I have had little pragmatic use from it. I got a better understanding of hydroponics in general but he goes through so many options for everything. One of the more intriguing methods he shows was outdoor hydroponics where they laser level a field, an acre or two and then make channels about 60 inches wide and line them with plastic. Then they float rafts of lettuces in the channels, filling them up as the days go by and eventually rotating harvested floats back to seeding. The method avoids the major expenses of greenhouse growing -- the structure, the heating system, the heat -- but of course you have to have weather that works. They were doing this in California where it only rains twice a year.
I have seen somewhat similar outdoor hydro used to strawberries. They come pre-started in bags of coco-fiber and you just daisy chain your water. One picture showed the bags laid on top of a kind of running bench, about 4 feet off the ground -- perfect for tending and picking and probably avoids some small critter damage.
I punted and bought 2 Aerogarden units on ebay at around $45 each. They have been great and I can't keep up with the romaine and spotted Simpson that I have in them right now. Greens sprout in 25 to 48 hours and are ready to pick at 20 days or so. Would like to do more hydroponics this year, maybe tomatoes outdoors in buckets.
Happy gardening MK! I look forward to updates.
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