Gardening with Hydroponics
by January 7, 2015 9:41 am 393 views
Gardening with Hydroponics – An Idea Not So New
Local Expert to Explain “Hydroponics at a Glance” at Hobbs State Park
Most people have never heard of the word “hydroponics”, and it’s easy to believe that it is a new concept. The fact is that hydroponics has been in use for thousands of years. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, is believed to have functioned according to hydroponic principles. Built around 600 BC, it is thought that the lush gardens were irrigated by lifting water from the Euphrates River, and then having it trickle down each landing of the garden structure. In effect, the gardens were soilless.
Benefits of hydroponics include: The nutrients in a hydroponic system are mixed with the water and sent directly to the root system; therefore, the plant does not have to search in the soil for the nutrients that it requires. Plants grow 30 to 50 percent faster than in soil. The yield of the plants is greater, a real plus if you like a lot of tomatoes and you only have or want to garden in a small space. In general, plants grown hydroponically are healthier, and at the same time, most gardeners agree that hydroponically grown foods not only taste better but are more nutritional.
For 7 years, Jason Worley, a Bella Vista businessman, has been involved with indoor and outdoor hydroponic gardening as his livelihood. An expert, if you will, he is eager to share the ease and pleasure of soilless hydroponic gardening techniques that will allow even the novice to have a beautiful and delicious garden all year long with no more hassling with messy soils. According to Worley, “These old techniques give gardener new options to create surprisingly productive gardens”.
Where: Hobbs State Park visitor center located on Hwy 12 just east of the Hwy12/War Eagle Road intersection.
When: Sunday January 11, 2015 2:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE The public is invited.
For more information call: 479-789-5000
To learn more about upcoming Friends of Hobbs speakers and other park programs, go to the web site: http://www.friendsofhobbs.com.