The hydroponic Family Farm Not only a concept but also a practical reality Noucetta Kehdi GH Europe
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The concept of a hydroponic Family Farm was born in California at the White Owl WaterFarm, 1990. The WOW was created by William Texier and myself in Sebastopol, California in 1990, and became successful enough to demonstrate that it was a viable and profitable operation. Today, with the numerous changes our society is going through, the concept is spreading globally.
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A traditional Family Farm in the Perm area
Their number receded with industrialization and rural migrations worldwide so that food became a distant commodity.
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Family Farms today TODAY FAMILY FARMS RESPOND TO OUR SOCIETY’S NEEDS FOR FRESH AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD, IN AN ECOLOGICAL CONTEXT. THEIR MAIN GOAL IS TO: • produce and distribute quality food locally • reduce costs, with direct supplies from producer to consumer. • save on resources with minimal packaging and shipping • supplement family income • contribute to the welfare of the local economy
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What’s hydroponics ? HYDROPONICS IS THE WAY TO GROW PLANTS OUT OF SOIL, OFTEN IN PLASTIC CONTAINERS, WITH OXYGEN RICH WATER AS A MEDIUM, AND HIGHLY SOLUBLE NUTRITIVE MINERALS.
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Why hydroponics ?
HYDROPONICS OPTIMIZES YOUR RESULTS 1. An average of 30% higher yields 2. 80 to 90% savings on water and nutrients 3. Very high propagation rate 4. Excellent return upon investment
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The GH contribution Sustainability, quality, simplicity, and innovation
OUR SPECIALTY: 30 years experience in plant nutrition. 30 years hydroponics know-how. Fast and competent advice and follow up
+ Made-to-measure, highly efficient hydroponic systems, and a complete, and concentrated hydroponic nutrient line.
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The GH contribution Sustainability, quality, simplicity, and innovation OFFICIAL REGISTRATION IN RUSSIA FOR FLORA SERIES SINCE 2008
The rest of our line is normally due end 2012
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The GH contribution Sustainability, quality, simplicity, and innovation
QUALITY LABELS FOR YOUR PRODUCE “Sustainable agriculture” when using the General Hydroponics line of nutrients. “Bioponics*” when using the General Organics line of nutrients. * Bioponics was invented and patented by William Texier at GH Europe, in 2005.
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A hydroponic industrial farm Single-crop farming with an accent on production
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A hydroponic family farm Diversified crops farming with an accent on quality
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THE LIMIT IS YOUR CHOICE ! A small kitchen system Medium scale system Large operation
To keep a human scale to our family farms, we prefer to work on 600 to 5,000 m2 operations. BRINGING NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY TOGETHER
How to start hydroponics? Common parameters to soil and hydroponics: Lighting, humidity, temperature, ventilation, cleanliness, prevention, etc… adapted to the crop’s needs, as for any other type of gardening project.
Specific to hydroponics:
EC (Electroconductivity) pH level Oxygen and the nutritive solution temperature Close control of nutrition
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How to start your family farm?
DESIGN YOUR PROJECT
Home growing … … or income supplement ? 1. 2. 3. 4.
Define your market Define your crops Define your production space Choose your hydroponic material
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How to start your family farm? Choose your hydroponics material
Do not save on quality! 1. Hydroponic systems 2. Nutrient 3. Supplements
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Examples of Hydroponic Family Farms Gypsy peppers, arrugula and genovese basil inside the greenhouse
The White Owl WaterFarm Sebastopol, California 1990 - 1994 • • • • •
AeroFlo 150 x 3 m growing chambers 2250 plant sites 2 workers - 3/4 h/day - 7/7 500 pds/month (230 kg/month) 6 US$/pd = 3,000 US$/month - In 1994
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Examples of Hydroponic Family Farms Gypsy peppers growing outside, in one of the first generation of AeroFlos.
The White Owl WaterFarm Sebastopol, California 1990 - 1994
Amazing harvests !
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Examples of Hydroponic Family Farms Visit in Septembre 2009 Varieties of herbs and salads
Svezhaya Zelen Perm - Russia 2009 - Still going on
We will continue collaboration with M. Ivan Dyakov in the near future.
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Examples of Hydroponic Family Farms Preparing new plants at Double Bonus Septembre 2012
Double Bonus Saint Barthelemy Carribeans 2010 - Still going on
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Examples of Hydroponic Family Farms Preparing seedlings of different varieties of salads - Septembre 2012
Lechugas Purificaci贸n Gonzales Cantabria - Spain 2012
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Where to do hydroponics? Science barge in New York City
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Everywhere! Any place where climatic conditions are extreme, land poor or scarce, food production distant, habitat dense, etc, etc.
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Hydroponic Family Farms
Where to do hydroponics? QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture.
Rooftop in Grenoble, France BRINGING NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY TOGETHER
Hydroponic Family Farms
Where to do hydroponics? Everywhere!
Tara oceanographic research vessel BRINGING NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY TOGETHER
Hydroponic Family Farms
The greenhouse at GH Europe In our greenhouses in the South-West of France, we grew 250 to 300 species of plants over the years, for our own collection, for research, and for testing.
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Hydroponic Family Farms
The greenhouse at GH Europe If you’d like to start your project, we can certainly assist you!
Also with the help of our friends and distributors in Russia, Growtrade, in Perm
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Hydroponic Family Farms
The greenhouse at GH Europe Please visit our booth, we will be happy to give you more information. In English and in Russian, with the help of our friends and distributors in Russia, Growtrade, in Perm
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For more information INQUIRE WITH SPECIALIZED COMPANIES SIMPLE AND FAST GH catalog p 44-45
Books, articles, studies, and much more information can be found on Internet.
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For more information COMPLETE AND DETAILED “Hydroponics for everybody”, by William Texier, in English (february 2013), and in Russian (end 2013)
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SCIENTIFIC AND EXTENSIVE "Soilless Culture – Theory and Practice”, by M. Ravif and H. Lieth from UC Davis in California
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