first feed contributors
CHRIS BOND is the manager of the McKay Farm and Research Station at Unity College in Maine . His research interests include sustainable agriculture , biological pest control , as well as alternative growing methods . He is a certified permaculture designer and certified nursery technician in Ohio and a certified nursery professional in New York .
ERIC HOPPER ’ S past experiences within the indoor gardening industry include being a hydroponic retail store manager and owner . Currently , he works as a writer , consultant , and product tester for various indoor horticulture companies . His inquisitive nature keeps him busy seeking new technologies and methods that could help maximize a garden ’ s performance .
KENT GRUETZMACHER is a California-based freelance writer and the west coast director of business development at Mac & Fulton Executive Search and Consulting , an employment recruiting firm dedicated to the indoor gardening and hydroponics industries . He is interested in utilizing his Master of Arts in humanities to explore the many cultural and business facets of this emerging industry by way of his entrepreneurial projects .
PHILIP MCINTOSH is a science and technology writer with a bachelor ’ s degree in botany and chemistry and a master ’ s degree in biological science . During his graduate research he used hydroponic techniques to grow axenic plants to study the uptake of metals by roots . He lives in Colorado Springs , CO , and teaches mathematics at Challenger Middle School .
SHANNON MCKEE lives in Ohio and has been a freelance writer for several years now , including on her blog , whyiwah . blogspot . com . Nicknamed by loved ones a garden hoarder over the past few years , she grows a wide variety of plants in her urban garden .
MONICA MANSFIELD
After owning an indoor garden store for 5 ½ years , Monica sold the business and started a seven-acre homestead with her husband , Owen . Monica is passionate about gardening , sustainable living , and holistic health . She writes about these topics and her homestead adventures on her blog thenaturelifeproject . com .
PEGGY BRADLEY , who has a Masters in civil engineering , had her own hydroponic business until she switched focus to founding and working on The Institute of Simplified Hydroponics . Since becoming a US non-profit in 1995 , Peggy has worked on creating and teaching simplified hydroponic systems to help those in poverty and hunger .
THOMAS FORREST was introduced to aquaponics six years ago and quickly became an enthusiastic gardener . Following his university studies in business and media , Thomas completed his Production Horticulture Certificate at the National Precision Growing Centre . He is a sales representative for Stealth Garden in Australia .
KATHLEEN MARSHALL has been gardening since she was old enough to hold a shovel . She is a master gardener through the University of Florida and likes to experiment with various types of growing . Currently , she resides on a 100-acre homestead with her family , where she works on growing as much of her family ’ s food as possible .
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 several hydroponic technical books . Visit suntec . co . nz for more information .
FRANK RAUSCHER is a certified horticulturist and consultant for the hydroponic and landscape industry with a background in product development . Frank is a member of the Southern Nevada Landscape Association and active in the Southern California green industry , where his focus is drought-tolerant xeriscapes . He specializes in discovering the “ root-cause ” of plant stress .
BRYAN TRAFICANTE is one of the co-founders of gardeninminutes . com , where he and his family have one mission : making it easier for people to build and grow great gardens . They ’ re the inventors of the Garden Grid watering system , crafters of modular garden beds , and share their time-saving gardening advice on Facebook , Pinterest , and their blog , aptly named Easy Growing .
VOLUME 18 – NUMBER 12 March 2017
GENERAL MANAGER Ilona Hawser
EDITORIAL editor @ maximumyield . com Toby Gorman Jessica Skelton Julie Chadwick
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ART DIRECTOR Alice Joe
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jennifer Everts Dionne Hurd Holly Anderson Samira Saoud
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Maximum Yield is published monthly by Maximum Yield Inc . No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher . If undeliverable please return to the address below . The views expressed by columnists are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of Maximum Yield or the editor .
2339 A Delinea Place , Nanaimo , BC V9T 5L9 Phone : 250.729.2677 ; Fax 250.729.2687
USA DISTRIBUTION BWGS • Florida Hydroponics • General Hydroponics Humbolt Wholesale • Hydrofarm • Grow Green MI Nickel City Wholesale Garden Supply National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply Tradewinds • Urban Agricultural
CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION Brite-Lite Group • Eddis Wholesale Green Planet Wholesale Greenstar Plant Products Inc . • Growers Paradise
UK DISTRIBUTION Easy Grow Ltd . • Erith Horticulture Nutriculture UK • Dutchpro
AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION Dome Garden Supply • Holland Forge House N ’ Garden • Hydroponic Generations Growlush • Way to Grow • Nutrifield
ALAN RAY has written five books and is a New York Times best-selling author . Additionally , he is an awardwinning songwriter with awards from BMI and ASCAP respectively . He lives in rural Tennessee with his wife , teenage son and two dogs : a South African Boerboel ( Bore-Bull ) and a Pomeranian / Frankenstein mix .
JEFF WALTERS is a former marine who spends most of his time outdoors fishing , hiking , hunting , and gardening . He is a self-educated , former martial arts instructor , published author , hot rod enthusiast and co-founder of many outdoor-related websites . His current focus is green energy solutions and learning how to live a sustainable lifestyle .
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