contributors
Bill DeBoer is a laboratory scientist at
Indiana-based steadyGROWpro. A master
gardener intern, Bill is responsible for
the company’s laboratory operations,
including the design and execution of
research projects, plant propagation, seed
germination and overall plant care. Bill
has a BS and MS from Purdue University,
and was previously a research technician
for the US Department of Agriculture.
Stephen Keen has been an indoor
gardening hobbyist for more than 10
years. His personal successes with his
garden led him to want to bring new
ideas, mainly water-cooling, to the
mainstream, which led to the founding
of Hydro Innovations.
Chris Bond is the horticulturist at Case
Kyle L. Ladenburger is a passionate
indoor and outdoor gardener. He
is also a freelance garden writer.
With nearly 10 years experience
in the industry working for Age
Old Organics, he is well versed in
numerous growing methods with a
focus on soil health.
Western Reserve University in Cleveland,
Ohio. His primary role is coordinator of
the university’s Farm Food Program. His
research interests are beneficial insects,
biological pest control and alternative
growing methods. He is a certified
permaculture designer and nursery
technician in Ohio and a certified nursery
professional in New York.
Casey Jones Fraser owns Garden
Grove Organics in northern Kentucky/
Greater Cincinnati. He has a degree in
communications and electronic media.
He believes that indoor gardeners can
achieve the highest-quality crops and
maximum yields when proper science
is applied. Since 1998, Casey has been
testing various nutrients and supplements
in search of outstanding harvests.
Eric Hopper has more than 10 years
of experience in the hydroponic
industry as both a retail store manager
and owner. He continuously seeks
new methods and products that could
help maximize garden performance.
Eric resides in Michigan where he and
his family strive for a self-sufficient
and sustainable lifestyle.
Russell Landry is the former vice
president of the Great Pumpkin
Commonwealth and its competitive
weigh-off sites held worldwide. He
is now the current president of the
Giant Vegetable Growers of Ontario
(gvgo.ca). Russ grows giant pumpkins,
tomatoes and squash. He has written
numerous articles featuring methods to
increase vegetable size and fruit yield.
Donald Lester is the product manager
at JH Biotech, a commercial fertilizer
manufacturer with 28 OMRI-certified
organic products. Donald has a master’s
degree in agronomy with more than 10
years of agricultural research experience
and 50 scientific publications to his
credit. He is also director of SaferGro
Laboratories, a home and garden products
company located in Ventura, California.
Dr. Robert Linderman is a retired
research plant pathologist and former
research leader at the USDA-ARS
Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory
in Corvallis, Oregon. He is also a courtesy
Professor Emeritus at Oregon State
University. He’s been in the industry
for nearly 50 years and is currently the
science guy for two companies: Plant
Health, LLC and Santiam Organics, LLC.
Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B.
Hort. Tech. degree and a PhD in
hydroponic greenhouse production
from Massey University, New
Zealand. Lynette is a partner with
SUNTEC International Hydroponic
Consultants and has authored five
hydroponic technical books. Visit
suntec.co.nz for more information.
Harley Smith is the director
of research for Oregon Global
Distribution. A veteran in the
hydroponics industry, Harley has
more than 18 years of consulting
and educating experience. He is
regarded as an expert on plant
nutrition and organic bio-stimulants,
performing research and new &