“Non-Flowing” Hydroponic System Uses Less Energy, Works In Small Spaces

2015 - Volume #39, Issue #2, Page #11

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Whether you have a little space in your basement or want to operate a full-blown greenhouse operation, a Canadian entrepreneur says she can set you up with a simple-to-use vertical food growing system.
    “It’s hydroponic, but non-flowing so it doesn’t need power to run pumps,” explains Claire Fortin, founder of All Systems Grow Ltd., Osoyoos, B.C.
    Her mobile, expandable system starts with 2 1/2-gal. grow pails that hold 2 to 6 plants from seed to harvest in 2-in. cups. Each is filled with water and a nutrient mix. For some plants, such as lettuce and kale, it’s enough water for the life of the plant. For larger plants, such as tomatoes and peppers, more water and nutrients can be added during the fruit-forming stage.
    “It uses less than 1/10th of the water used in a garden, because you don’t lose water to evaporation,” Fortin says. “The beauty of this is that you aren’t at the mercy of the elements. There are no insect problems like there are in soil systems.”
    She has also experimented with multiple crops from greens to peppers and tomatoes to see what works.
    “Basil does really well in the system, also strawberries and stevia,” she says. But there are some differences in varieties. For example, 2 lettuce varieties thrived in her grow unit, while 2 did not. Because of that, Fortin suggests customers purchase a ready-to-go kit ‑ pail, cups, nutrient mix and seed ‑ to ensure a successful harvest.
    Since taking early retirement as a finance director, she has studied and researched the best food growing and natural building systems and developed a passion for a new lifestyle that involves growing fresh, local food without pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.
    “This appeals to anyone who wants to be food independent or live sustainably,” she says.
    Prices start at $10 for a single EZGrow pail to $2,000 for an outdoor greenhouse that doesn’t need power with 160 grow pails to grow 320 plants in 64 sq. ft. or start 1,000 plants (see YouTube: All Systems Grow Vertical Grow Greenhouse Video 3).
    She has also developed a commercial non-flowing hydroponic system using 4-in. pvc pipe ($3,500 Canadian). With grow lights included it can be set up in a 2 by 10 by 7-ft. high area to grow 392 plants.
    Fortin welcomes inquiries from investors and dealers interested in growing her company.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Claire Fortin, All Systems Grow, P.O. Box 433, Osoyoos, B.C., Canada V0H 1V0 (ph 250 408-5029; allsystemsgrow@gmail.com; www.allsystemsgrow.weebly.com).

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“Non-Flowing” Hydroponic System Uses Less Energy Works In Small Spaces CROPS New Techniques Whether you have a little space in your basement or want to operate a full-blown greenhouse operation a Canadian entrepreneur says she can set you up with a simple-to-use vertical food growing system “It’s hydroponic but non-flowing so it doesn’t need power to run pumps ” explains Claire Fortin founder of All Systems Grow Ltd Osoyoos B C Her mobile expandable system starts with 2 1/2-gal grow pails that hold 2 to 6 plants from seed to harvest in 2-in cups Each is filled with water and a nutrient mix For some plants such as lettuce and kale it’s enough water for the life of the plant For larger plants such as tomatoes and peppers more water and nutrients can be added during the fruit-forming stage “It uses less than 1/10th of the water used in a garden because you don’t lose water to evaporation ” Fortin says “The beauty of this is that you aren’t at the mercy of the elements There are no insect problems like there are in soil systems ” She has also experimented with multiple crops from greens to peppers and tomatoes to see what works “Basil does really well in the system also strawberries and stevia ” she says But there are some differences in varieties For example 2 lettuce varieties thrived in her grow unit while 2 did not Because of that Fortin suggests customers purchase a ready-to-go kit ‑ pail cups nutrient mix and seed ‑ to ensure a successful harvest Since taking early retirement as a finance director she has studied and researched the best food growing and natural building systems and developed a passion for a new lifestyle that involves growing fresh local food without pesticides herbicides and fungicides “This appeals to anyone who wants to be food independent or live sustainably ” she says Prices start at $10 for a single EZGrow pail to $2 000 for an outdoor greenhouse that doesn’t need power with 160 grow pails to grow 320 plants in 64 sq ft or start 1 000 plants see YouTube: All Systems Grow Vertical Grow Greenhouse Video 3 She has also developed a commercial non-flowing hydroponic system using 4-in pvc pipe $3 500 Canadian With grow lights included it can be set up in a 2 by 10 by 7-ft high area to grow 392 plants Fortin welcomes inquiries from investors and dealers interested in growing her company Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Claire Fortin All Systems Grow P O Box 433 Osoyoos B C Canada V0H 1V0 ph 250 408-5029; allsystemsgrow@gmail com; www allsystemsgrow weebly com

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