Our Own Hydroponics Magazine:
Hydroponics for Market Growers
After farming for a few years and experiencing the trials and tribulations of real-world crop management, we began looking into ways to boost our crop production in cost effective, sustainable, low-tech ways. While exploring a variety of ideas, we learned about hydroponics: an approach which proved to be a solid addition to our farming activities.
The more we looked into it, the more we realized what a powerful approach this could be for anyone raising food or market crops. Yet most of the hydroponics magazines and books were written either for hobbyists or large-scale production.
In 2003 we decided to fill that void, by launching a self-published hydroponics magazine called Hydroponics for Market Growers. Our aim was to provide information about low-tech, cost-effective hydroponic methods for small-scale growers such as ourselves. It was fun to research, pleasantly challenging to write, and profoundly rewarding to hear the feedback.
But it was exhausting work. And it was expensive work. We spent tens of thousands of dollars, along with untold hours, promoting and producing the magazine, without nearly that much coming back in from sales.
After awhile, we just couldn't do it anymore.
We finally made the decision in Summer 2004 to pull the plug. We could not publish the magazine and build the farm at the same time. It was a really hard decision, letting this creation of ours die on the vine, so to speak. But looking back, we still think it was the right decision.
Yet the information we gathered and published is still valid, it's still important, and it could still help small scale growers achieve their self reliance, community-feeding goals. So we're bringing it back.
Our days publishing hydroponics magazines are probably over. But we offer all our back issues of Hydroponics for Market Growers as back issues. Specifically, we're selling them online again as PDF files, which are easily downloaded, stored, printed out and disseminated. Print versions are no longer available.
Each issue of Hydroponics for Market Growers is available as a PDF document, at the individual price of $4.99. We invite you to scroll through the Tables of Contents for both Volume 1 and Volume 2, listed below. You may choose whichever issue(s) you are interested in, in any combination.
Thank you in advance for your interest, and please contact us if you have any questions. May the information we gathered be of good use to you in your own farming endeavors.
Volume I, Issue I
May, 2003
Table Of Contents:
Welcome letter
About This Magazine - a letter from the publisher
Letters from readers
Article: Measuring the Quality and Quantity of your Light Source
Article: Introduction to Cost Effective Drip Irrigation
Article: Where The Help Is: How to Find Inexpensive, Qualified Help
Article: Advantages of using Open Pollinated and Heirloom Seeds
Product Review: Poly Grow Bags
Book Review: Four Seasons Harvesting by Elliot Coleman
Classifieds
Future Articles
Volume I, Issue 2
July, 2003
Table Of Contents:
Publisher’s Letter
Readers’s Questions
Article: Organic Certification Of Hydroponic Crops - The Dream and the Realities
Article: Compost Teas and Hydroponics – A Good Combination?
Article: Greenhouse Alternatives – How to Improve Your Growing Area For Less
Article: Low Cost Hydro at Oregon’s Microfarm Sustainable Research and Education Organization
Article: An Introduction to Cost Effective Aeroponics
Product Review: Large Sprouting/Floor Irrigation Trays
Book Review: Compost Tea Brewing Manual
Classified Ads
In Our Next Issue
Volume I, Issue 3
September, 2003
Table of Contents:
Publisher's Letter
Readers' Letters
Introduction to Aquaponics, Part 1
Sprouts - A Lucrative Market Crop?
Raising Hydroponic Fodder Crops
From Soil-Based to Hydroponics - How to Transfer Plants from one system to another
Book Review
Product Review
Classifieds
Coming In the Next Issue
Volume I, Issue 4
November, 2003
Table Of Contents:
Publisher's Letter
Readers' Letters
Introduction to Aquaponics, Part II
Day Length, Photoperiodism and Implications for Growers
Hydroponic Herbs: A Case Study
From Seed to Tank: Using Hydroponic Crops to Make Biodiesel
Book Review - ATTRA
Product Review - Metal Rod Connectors
Classifieds
Coming In the Next Issue
Volume I, Issue 5
January, 2004
Table Of Contents:
Publisher's Letter
Readers' Letters
Publishing Information
Permaculture & Hydroponics - The Odd Couple, or a Match Made In Heaven?
Magic Bullets - Gibberellic Acid
Introduction to Hydroponic Flower Production
Pollination of Greenhouse Crops - A Grower's Options
Book Review
Product Review
Classifieds
Coming In the Next Issue
Volume I, Issue 6
March, 2004
Table Of Contents:
Publisher's Letter
Readers' Letters
Heating 101: Intro to The Physics, Chemistry & Biology of Heat
Conventional Heating Options for Hydroponic Greenhouses
Alternative Warmth - Less Common Heating Fuels & Systems
Don't Heat Your Greenhouse Twice: How to Save The Heat You Make
Book Review
Product Review
Classifieds
Coming In the Next Issue
Volume II, Issue 1
May, 2004
Table Of Contents:
Publisher's Letter
Readers' Letters
Introduction to Hydroponic Oregano
Introduction to Nutrient Solutions
Magic Bullets: Chelated Minerals
The How's and Why's of CO2 Generation
Book Review
Product Review
Classifieds
Coming In the Next Issue
Volume II, Issue 2
July, 2004
Table Of Contents:
Publisher's Letter
Readers' Letters
News From Here
Food For Thought
Introduction to Hydroponic Bedding Plants
Tidbits
Urban Agriculture: Farming for the 21st Century?
Information 101: Sources of Knowledge for Growers
Taming Humidity: Tips & Tricks
Book Review
Product Review
Classifieds
Coming In the Next Issue
Our Successful Farming and Ranching Books
We released our very first self-published book. The Chicken Coop Manual in 2014. It is a full color guide to conventional and alternative poultry housing options, including 8 conventional stud construction plans, 12 alternative housing methods, and almost 20 different design features. This book is available on Amazon.com and as a PDF download. Please visit The Chicken Coop Manual page for more information.
Rabbit Colonies: Lessons Learned
We started with rabbits in 2002, and we've been experimenting with colony management ever since. Fast forward to 2017, when I decided to write another book, this time about colony management. The book is chock-full of practical information, and is available from both Amazon and as a PDF download. Please visit the Rabbit Colonies page for more information.
The Pastured Pig Handbook
We are currently working on our next self-published book: The Pastured Pig Handbook. This particular book addresses a profitable, popular and successful hog management approach which sadly is not yet well documented. Our handbook, will cover all the various issues involved with pastured hog management, including case studies of numerous current pastured pig operations. If you have any questions about this book, please Contact Us.
Weblog Archives
We published a farm blog between January 2011 and April 2012. We reluctantly ceased writing them due to time constraints, and we hope to begin writing them again someday. In the meantime, we offer a Weblog Archive so that readers can access past blog articles at any time.
If and when we return to writing blogs, we'll post that news here. Until then, happy reading!