuine de-polluting power, going as far as an association between some plant species and specific polluting molecules (benzene, toluene, etc.). Jean-Claude Vigor recently reminded us, in an article published by le Devoir, that tropical plants are beneficial, indeed indispensable, to decontaminate the indoor sir within our buildings. “In a closed space, indoor air quality is an intellectual performance factor,” said the horticulturist. Plants can absorb a large quantity of the pollutants found in our immediate environment and recognized as harmful to our health. Psychologically, simply contemplating plants and caring for them has a positive influence on mood, and can reduce psychological tensions.

                                

We invite you to visit our indoor green spaces by getting in touch with Sentier Urbain: 1710, Beaudry, suite 3.10, Montréal (Québec) H2L 3E7, Canada, tel.: 514-521-9292, fax: 514-524-0222, www.sentierurbain.org, e-mail: sentierurbain@videotron.ca.

Sources:

– Dumont, Bertrand, 250 gestes au quotidien pour contrer les changements climatiques, Bertrand Dumont éditeur inc., Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, 2008, 144 pages.

– Vigor, Jean-Claude, “Les plantes tropicales : votre joker antipollution”, chronique Couleur horticole, Le Devoir, October 11-12, 2008.

 Portable Farm™: Feed Your Family, Feed a Village, and Feed the World

By The Happy Portable Farmer, Colle Davis, Inventor, CEO, Portable Farms LLC (www.portablefarms.com)

In less than five minutes a day, you can grow your own organic vegetables, herbs, and home-grown fish. Imagine growing 100 pounds of home-grown fish and more than 400 heads of organic lettuce (or other vegetables) per year in a small 6 X 8 foot space with your own Portable-Farms kit! All the food tastes rich and garden-fresh like it did at your grandparents’ farm. Portable Farms LLC has received interest from 110 countries since its official launch on June 17, 2008.

Become self-sufficient and self-reliant by raising fresh organic vegetables and home-grown fish to help feed your family, year round, by owning your own Portable Farm. The plants grow large and healthy because they have optimal growing conditions with their roots in warm, nutrient-laden water from the heated fish tanks. A Portable Farm is scalable for family, community, organizational or institutional installations, and can also be scaled for commercial growing. The fish and vegetables can be eaten or sold locally to stores or restaurants.

A Portable Farm is a very simple system: A specially designed pump moves the water from the fish tanks and then through a settling tank to remove all the solid wastes from the fish tanks in order to keep the fish healthy. From there, the water flows through shallow trays containing gravel where vegetables are planted, and then the water flows back to the fish tanks. The pump keeps the fish tanks free of sediment while it sends the nutrients to the plants without ever draining the fish tanks dry. It's a perfectly efficient system.

A Portable Farm quickly pays for itself. Instead of buying groceries that have been shipped and stored in your local store, simply walk to your own Portable Farm with a bowl, select your own organic vegetables and home-grown fish to serve your family for dinner. And not only is it fresh, but it’s only steps away from your kitchen. The Portable Farm is affordable, requires only minimal upkeep (three to five minutes a day), and is a family project that everyone of all ages can enjoy as they learn the values of living green, the beauty of nature, and the security of being self-reliant from growing and harvesting from the cycle of life.

The Portable Farm is fully automated:

• No need to water your plants because a Portable Farm uses a one hour, twice-a-day cycle to circulate the water throughout the system so the plants constantly receive a fresh supply of nutrient-laden water.

• No soil is necessary. Your plants grow in trays or beds filled with gravel or river rocks.

• No weeding is necessary.

• There's no need to hand-feed your fish either because a Portable Farms Kit contains two automatic fish feeders.

• No pesticides or fertilizers are necessary.

• Plus, your entire system can be solar powered and completely automated.

Here is a picture of Colle Davis, the inventor of the Portable Farm, holding a single head of lettuce.

Call 1 760-751-4156 today for more information, or visit www.portablefarms.com.

 New LED Light Design from Ringer Lighting & Accessories Co., Ltd
By Linda (info@ringerlight.com)

Established in 2008, Ringer Lighting & Accessories Co., Ltd, is a professional lighting & accessories company located in Guzhen China, which is very famous as the lighting capital of China. Their team is experienced in designing, manufacturing, marketing and quality assurance in lighting industry.

                    

Their main products include interior decorative lighting series mainly in modern style; such as glass ceiling lamps, fashion crystal series, candle crystal items, etc. All of their lighting products comply with VDE or UL quality standard and can be adapted when required to other international specifications. Ringer Lighting & Accessories Co., Ltd, is able to supply a wide range of accessories used for lighting products, including VDE/UL approval wire, lampshade, crystal, LED driver and switch power supply.

Visit www.ringerlight.com to discover all their products and check out their price lists here and here.

Tel/Fax: 0086-760 8755 8250.

E-mail: info@ringerlight.com (Linda).  

 Natural Alternatives

Soma, Nearly 40 Years of Experience in Organic Gardening

By Red Dragon (www.myspace.com/headsmag)  

Natural Alternatives

Welcome to Natural Alternatives. The purpose of this column is to introduce various alternatives and / or environmental projects or personalities that have influenced our attitudes and lifestyles. We must mobilise. Our planet is in danger and our very freedom is at stake. First we must open our minds. Then, we must become more aware of our surrounding. Finally, we must begin to do small things that will improve our world. And so on, one small thing at a time.

Soma’s Portrait

Having left the United States sixteen years ago, Soma followed his horticultural path looking for the most specialized organic culture resources—and it took him to the Netherlands. Holland has a prestigious history in the field of hydroponic cultivation techniques and innovation development. It was there that the first specialized indoor gardening store chain was implanted in the 1980s: Positronics, Wernard Bruining's famous trademark (see T.I.G. vol. 3, issue 2). This side of the Atlantic, hydroponic innovation was merely entering its babbling stage. Indoor gardening is, in the Netherlands, a matter of survival. With a large proportion of the country’s territory located under sea level, Netherlanders must always find new cultivation techniques.

A true guru of organic culture, Soma reached the shores of Netherland in the middle of the 1990s. He became chief executive officer of a local seed company. His radical new age vegan style, his Rastafarian look and his in-depth expertise of the best organic products containing no chemical nutrients and no pesticides have made him a well-known personality in the world of indoor gardening, in the Netherlands and abroad.  Soma is no featherweight: he is a self-educated biologist who dreams of developing the cultivation techniques that are best adapted to his organic and biological requirements.

Born in Pennsylvania in 1949, Soma spent most of his life there. After serving loyally in the US army in the mid-1960s, Soma grew interested in indoor gardening while employed by IBM in the heart of Manhattan. Wearing his hair short above a suit and tie, Soma was looking for ways to indulge his passion for indoor gardening right in the middle of New York City. His passion for pushing forward the techniques of indoor cultivation sprouted in 1971 with the use of chemical products that produced plants with a healthy appearance. “I had never thought about what could occur within plants,” he says naively. “I would inconsiderately spray insecticides such as Malathion on my plants”.

It was only later that Soma’s life took another turn and that he engaged into what he calls his “ecological path.” This new way of doing things begun with an organic diet which he said he “transposed” to his way of cultivating plants. “Love is the main lessons human beings have to learn on this planet,” says the long-braided hair horticulturist. “Thirty-six years of organic cultivation practice have helped me improve the techniques and maintenance, have made me more aware and have allowed me to develop my creative side.”It is easy to understand that, for Soma, the strict personal living rules ties to veganism and organic products are inevitably applicable to his own culture rules and methods. What is good for us is good for plants, and vice versa. What is bad for us is also bad for plants, and vice versa.

In 1986, traveling through the sedimentary crystal fields of Arkansas, Soma discovered another passion—for quarts stones. “Quartz crystals have changed my life,” he said. “Minerals appeared first, and from then on plants have developed, and finally, from these plants, animals have appeared”. Crystals have a mystic significance for him, and he passionately develops, in his indoor garden installations—such as small Japanese gardens or cacti gardens—the close association of plants and crystals that he believe prosper in harmony. Quartz crystals would hence have had an ancestral beneficial influence on plant growth.

Soma attributes his spiritual introspection to what remains of his middle-class rearing in the avant-garde Pennsylvania of the mid-twentieth century. He wanted to further his research on organic gardening in North America, but American science in the field did not progress quickly enough for him. The Nixon, Ford and Carter administrations did not see it as a priority in the 1970s. And according to him, the more conservative Reagan and Bush senior administrations only made the situation worse. In the early 1990s, he got some hope, but ended up deciding on exile. According to Soma, “Amsterdam was then the only obvious refuge to explore indoor gardening techniques. It is a place where many plants have been protected from extinction”. He considered the Netherlanders’ attitude towards flora as an example of “life in heaven”.

According to Soma, the synergy between the love for plants, the fascination and interest Netherlanders demonstrate for organic techniques have brought indoor gardening much further throughout the world. By focusing on the in vitro reproduction of always better exotic plants, Soma came to the conclusion that the Netherlands are the leaders of “one of the world’s best organic quality.” Soma also supports researchers who experiment in order to produce always more organic plants, better entirely natural by-products, better seed production methods or better organic nutrient sources.

Soma’s quest remains based on the environmental and the spiritual. His method is organic but not restrictive: “I grow in soil. I use lots of worm castings, sea bird and bat guano, perlite and sea chalk called ‘maerl’.” To replace pesticides, Soma combats bugs with predator insects such as ladybugs and predatory mites. He also uses neem oil freely, which allows him to end the reproduction cycle of predators or parasites; indeed heated neem oil used as a foliar spray on the plant's infected regions will stop any reproduction activity and in a few days will lead to the end of insect generation.

Wernard Bruining, the forerunner of international hydroponics, admits, however, that produce stemming from hydroponics have a more pronounced chemical taste. One of his colleagues replies that hydroponics provide higher yields. Even though Soma’s style is motivated by spiritual ideals, he insists on the fact that organic is best, as much for the grower as for the consumer. “The grower who uses chemical products and fertilizers must remain in the indoor garden many hours a day, working in a toxic environment. You might as well work in a coal mine than work at growing plants with chemical products." Even if Soma’s colleagues are Netherlander growers who believe that the benefits of organic growing can be questioned, the main motivation is tied to good financial results, in a world where the average consumer is more and more attracted to bio products.

On this topic, Soma says that is growers let go of organic quality, the lure of money will overcome. He adds that he is already seeing a change regarding the general quality of products. Unfortunately, organic-certified products are not always still organic when they reach the consumer’s plate... Some producers are willing to put a “biological” stamp on products that are organic for only 50 or 70% of the production process, with the organic chain being cut here and there to obtain more traditional yields. Soma’s enthusiasm is not affected by these dashes in the “organic contract.” “I believe in a spiritual hierarchy in which humans being must be involved, in a certain order of things,” says Soma. “Just like light is defined as opposed to darkness, the energy of love is communicated through the practice of love. So cultivate with love!” Even though he voluntarily exiled himself to the Netherlands, Soma confirms that he is “still a patriot, and still affected by homesickness”.*

* Soma’s thoughts were gathered by Red Dragon during a recent trip to Amsterdam.

                                                  

On June 22, 2011, the American Cancer Society announced that "Choose You," a new documentary film about cancer prevention developed in collaboration with Academy Award-winning Actress Hilary Swank, will premiere this Thursday, June 23 at 9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PDT, exclusively on ChooseYou.com and Facebook.com/ChooseYou. Swank is executive producer of the film alongside Molly Mickler Smith of 2S Films and Julie and Gary Auerbach of Go Go Luckey Entertainment. "Choose You," which runs about half an hour, is directed by Tina Gazzerro, and was created to inspire women to make their own health a priority and take everyday steps to help reduce their risk of cancer.

The documentary helps mark the first anniversary of Choose You, a nationwide movement created by the American Cancer Society to raise awareness about the actions women can take to reduce their cancer risk, including eating right, exercising, avoiding tobacco, and getting recommended cancer screening tests. A new report from the American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 775,000 women will be diagnosed with cancer this year. In fact, 1 in 3 women will get cancer in her lifetime. The Choose You movement wants to help change those odds.

"Choose You" the documentary profiles three inspiring women on a journey to put their personal health first. It tells the powerful and emotional stories of why they are finally choosing themselves despite many challenges that often get in the way of a woman's personal health priorities. Through this documentary, the American Cancer Society aims to reach women across the country with the message that simple actions can help reduce their risk of cancer and help change the odds.

National presenting sponsors, SPRITE ZERO™ and Walgreens, are each providing additional marketing support on behalf of the Choose You movement to help raise awareness among women about the importance of cancer prevention.

Everyone is invited to participate in the premiere by visiting ChooseYou.com on Thursday, June 23 at 9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PDT. To receive an invitation to the online premiere, simply register at ChooseYou.com. To view the "Choose You" documentary trailer, find out more information, or to join the Choose You movement, visit ChooseYou.com.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation's largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.5 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, about 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

About 2S Films

2S Films was launched in October 2008 by two-time Academy Award winning actress and producer Hilary Swank and producer Molly Mickler Smith. With a home base and first-look deal at Alcon Entertainment, 2S was formed to develop and produce projects featuring compelling characters and dynamic stories in a variety of genres. The company's adaptation of the best-selling book "Something Borrowed" by Emily Giffin was released on May 6, 2011.  2S Films has several other projects in active development, including film versions of the acclaimed books "French Women Don't Get Fat" by Mirielle Guiliano, "You're Not You" by Michelle Wildgen, and Karen Yampolsky's "Falling Out of Fashion," as well as a slate of other diverse projects.

About Go Go Luckey Entertainment

Go Go Luckey Entertainment is a Los Angeles-based production company specializing in reality and scripted television. Led by partners Gary and Julie Auerbach, Go Go Luckey has built a reputation as one of the leading creative houses for fresh, cutting-edge programming with a signature cinematic look and style. Fusing together Gary's pioneering, award-winning reality background with Julie's scripted-television background, the company burst onto the scene in 2004 with their breakout smash hit "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County," creating a completely new genre of reality television. Today, the company is one of Hollywood's most sought after production houses by networks and brand marketers looking to connect with young-adult audiences in multiple genres in a compelling way.

Source: American Cancer Society
Related Links:
http://www.ChooseYou.com
Facebook.com/ChooseYou 

 MegaWatt HydroCulture is Proud to Present

By Tania Courte (www.megawatthydro.com)

PrimeTime™ Grow and Bloom

PrimeTime™ Grow and Bloom are specially formulated slow release fertilizers that are intended for indoor and outdoor plants alike. The advantages of these slow release fertilizers are that the nutrients are available gradually over an extended period of time. This means that the gardener can fertilize less often, and the nutrients are provided gradually and consistently:

• Controlled slow release formulation;

• Mineral enriched organic based formula;

• Increases the bio-activity in the soil;

• Acts of a repellent for deer and other mammals.

Payload Bags

                                                 

Payload Bags have rapidly become the #1 multifunction filtration bags on the market today! Payload Bags speak for themselves; they are the most effective and easy to use bags you can find. They are available in a four bag or nine bag kits, for 5 gallon or 32 gallon pails. All kits also come with a hand-pressing screen.

Features:

• Drawstring for a tight fit;

• Industrial waterproof nylon sidewalls;

• Strongest filter on the market, guaranteed pore size;

• Surge seamed with nylon upholstery thread for strength;

• Simple easy to follow instructions included;

• High quality hand-pressing screen provided.

Quantum 400W Ballast

Quantum Ballasts are the #1 selling dimmable ballasts on the market, with the Quantum 400W now available:

• run at 100% or 75% power;

• strike both Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium bulbs;

• SmartVolt 120V or 240V (both cords included);

• allows 50 Hertz to 60 Hertz;

• runs 15% cooler than other digital ballasts on the market;

• the most stable output frequency of any ballast;

• higher lumen output than magnetic ballasts;

• light weight and care free;

• 3 year no hassle warranty.

Contact your MegaWatt HydroCulture sales representative for more information at 1-800-575-2515, or visit www.megawatthydro.com.

 Friday, June 10^th: It's on! Techno-Tribal Dance 2011 is ready to blast off!

Friday night show will offer right next door in Harmony Hall, a tribute to the life of Owsley “Bear” Stanley and the musical spirit of Jerry Garcia, featuring Steve Kimock, David Nelson Band, Jesse McReynolds, and Members of Railroad Earth.

Learn more about the Friday night show HERE!

Mystic Beat Lounge presents Harmony After Dark Soul & Roots Night in amazing Grace Pavilion. Line-up includes: G. Love & Special Sauce, Soja, Rootz Underground, Gaudi, Quixotic. Masters of Ceremonies: Wisdom & Mal-Eye. Special Beatbox Performance by Radioactive, and so much more...

What’s that you say? Totally new TTD Hall design? As many of you may have heard by now, Techno-Tribal 2011 has new capacity limitations from previous years. In effort to create a wonderful new immersive Harmony After Dark experience, we’ve completely re-designed the hall. The Techno-Tribal stage is completely on the other side of the Grace Pavilion. This allowed us to create the all-new “Mystic Back Yard” area outside the rear of the building. Prepare for some brand new amazing features added to our already over-the-top show!

The Mystic Beat Lounge is absolutely thrilled to offer a SECOND VENUE at TTD2011. We're bringing in a beautiful 60' geodesic dome and illuminating it with the live inter-dimensional digital painting of visionary art legend Andrew Jones while you immerse yourself your own personal studio headphones delivering the wondrous music of... the debut of the Techno-Tribal Silent Disco featuring two switchable headphones channels of DJs: Blue Channel hosted by Juke Joint (with Malarkey, U9lift, Guacamole, CB, Chango B, and Beset) and Green Channel hosted by Groove Garden (with Dragonfly, Katiana, Sophia, Ananda, Rhythmystic, and Outersect). 

Plus, your Techno-Tribal ticket also gets you full access to the entire "HARMONY AFTER DARK" Night Festival which includes: THE HARMONY HALL "NIGHT OF BLISS" featuring: Krishna Das, Kitaro, Lost At Last Tribe, Phutureprimitive, Johnathan Singer, and live & DJ Music, Kirtan, Ceremony, Visionary Artists, and more!

YOUR TTD TICKET ALSO GRANTS YOU ACCESS TO:
THE HARMONY TEAHOUSE - DEEP GREEN ZONE - GODDESS GROVE - OASIS STAGE - TRIBE 13 & ROCK POSTER SOCIETY ART GALLERY - STREET PERFORMERS - ALL NIGHT FOOD & VENDING - BEER GARDENS - DEEP GREEN ZONE & MORE!

IMPORTANT: Techno-Tribal 2011 has a new limited capacity. This show sells out of tickets every year. Once we're full, non-ticket holders will be turned away at the door. Don't get stuck outside! SAVE $15 AND BUY YOUR TICKETS EARLY! Tickets are only $45 presale. Buy online, or save on service charges and buy tickets at any Northern California Whole Foods Market.

SONOMA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, SITE OF THE HARMONY FESTIVAL
LIMITED CAPACITY - WILL SELL OUT - AGES 18+ WITH VALID ID
SATURDAY NIGHT – 8 PM- 4 AM - $45 PRESALE - $60 @ THE DOOR

www.mysticbeatlounge.com - www.techno-tribal.com - www.harmonyfestival.com

 Emperor Lighting: Distributors Wanted!
By info@emperorlight.com

                                 

As the manufacturer of the Emperor Lighting line we are actively seeking reputable distributors in Canada and the U.S. to handle our Emperor Lighting line of products.

Emperor Lighting is the next generation of high intensity discharge lights with improved design for higher lumen output and enhanced color spectrum.  These lamps offer an unrivaled level of light quality and performance. The Emperor Lighting line has been approved for hot starts, with final testing showing the ability of Emperor Lights to be able to use the intense charge of power coming from electronic ballasts while also being able to work on magnetic ballasts. They are manufactured to the highest standards and undergo rigorous quality control testing to ensure superior dependability.

Developed by leading horticulturalists, the Emperor Lighting line has been built with the discerning grower in mind:

• engineered for use with all ballast types;

• features better color uniformity;

• continuous operation;

• longer bulb life;

• less lumen depreciation over time;

• can be used in both vertical and horizontal fixtures.

If you are interested in becoming an authorized distributor, please contact us at info@emperorlight.com.

 Hydroponics.is: New Free Online Community for Hydroponics Lovers
By Justin [justin@Hydroponics.is]

Hydroponics.is is a professional and social networking website that includes a community marketplace, forums, chat, unlimited photo galleries and online portfolios for each member of the site. It allows hydroponic gardeners and industry partners to create their own free online gallery to display their hydroponics related images.

We have been working very hard to create this useful resource and would like to invite you to try it out and let us know what you think. We would also like to ask if hydroponics industry owners and hydroponic gardeners consider listing a link to Hydroponics.is on their own website. It would be extremely supportive of what we’re trying to create and sustain, and you can also post your site in our links section.

The link below will auto-create your free account, allowing you to skip the email confirmation step and get right to posting your site in our links area. You'll be sent a password so that you can sign in and make edits to your link at any time: http://tinyurl.com/4pv2mua.

For info about linking your website to Hydroponics.is, you can find instructions and sample linking text here: www.hydroponics.is/info_linking.asp.

If you like what we’re doing with Hydroponics.is, you might also be interested in some of our other sites:
www.mybonsai.org
www.orchidcultivators.com
www.gardenphotos.org

Thanks for your time, and I appreciate any feedback you may have for me.

www.hydroponics.is

 Mystic Beat Lounge Is Announcing the 2011 Harmony Festival Techno-Tribal Dance (June 11, 2011)

By Mystic Beat Lounge [info@mysticbeatlounge.com]

Immerse yourself in an unforgettable, full spectrum collision at the vortex of sound, light, technology and talent when Harmony After Dark celebrates the 12^th anniversary of the legendary Techno-Tribal Dance with its bedazzling display of music, underground dance culture, art and performance!

Once a year there comes a weekend like no other, when the fabulous Techno-Tribal Dance takes flight in 21^st Century sound and light in the vast cathedral of Grace Pavilion. A sea of costumed, dancing people celebrate the moment to the music of top electronica artists, their eyes filled with jewels by a full spectrum laser array while breathtaking trapeze artists hang in space, painted with light and sailing in the sound field. Fire spinners dazzle the eye as dance troupes, aerialists and stilt-walkers emerge from the darkness enveloping the pulsing crowd. Then, from spirit-to-bones, we all vibrate with massive bass beats together.

Tickets on sale now at our: TICKET PAGE

Please take a moment to visit www.techno-tribal.com where you can learn about our show, listen to music, watch videos and get a glimpse into the most magical event of the year!

Program:

Ghostland Observatory

A.Skillz

Emancipator

David Starfire Ensemble
Featuring: Natacha Atlas & Tiraline

Phutureprimitive

The debut of the Techno-Tribal Silent Disco and so much more!

WORLD-CLASS LIVE MUSIC - INTERNATIONAL DJs - AERIAL CIRCUS FROM 30' ABOVE - INTERNATIONAL FIRE TROUPES & TRAPEZE FIRE SHOW - BREAKDANCERS - WORLD CLASS CIRQUE & JUGGLING TROUPES - PERFORMANCE ARTIST SHOWCASE - INTERACTIVE ART INSTALLATIONS - MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA - MASSIVE LASER & LIGHT SHOWS - LEGENDARY CHILL TEMPLE - INTERSPIRITUAL SACRED ALTARS - GLOBAL VENDORS & DELICIOUS FOOD

Plus:

THE HARMONY HALL "NIGHT OF BLISS" FEATURING:
KRISHNA DAS - KITARO
LOST AT LAST TRIBE
PHUTUREPRIMITIVE
MUSIC, KIRTAN, CEREMONY, VISIONARY ARTISTS & MORE!

Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Site of the Harmony Festival, Limited Capacity - Will Sell Out - Ages 18+ With Valid ID
Saturday Night - 8PM-4AM - $45 Presale - $60 @ The Door
Tickets Oonline & at all Northern California Whole Foods Markets.

Sponsors from the hydro world:
General Hydroponics
Canna
Hydro Pacific Garden Supply
Etc.

 Pure Food Gardening Introduces their Brand New Cloning Tray for Shelf Mounted Systems, the Microclone Rack Tray

By Bill Graham (www.planttc.com)

The Microclone Rack Tray fits into the standard chrome and steel racks chosen by clone growers for its efficient use of space and light. Many retail stores, plant shops, web postings, and magazine articles reveal how popular racks are for cloning. The prop trays line up neatly in rows of as many as four per shelf and such rack systems have five or six shelves for prop trays and low profile lighting. Fluorescent fixtures, especially T-5s, fit naturally in the plant shelves. Clone growers put their propagation trays under the lights like a baker cooling trays of cookies. Until now, growers watered and drained trays by hand. 

The Microclone Rack Tray fits the rack shelves perfectly with all those clone trays lined up inside. Clone trays can be removed, replaced, moved, watered automatically, manually with a drain, NFT, Ebb’n’Flow, nearly anything you can imagine. It was just natural to create a tray that made clone racks easier and more efficient to work with.

The Microclone Rack Tray is 45” by 25.½” to fit all common rack units and is no taller than the prop trays it is designed to hold. The Rack Tray has a flat bottom and thin raised ridges for plenty of drainage and easy cleaning, important for healthy clones. Dual drain wells in the two front (or back) corners allow the optional drain/watering systems growers may choose. A single shelf or an entire rack can be outfitted with Rack Trays, drain fittings, and tubing for easy-drain watering. Add a reservoir, pumps and fill fittings and the whole thing can automated.

Available in Canada from Brite Lite, Biofloral, and Green Planet Wholesale.

Distributors wanted in all countries. Microclone Rack Trays are available from your favorite retailer. Pure Food Gardening has a new location at 830-H Bransten Rd., San Carlos, CA 94070-3339. Tel.: 650-596-9700, Web: www.planttc.com.

 New Address and Phone Number for Fabrication ConceptLab (Jardinage d'intérieur Huntingdon, Qc)
By Maxime Collette (fabricationconceptlab@gmail.com)

Please note our new address and phone number, and don't hesitate to come and visit us!Fabrication ConceptLab / Hydro Greenhouse Equipment
Mr. Maxime Collette
72 Dalhousie, Suite 102A,
Huntingdon, Qc, J0S-1H0, Canada.
Tel: 450 322 6079.

Info: fabricationconceptlab@gmail.com.

Voilà!

 Garden Thermometers and Weathervanes from Chi Bon Metal

By tdctrade.com/chibonindl

Chi Bon Metal & Plastic Mfy., Ltd., has been established in Hong Kong since 1978. The company’s name is a symbol of quality with over 33 years of experience in manufacturing and exporting various kinds of thermometer, hygrometer, rain gauge, and auto accessories. Besides that the company is also developing different ranges of high quality and innovative OEM items, such as mini torch, LED head lamp, etc. In the recent years, they started to develop their own lighting item after gaining experience on developing OEM lighting.

Their productions, based on the high quality and competitive price, are exported to the USA, Europe and other countries. They are keeping a continuous improvement and innovative research to serve their customers with satisfaction.

Tel: (852) 2416-3581
Fax: (852) 2411-0051
Email: sales@chibon.com

 Fight Pests with Doktor Doom
By Grigg Kellock (www.doktordoom.com)

Doktor Doom products are made with Pyrethrin (a naturally occurring insecticide derived from the Chrysanthemum Flower).

Pyrethrin is a CONTACT SPRAY only and has NO RESIDUAL ACTIVITY. Pyrethrin once exposed to air, humidity and sunlight biologically decomposes within a couple of hours. Pyrethrin unlike insecticidal soaps and other products that need to be applied to the point of run-off only requires a very light misting on the foliage because Pyrethrin kills insects quickly.

Ask about the Doktor Doom One-Two Punch Spider Mite Knockout program at your favourite indoor garden centre. Doktor Doom product application tip sheets are available in store and on our website at www.doktordoom.com, be sure to take one and use it as your reference to eradicate spider mites.

Doktor Doom products kill THRIPS too!

Doktor Doom, the # 1 selling insect control products for the hydroponic and indoor gardening industry North America wide.

2. It’s back!

New Distributor for Jurassic Products in Western Canada

By Yan Dignard (produitsjurassic@hotmail.com)

Jurassic Products proudly announces that Stellar Wholesale, inc., will now distribute their line of products in Western Canada. Stellar is located in Burnaby, BC. Feel free to contact them if you want to order now.

Here is their address:    Stellar Wholesale, inc.

5980 Arbroath St.

Suite 301

Burnaby, BC, Canada

V5J 1P1

1-866-438-4025,

www.stellarinc.ca.

International Horti Fair in Amsterdam Takes over Fresh Rotterdam

By hortifair.nl

The Amsterdam Horti Fair is expanding its activities by taking over the Fresh Rotterdam Trade Show (formerly AGF Totaal). The two organizations will work together in organizing the 2011 Horti Fair edition. This important step is the Horti Fair’s response to the need in Dutch Food Crop Horticulture for a single more focused exhibition program. Participants in Fresh Rotterdam will be crossing over from a national to an international playing field. Cutting edge developments in greenhouse and cultivation technology and plant breeding, as well as fresh products and processing technique, will be on display during the first week of November 2011.

Willem Baljeu, managing director of Frugi Venta and chairman of the Fresh Rotterdam advisory committee, is delighted with this important decision. “Uniting the two exhibitions sends a strong signal that counters fragmentation. The AGF fresh fruit and vegetable exhibitors will be getting an excellent national fresh produce trade show with international stature.”

Underexposed Themes

Gone are the days when producers of fruit and vegetables concentrated only on the technique that enables the produce to be grown as well and as healthily as possible. Innovation related to the products themselves and to their marketing and sales has become at least as important as cooperation between producers and the other players in the chain. The exhibition organizers picked up these signals quite some time ago and started working on an effective response.

Repositioning

The change of direction is no accident. The Horti Fair has suffered greatly from the global crisis and the emergence of other trade fairs in the past two years. At the same time, a solid international presentation is needed more than ever. Expanding international activities is of particular importance for Dutch horticulture. Exhibition director Frans Peter Dechering is taking a new step forward with the Horti Fair: “Dutch horticulture fulfils an important role in devising and applying solutions for global challenges like famine, drought and the availability of energy. This role is also naturally expressed in the production and supply of outstanding fresh produce, from cut flowers and pot plants to vegetables and fruits. We have a strong sector to be proud of and the expertise to make a contribution.”

Trade Fairs

The Horti Fair is the international trade fair for food crop horticulture and floriculture that takes place in Amsterdam every year. It is the world’s most complete horticultural trade fair in the fields of breeding, genetics and greenhouse technology with a strong focus on producers and entrepreneurs.

Fresh Rotterdam is an event comprising the trade fairs InnoFresh, for innovative fresh produce, and FreshTec, for fresh produce technology. It takes place in Ahoy Rotterdam.

About Horti Fair 2011:

 Iran Horti Fair 2011
By info@hortifair.ir

The Third Iran Horticulture Exhibition will be held in Tehran, Iran, from April 28^th to May 1^st, 2011 at the Tehran International Exhibition Center. It is the biggest horticultural show in the Middle-East. Teheran International exhibition center covers an area of 1.3 M m², and consists of 62 halls. The first international exhibition in this venue was held in 1969.

The 2011 horticultural fair event is organised by Khazar EurAsia Exhibition company whose objective is to pioneer and organize foreign fairs and trade shows in Iran. It started its activity in the early 2000’s and since then constantly developed.

The main focuses of the Iran Horti Fair are on plants, technology, innovative hydroponic techniques, floriculture and sales promotion. The Exhibition is sponsored by “Trade Promotion Organization of Iran” and is held each year. This event is one of the largest of its kind in the Middle-East and it will attract a huge number of visitors from across the world, especially from Asia and the Middle East.

The Exhibition will host exhibitors from countries such as the Netherlands, Korea, Japan, China, Italy, France, Germany, Turkey, Spain, India, Kuwait, UAE and Russia. Visitors will come from Iran and from countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, UAE, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Kirgizstan and Kazakhstan.

Note: There is no relation between Iran Horti Fair in Tehran and the annual Horti Fair show in Amsterdam. As of next year, our exhibition brand will be changed from Iran HortiFair to Iran Hortex 2012.

More info at: http://hortifair.ir, (info@hortifair.ir)

and Khazar Eurasia, www.khazareurasia.ir, (info@khazareurasia.ir)

 #7 Arasbaaraan Ave., Seyed,

Khandaan Bridge, Tehran 15 41 91 48 11, Iran
Tel: +98 (21) 22863787 / Fax: +98 (21) 22890475.

 Botanicare is Proud to Present Its New Hortitrellis!

By Botanicare (info@botanicare.net)

Botanicare^® is Proud to introduce its new plant support trellis. Botanicare Hortitrellis is a tough plant netting used to train and support your plants.

Characteristics:

• Use vertically with support stakes;
• Use horizontally with hydro systems;
• Made with durable plastic which can be used over and over;
• Will not tangle;
• Available in lengths up to 3280’.

For retailers, Botanicare also introduces their new, full colour bag headers to display their products at eye level.

www.botanicare.com

 Plant Health: Pest Control with Doktor Doom’s Foggers and Insecticide Plant Sprays
By Grigg Kellock (inquiries@doktordoom.com)

To Prevent Spider Mites Infestation, Two Products

1 – Doktor Doom One-Two Punch for Spider Mite Eradication:

Apply Doktor Doom Spider Mite Knockout insecticide plant spray in short bursts to the undersides of the foliage and immediately after this, use a Dr. Doom total release fogger. This application will need to be repeated every 3 to 4 days for three life cycles to completely eradicate spider mites. Always do this in the dark (no HID lights on) and extinguish any open flames prior to fogging.

Learn the life cycles of the insects that you are trying to eradicate. Spider mites, for example, lay eggs when they smell a product trying to kill them. So to completely eradicate the spider mite, it is best to use our One–Two Punch for spider mite eradication.

                                                        

2 – Doktor Doom Spider Mite Knockout Insecticide Plant Spray:

Doktor Doom Spider Mite Knockout insecticide plant spray contains 0.20% pyrethrin and does not have any other active ingredients. It should be used in conjunction with Dr. Doom’s total release foggers. Our plant spray is equipped with a special spray valve that will spray in all directions, even upside down for hard to reach areas. Unlike existing products that require saturation of the foliage, the high concentration of pyrethrin in this product requires short bursts and a light misting of the underside of the foliage only – do not soak the foliage with this product.

Components That Meet US Standards

1 – Doktor Doom foggers are now proudly made in the USA:

Dr. Doom total release foggers contain natural pyrethrin at 0.40% pyrethrin and 2.0% piperoynl butoxide. These foggers kill insects on contact and do not leave any residues on the foliage.

2 – Dr. Doom products are made without perfumes, attars or unnecessary oils, thus making the foliage 100% usable after harvest.

You can make and consume essential oils and pressed products with 100% confidence that you are not ingesting chemicals that could be harmful to your health, as natural pyrethrin and piperoynl butoxide biodegrade in a matter of hours after exposure to sunlight (HID lighting), air flow and humidity. It is always best to give your plants a final rinse with water prior to harvesting, just to wash away any dust, dirt or other airborne particles that may have come to rest on the foliage.

New Packaging Sizes to Choose from and New Distributors

1 – Doktor Doom has repackaged its Total Release Insecticide Foggers:

Now our foggers are available in a 3 oz can, a 5.5 oz can and a 12.5 oz can. These cans will effectively fumigate and rid indoor growing areas of spider mites, thrips, white flies, aphids, scales, fungus gnats and most other crop-damaging insects in spaces up to 3,000 cubic feet, 5,500 cubic feet and 12,500 cubic feet respectively. To know what size is best for your grow room, calculate the cubic feet as follows: L x W x H = (volume in cubic feet). Be sure to use the right size of Dr. Doom total release fogger for your indoor area – more is not needed.  

The new 3 oz, 5.5 oz and 12.5 oz cans

2 – Our Distribution Team is Expanding:

Doktor Doom is available from National Garden Wholesale: 1 888 478-6544, Bloomington Wholesale Garden Supplies: 1 800 316-1306, BioFloral (1 877 384-9376), MegaWatt HydroCulture (1 800 575-2515), and Hydrofarm West: 1 800 634-9990 or Hydrofarm East: 1 888 780-4567. Dr. Doom proudly announces that Hydrofarm is now distributing our products. Please contact Hydrofarm West at 1 800 634-9990 or Hydrofarm East at 1 888 780-4567 for more information. Contact Dr. Doom at inquiries@doktordoom.com or 1 800 452-0023 for more information and to find the distributor closest to you.

Doktor Doom takes insects seriously – it kills them!

 Welcome to Val d’Orcia: Book Your Stay at Podere Pietreta Farmhouse (in Radicofani, Siena)

By Podere Pietreta (info@pietreta.it)

                               

Come discover the charm of Val d’Orcia with its gentle hills and historic cities, the colours of the countryside and the ancient towers, tasting the world-famous wine and typical Tuscan food.

The Podere Pietreta farmhouse (in Radicofani, Siena) is positioned on a hill, in a position of exceptional beauty within the natural and artistic park of Val d’Orcia, declared a world-heritage site by UNESCO.

Choose to spend some days in this ancient, recently restored farmhouse and you will surely find the apartment for you, elegantly furnished with furniture from the era but still providing all modern comforts.

On our new website (www.poderepietreta.it/eng/index.asp), you will find detailed descriptions of the farmhouse and its park, with pictures and videos, recommended routes and all the events and festivals in the surroundings of Radicofani.

You will also find special offers which will give you the possibility of appreciating authentic Tuscan food and getting special discounts at the fantastic thermal baths in San Casciano Bagni. We hope to see you soon at Pietreta.

Contact: www.pietreta.it, info@pietreta.it.

 In A Nutshell: Herbs and Their Virtues

By V. Green (info@tigmag.com)

For millennia, herbs have played an important role in our daily lives. Discover their multiple culinary, medicinal, cosmetic, decorative and domestic uses.

                                           

Oregano

Oregano-leaf tea is good against colds and the flu, indigestion and menstrual pains.

                                               

Laurel

Laurel branches in your house will refresh the atmosphere! In Brittany, on Palm Sunday, a week before Easter, tradition is to hang a laurel palm indoors next to the crucifix. The next year’s Ash Wednesday, first day of lent, they are burnt to turn them to ashes and perfume the house.

                                           

Boxwood

Catholics also use boxwood (like laurel) for Palm Sunday. Boxwood is dense and hard, and is used for sculpture and wood turning. It is used to make music instruments and chess pieces. A boxwood hedge will ensure your garden stays cool and nicely humid.

                                          

Lavender and Marjoram

Dried lavender and marjoram in your closets will keep mites at bay!

                                                      

Aloe

Aloe is famous for its use in cosmetology, and considered a religious symbol by Muslims.

To find out more

To discover all the properties and benefits of the main herbs, browse through Richters Herb Catalog Directory (www.richters.com). For millennia, herbs have played an important role in our daily lives. Discover their multiple culinary, medicinal, cosmetic, decorative and domestic uses. Tips and tricks will help you get a bountiful personal herb garden. A detailed description gives you all the traits and properties of each herb. Super colour photographs faithfully reproduce the herbs to help you identify them. You’ll quickly realize how these natural treasures can be beneficial. There are many, many reasons to peruse Richters Herb Catalog Directory.

You can learn so much:

• Complete herbal directory: Discover fascinating information on each herb, its description, fragrance, benefits;
• Decorating with herbs: Make wreaths, bouquets and garlands that beautify your home.
• Healing with herbs: The curative virtues of medicinal herbs are explained. With them, you can improve your physical condition.
• Cultivating herbs: Learn how to grow herbs, following step-by-step instructions. You’ll have fresh herbs all year round.
• Cooking with herbs: From salty hors-d’oeuvres to delicious deserts, follow the recipes!
• Herbs in the house: Herbs can be very useful throughout the house, as perfumes or to create an atmosphere. Discover new trends and ancient traditions.
• Beauty with herbs: Make your own natural beauty products! Create your own perfumes, hydrating lotions, eau de toilette, creams and much more...

See: www.richters.com.

 CubeCap^® Canada is Proud to Introduce their new long awaited 6” (15cm) Square DripCap^®

                 

The new Grodan^® approved 6” Square DripCap^® minimizes Algae and Algae related problems while saving water & nutrients. It hosts a list of other attributes like a new “One size fits all” Hose holder which accommodates 4 mm to 7.6 mm diameters. A new innovative Drip technology allows for an even saturation of the growing medium promoting larger root mass & yields with more uniformity.

www.cubecap.ca.

info@cubecap.ca.

 HOMEbox “S” Is Now Available in High-Reflective Silver Material
By Denis (HOMEbox)

            

Our HOMEbox “S” is now available with the highly reflective silver material which characterizes the inside of our other HOMEboxes. This special coating produces a more effective light distribution in the HOMEbox which already provides a higher light reflection factor than all other boxes on the market. This new HOMEbox also offers innumerable other options for indoor gardening.

 April 2011 Industry News: MegaWatt is Proud to Present
By Tania Courte (www.megawatthydro.com)

PrimeTime™ Grow and Bloom Fertilizers

PrimeTime™ Grow and Bloom specially formulated slow release fertilizers that are intended for indoor and outdoor plants alike. The advantages of these slow release fertilizers are that the nutrients are available gradually over an extended period of time. This means that the gardener can fertilize less often, and the nutrients are provided gradually and consistently.

• Controlled slow release formulation;

• Mineral enriched organic based formula;

• Increases the bio-activity in the soil;

• Acts of a repellent for deer and other mammals.

The Spinner™: A Plant Rotating Vertical Garden

The Spinner is a fully enclosed hydroponic growth chamber in which the individual plants are automatically rotated on their axis, exposing the entire plant to a centrally mounted light source. The roots are fed via "flood-and-drain"; the atmosphere is controlled via one 110 CFM intake fan and one 110 CFM exhaust fan. What this means is that the plants within the Spinner receive the ultimate care, with very little maintenance.

        

_ _ _ _ _

 Visit Montreal’s Orchidexpo 2011! 
By http://orchidophilesmontreal.ca

One of the reasons why people go to Canada to participate in  Montreal’s Orchidexpo 2011 is that the event is one of the most important orchids trade show on the East Coast. The exhibition is organized each year by “Les Orchidophiles de Montreal” in association with the American Orchid Society. Orchidexpo 2011 will take place April 09 and 10, 2011 at CEGEP de Maisonneuve. Organizers strive to make this trade show entertaining for visitors, and for participants who can present their flowers, ideas or services. Montreal’s Orchidexpo offers the possibility to learn more about current trends as well as meet colleagues, partners and clients. Read more about the event at http://orchidophilesmontreal.ca.

About the AOS:

One of the primary goals of the American Orchid Society (AOS) is to promote the hobby of growing orchids. Since 1921, the AOS has been in the business of educating and spreading the good word about this amazing obsession. Through the years, the Society’s educational resources have increased substantially and today, the AOS is the unquestioned world leader in its field.

List of participants: http://orchidophilesmontreal.ca/documents/listemarchands.pdf.
Registration Form: http://orchidophilesmontreal.ca/documents/inscription2011.pdf.

Rules : http://orchidophilesmontreal.ca/documents/rules2011.pdf.

CéGEP de Maisonneuve
2700 Bourbonnière, Montreal, Qc
Subway Station: Pie IX
Map: http://orchidophilesmontreal.ca/documents/carte06.jpg.
Informations: www.orchidophiles.qc.ca

These high-performance inline duct blowers are constructed from quality steel and feature a resilient and attractive hammertone power-coat finish.