The Nutrient Pond or Hydroponic Raft System

We call it the Nutrient Pond technique, but it is also called the Hydroponic Raft System. It's the method that Chuck and I employ in all our greenhouses to grow our Boston and Specialty Lettuce plants, as well as our Herbs and Pak Choi. Crisp Salad Greens is surging ahead, supplying our local area with healthy salad greens and vegetables. I discovered this great website which explains how to set up such a system either in your own home or in a greenhouse of whatever size. In these tough economic times, growing your own food is becoming more and more attractive! (We don't mind the competition, as long as you eat healthy!)

clipped from www.howtohydroponics.com An Easily Expanded Concept For Commercial Production Many commercial greenhouses use the hydroponic RAFT system to grow lettuces and other short-stature salad bowl crops and flowers. Be building the hydroponic lettuce raft system in How-To Hydroponics, you'll gain an understanding for the techology which could easily be applied to a much larger area if so desired. The picture at left shows a medium scale hydroponic lettuce raft system at Epcot Center in Orlando Fl. The hydroponic lettuce raft system is easy to assemble from inexpensive, household parts. The Hydroponic raft system operates by floating plants above an Oxygen infused bath of nutrients into which the roots grow. The hydroponic raft system is suitable for short-stature plants such as lettuces, kitchen herbs and other small varieties.