FROM THE
editor
jessica raymond
Happy New Year!
2009 is here and by
all indications it looks
like it is going to be
a fantastic year for
the indoor gardening
industry. Growing
your own has never
been more essential
or important as now,
with consumers
looking for healthier
organic products and
more green friendly
applications. Controlled
environmental gardening allows you do just that and
lets you be in control of your crop whether it is a small
windowsill garden or a fully equipped greenhouse. From
basic to sophisticated, we will showcase the products that
can get your healthy garden growing. Maximum Yield will
continue to follow the green theme in upcoming issues by
offering more green tips and information that will benefit
your crop and the environment.
As you read through this January issue you will find
some interesting articles on How to Produce Seedlings,
Proper Trimming Etiquette, Root
and Rooting Media part III along
with some informative short reads.
We are thrilled to announce with
this issue, new writer Evan Folds
with his fascinating article on
Biodynamics, a natural and spiritual
method of farming that provides a
holistic approach to growing. Look
for a lot of new and informative
articles coming your way every
month throughout 2009!
Missed an issue or want to research a particular article?
Maximumyield.com offers a comprehensive indoor
gardening site with over 10 years of articles and links to
some of the leading companies in the industry. You can
now also participate in our online contests, view our
online video library and look at online extras relating to
current issues that you won’t find anywhere else.
The 2009 Maximum Yield Indoor Gardening Expo Tour
has been announced – San Francisco, July 25, 26, 2009
and Orlando, November 7, 8, 2009. Make your plans
now to attend these highly anticipated events. More
information and opportunities to exhibit are available at
www.indoorgardenexpo.com.
contributors
Erik Biksa first appeared in Maximum Yield in December 1999, and
in 2000 the first “Ask Erik” column was printed. Erik has contributed
dozens of in-depth articles to Maximum Yield since. The “Ask Erik”
column has assisted many gardeners by providing answers to a wide
range of growing questions.
Noucetta Kehdi is the co-founder and administrator of General
Hydroponics in Europe and has been in charge of condu cting sales,
marketing and public relations since 1995. Noucetta got involved
in hydroponics in the early 1990’s at the White Owl Water Farm. In
1996 she moved to the southwest of France where she took care of a
greenhouse under the assistance of William Texier. During that time she
educated herself on all things hydroponics. A long time enthusiast of the
technology, Noucetta loves to communicate her skills and knowledge
and extend the boundaries of this amazing method of cultivation.
Lee McCall graduated from Johnson and Wales University in 2005
with an associate’s degree in Applied Science with a concentration
in Culinary Arts. Culinary school opened the door to research and
work with hydroponics and indoor gardening. Lee has represented
The Big Tomato, the leading indoor gardening company in Colorado,
since 2005.
Philip McIntosh is a science and technology writer with a bachelor’s
Bob Taylor is the chief chemist of Flairform - an Australian based
manufacturing company. Up until 1992, Bob was the principal chemist of the water resources section at Western Australia’s State Government Chemistry Centre, a government run consultancy service for all
water related problems. Bob was an approved NATA signatory for a
wide range of water analyses as well as an official registered analyst
for the government’s chemical analysis monitoring program of all
fertilizers registered in Western Australia.
Roland Evans is lifelong gardener and CEO of Organic Bountea. As
Matt LeBannister works at Homegrown Hydroponics, the
Evan Folds is president of Progressive Gardens, A natural approach
manufacturer of the DNF line of premium nutrients and enhancement
products. Matt manages the retail store at Homegrown’s head office
in Toronto and as of late has been traveling the trade show circuit as
their resident expert. Matt hopes to make a big splash in the indoor
gardening industry through Homegrown and Maximum Yield.
10
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2009
degree in botany and chemistry and a master’s degree in biological
science. During his graduate research he used hydroponic techniques
to grow axenic (free of other organisms) plants to study the uptake of
metals by roots. He lives with his family in Colorado Springs CO, and
teaches mathematics at Challenger Middle School.
a student and teacher of Holistic Systems, he actively promotes an
ecological approach to cultivation using the Soil Food Web. Trained as
a psychologist, Roland also writes on the interface between gardening and personal growth.
land care company, and Progress Earth, all located in Wilmington,
NC. With a degree in biology and religion, Evan’s interests include
making sense of food production and bringing awareness to the
myriad injustices we collectively perpetrate upon ourselves as a
society, including empty food, municipal water fluoridation and
spiritual intolerance. Evan is also a board member on the Progressive
Gardening Trade Association.