Hydroponics in a SHTF or WROL Situation

I keep seeing more and more videos on You Tube and writings in blogs about preparing for some type of Armageddon. With the way things are going I can see why some people are really getting concerned. If you really think about it, most of us rely heavily on our local grocery store. If society broke down for what ever reason could you feed you and your family for a year, a month, a week?

I not talking about a bad storm that knocks out your power for a few days. I'm referring to a collapse of society that lasts a year or more. A real Mad Max-The Road Warrior, gun toting bandits out to steal the remaining few drops of gasoline, and YOUR FOOD.

Why build the Percolator?

I had a subscriber on You Tube ask me a pretty straight forward question. He basically asked, why build build the Percolator when a bubbleponics system would be so much easier? Couldn't you just put a hole in the lid without the PVC pipe and add an air stone? This in part was my response.

  If you wanted to build a bubbleponics type system you would not need the PVC tube at all. Yes you could just drill a tiny hole in the lid and feed the tube through it, no silicone necessary. I did not want to build a simple bubbleponics system.
This is a variation of a top drip system. It was made to eliminate a few issues I was having building an inexpensive home made system.

Sure To Grow Promo You Tube Contest WINNER!

http://www.hydroponicsfriend.com

This is my first submission for Sure To Grow's You Tube contest Show Some Love, and I WON!!!

Going from Hydroponics to soil you can see the roots growing right through the STG Cube.

Going from Soil to Hydroponics, even after a couple weeks the surface of the STG Cube is still white and clean.

This video was made mostly with out takes and extra footage from my other videos. You will see I use STG Cubes in many of my videos. Please explore my Youtube channel and take a look around, I think you will enjoy them.

Have Fun! More videos on the way.

Build your own Ebb and Flow / Flood and Drain Hydroponics System DIY Animated Version

http://HydroponicsFriend.com

I hope this video will show how and encourage people to build their own Ebb and Flow Hydroponics System. This is a fun hobby for me and I believe other people would enjoy it too if they knew how easy and relatively inexpensive it can be.

Why an Animated Version? It allows me to show the inner workings of how this Ebb and Flow system works. I suspect this is something a person who has never seen one in action would want to see. It will also take some of the mystery out of it. This shows how simple a Hydroponics system can be. It also allows me to show variations without having to build several systems. And finally, I wanted to do an animated video and try out the Narration feature of Windows Movie Maker. LOL
May more videos on You Tube.

Square Foot Gardening Pictures

http://HydroponicsFriend.com

These are some pictures I found on an old picture CD of my first Square Foot Garden. My intention when I first started making videos was to do videos on SFG and Hydroponics. So far, because of bad weather and lack of funds I haven't done much of anything about Square Foot Gardening. No excuses, I promised you SFG videos and you shall have them!
Check out my other Youtube videos here.

Gardening Update #2 Hydroponics Success and seed starting failure

http://HydroponicsFriend.com

This is my second update 12 days after Update #1. My homemade Hydroponics system is working extremely well. I am very happy with the results. So far its a great success. The pepper plants are showing slight damage, either from cold or more likely over watering. Starting seeds in the Jiffy Pots was a total failure. I believe the salad container was sealed too tightly. This could have easily been avoided by simply leaving the clear lid loose instead of snapping it down.

So what have I learned?
1. Hydroponics is easier than I thought it would be.
2. I have to pay closer attention to not to over water.
3. Too cool temps are deadly to seeds in Jiffy Pots.


Thanks for watching. More videos on my Youtube Channel.

Gardening: Hydroponics and Square Foot Gardening Update #1

http://HydroponicsFriend.com

This is just a simple update from my first video.
I set up a little corner in the laundry room for a work area.
I use a plastic four shelf unit and had to remove the top shelf
so there would be enough room to suspend a grow light.

As you can see you don't need an entire room or building
to get started. You can grow into that later. (Pun Intended).

You may also notice I edited the video with Windows Movie Maker.
As I am learning about Hydroponics and seed starting
I am also learning to do videos. Learning by doing is
one of the best ways to learn. I may make a few mistakes
but that's all part of learning too.

I like to learn something new everyday.
I also like to teach what I learn.
I have made some friends here on You Tube
who are alot like me, who also like to teach.
Learn, teach, enjoy, repeat.
Check out my Youtube channel to see even more videos.

Home Made Ebb and Flow or Flood and Drain system. DIY Hydroponics

http://HydroponicsFriend.com

This is my first attempt at building my own Hydroponics growing system. So far it works great! I chose the Ebb and Flow because It appeared to be one of the simplest to build. This is constructed mostly of things I had around the house.
A used laundry detergent bucket, well washed of course.
A Ziploc disposable food container.
Aquarium air pump.
Tabletop fountain water pump.
I had to purchase one foot of tubing,
Hydroton pellets,
and Net Pots from a Hydroponics store.
It was actually fairly easy to build but if you wish for me to explain exactly how I built it, just ask in my comments section.
Check my Youtube Channel for even more videos.