Downspout Gardens
The Downspout Gardens concept was garnered from several websites we viewed recently. The links are listed below. Being interested in static hydroponics enabling a non tech household to raise their daily greens simply, efficiently, with minimal inputs, the downspout garden met our criteria. First though, the concept had to be fully proven by us, and understand as I write this we are only a week into getting our feet wet. By May 21, we hope to have plants growing in our prototype units for your review. It is our desire if this proves out for us, as well as the links indicate, that this concept could prove as effective for many households in the near future facing food supply line shortages as the Victory Gardens were for WW II families, when our leaders and officials were very much encouraging backyard gardens and small livestock for eggs and meat. Being spring now, allows us outdoor research opportunities before the fall reduced sun forces us indoors with grow lights and window sills.
1. Gamechanger for DIY Hydroponics …. Mike VanDuzee. 21:12 min
2. Gamechanger Part 2, DIY Hydroponics / Anyone Can Grow 13:17
Maker
Merlin Erb
Merlin and his wife Loretta have lived north of Dalton for 40 years where he founded and operated NSWS Labs since 1985 and now has either sold off or discontinued all four labs except for the milk microbiology lab as he still services two clients. Loretta, a retired dental hygienist, enjoys her family and friends, anxiously awaiting the arrival of their first grandchild in June. She researches food preparation YouTubes and recently taught a class on Basic Sourdough at the Kidron Small Farm Solutions conference in February. Because of Merlin’s numerous health challenges, Loretta’s nutritional and health research has literally kept him alive, beginning first in ’93 with a mis-diagnosis of terminal bone cancer with perhaps a year to live, as finally corrected by the third oncologist. Bottom line, because of a genetic bone condition, IO, Merlin was told he definitely takes incriminating body scans and to avoid such situations. Since an auto accident forced his retirement in ‘18, Merlin has become an avid reader and writer, so his sons set up a blog for him titled merlinsmustache.com which he contributes to weekly. Merlin promotes continual lifelong learning with a quote from an unlikely source, Oscar Wilde. “It is what you read when you don’t have to, that determines what you will be (or do) when you can’t help it.”