How did Green Matters come to be?
After getting laid off from Sprint-Nextel, my wife Lilli and I decided to do something we are truly passionate about, GROW!  Over the next six months we worked hard to create a comfortable environment to support anyone interested in getting involved in the “grow your own” lifestyle.  We opened up shop in December of 2010 with nothing more than a few shelves and a dream.

What sets Green Matters apart from other stores?
As the sign says at the register, “Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends”.  This is the type of shop we pride ourselves in maintaining.  We are family owned and operated, and treat every customer as a friend. We do our best to help customers make well-informed decisions every step of the way, leading them down the path to become self-sufficient gardeners. We like to think that any visit to Green Matters will be a pleasant one.  We have generations of growing experience in our blood. We come from families of farmers that still have working businesses in the greenhouse and growing industry.  But even with our extensive knowledge and horticultural experience, we are not too proud to admit when we are not sure of something! We make sure to go the extra mile to research accurate information and get you the answers you need.

What’s next for Green Matters?  Any long term goals?
Propagation greenhouses are in the near future for Green Matters.  We will be implementing a plan this spring and installing two greenhouses on the property.  This will allow Green Matters to establish itself amongst the local growers and help everyday people get an easy start on growing their own gardens.  As we grow, we are getting involved with the community. We are trying to “plant the seed” of growing in the minds of everyone, starting with local schools and retirement homes. This year will be the start of our annual pumpkin growing contest, with many prizes and raffles to follow. All of the details will be posted on our website.

How does House & Garden fit into your future business plans?
House & Garden is one of the most important ingredients that make up Green Matters. We have used the whole line extensively in our own garden and we get great results.  We believe in the H&G line so much, that we back it with our own personal guarantee! If a customer switches to House & Garden and they are truly not satisfied with the results, we will take the used bottles back and give them the nutrient line of their choice, free of charge!  So far we haven’t had to give anything away!  We are pleased to now carry Amino Treatment and Nitrogen Boost, both of which have gotten great feedback so far. We also provide an in store laptop so customers can print out customized feed charts on the House & Garden Nutrient Calculator. We try our best to ensure that the grower’s experience is easy and enjoyable.

Has the landscape of the industry changed in your area in the last few years?
Extremely! It was only a short ten years ago when there were only two shops within a normal driving distance. Now it seems like a new shop is popping up every month. It’s a sign of the times – people are getting fed up with high prices and deciding to grow for themselves! Green Matters will continue to stand out amongst the expanding growing industry by treating each customer as a friend and guest, rather than just a means to make a sale. We have the best customer service in the area and will continue to provide the most up to date knowledge and quality service to our loyal Green Matters family.

Location:
www.greenmattersonline.com
592 Wareham st.
Middleboro MA,  02346
508-923-2800

As the world’s population nears the 7 billion mark, nearly one billion people go hungry each day. In several decades, there will likely be two billion more mouths to feed.  Many of these people live in areas of the world that are incapable of producing sufficient food crops or are nearly impossible to irrigate.

To compound matters, current farming techniques require substantial inputs to maintain – heavy chemical fertilization, mass water irrigation and the operation of industrial machinery on the farm, both in the food processing centers and within the delivery system. Natural resources are depleted and stretched to the limit, often without regard to the long-term effects.

Hydro For Hunger
The Hydro for Hunger initiative is a non-profit, collaborative program designed to generate financial aid to support the work of The Institute for Simplified Hydroponics (ISH), an organization which teaches communities around the world to become self-sufficient using small-scale hydroponic gardening techniques.

The ISH, founded by Peggy Bradley in 1995, has enabled the training and education necessary to successfully implement productive hydroponic gardens in places like Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Jamaica, Peru, and Venezuela.  The purpose of these projects has been to feed people who are hungry, some in desperate need and at risk of dying from starvation and/or malnutrition.

Recent advancements in technology, renewable energy systems and water filtration equipment make it easier and more practical for these organizations to provide year-round, self-sustaining hydroponic systems to any community in the world, providing both jobs and fresh produce for countless individuals. If we can farm in cities and on barren land, then we can potentially put a stop to rising food prices while reducing the environmental footprint of traditional farming practices.

Imagine a world where everyone has enough food to eat. This can be achieved in our lifetime. To learn more, please visit www.hydroforhunger.org and www.carbon.org.

House & Garden’s Cocos A&B contains a precise blend of minerals that are specifically designed for use with House & Garden’s Coco Substrate.  Our precise blend helps to optimize the uptake and assimilation of nutrients, promoting higher levels of photosynthesis and growth.

Composed of the purest ingredients available, Cocos A&B contains a full range of essential elements, including chelated iron.  This two-part formula contains the proper ratio of nutrients required to achieve a successful harvest.  As coconut coir naturally releases high levels of potassium during the growing cycle, it can interact with nutrients differently than other forms of growing media.  For this reason, Cocos A&B is formulated with optimal levels of potassium, calcium, and magnesium to ensure that your plants receive an appropriate balance of nutrients for strong and healthy growth.

Cocos A&B is made in Holland using only premium pharmaceutical and/or food-grade components, without any bulking agents or powdered base elements.  House & Garden maintains its own laboratories and manufacturing facilities to ensure a consistent quality and experience.  As with all House & Garden products, Cocos A&B is extremely concentrated and has a very low dilution rate.

Application: To use, combine equal parts of Cocos A and B with filtered water and let stand.  Adjust the pH and wait 15 minutes before adding any additives.  Never mix A and B together in concentrate form, as this will trigger a chemical reaction that causes nutrients to precipitate out of the solution and become unavailable to plants. Cocos A&B is designed for use in both vegetative and flowering stages. It is not intended for use in recirculating system

*Note: Cocos A&B is designed to be used together in equal amounts, so they are sold together as a set. If you only need one part of the set, please contact us at sales@house-garden.us or call (530) 318-7190 to speak with an expert advisor at House & Garden.

House & Garden Nutrients is excited to launch the release of Coco Substrate, our high-quality coconut coir that provides an exceptional growing medium for  your plants.  Made from the fibrous husk of the coconut, Coco Substrate is 100% natural and renewable, making it an eco-friendly alternative to peat-based soil mixes.

Coco Substrate offers many advantages. It provides proper drainage and excellent aeration, and encourages strong root growth.   Its fibrous and flexible structure makes it ideal for all growing conditions, and its natural anti-fungal properties may help inhibit harmful pathogens such as Pythium (root rot). Coco Substrate naturally has a pH of 6.0 to 6.7, along with a high Cation Exchange Capacity – ensuring that the coir will hold and release nutrients over extended periods of time.  It also creates an optimal environment for beneficial bacteria to colonize the root zone and help plants absorb nutrients.

Due to its unique buffering qualities, root zone environment, and its ability to provide optimized nutrition, Coco Substrate is the perfect media for both beginners and expert gardeners.  This optimized, high-quality growing medium provides an excellent air to water ratio, allowing plants to quickly develop a strong and healthy root system.

Harvested from Sri Lanka, House & Garden’s Coco Substrate is closely monitored during the production process to ensure it complies with RHP standards, a foundation whose aim is to optimize the quality of peat and coconut fiber products, raw growing materials, and soil products. House & Garden’s Coco Substrate is washed, steamed, and buffered to remove all impurities, providing a superior environment for your crops.

For best results, Coco Substrate should be used in combination with Cocos A&B.  This premium two-part formula contains the proper ratios of nutrients required to achieve a successful harvest when growing in coconut coir.  Carefully formulated with precise ratios of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, Cocos A&B will ensure that your plants receive an appropriate blend of nutrients designed to promote higher levels of photosynthesis and development.

To provide plants with the additional levels of nitrogen they need for rapid growth, House & Garden is unveiling the latest addition to their world-renowned product line, Nitrogen Boost. Nitrogen Boost is carefully formulated to deliver a safe, high-quality form of nitrogen to your plants. Using Nitrogen Boost promotes bigger yields, tastier vegetables, and a crop that is more resistant to pests, diseases, and adverse conditions.

Large, high-energy plants require significant amounts of nitrogen to reach their full potential. In Holland it is typical for gardeners to grow many small plants and only keep their plants in the vegetative stage for two weeks. Using this method, the plants stay small and their need for Nitrogen is relatively low.  As House & Garden’s base nutrients were originally formulated for the Dutch market, it contains lower levels of nitrogen. To produce such large, heavy-feeding plants, the vegetative cycle must be extended and levels of nitrogen must be increased.

Nitrogen Boost should be used only during the vegetative stage of growth, starting with 1 ml per gallon on younger plants and progressing upwards to 2 ml per gallon by the end of the vegetative stage.  For aggressive plants, these amounts can be doubled (starting with 2 ml and ending with 4 ml), but plants may grow too rapidly when supplied with excessive nitrogen, causing them to develop protoplasm faster than they can build sufficient supporting material in cell walls. Such plants are often rather weak and may be more susceptible to attacks by diseases and pests. Nitrogen Boost is extremely concentrated and overuse can also “burn” plants and damage leaves. Immediately flush plants at the first sign of nitrogen toxicity.

Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient needed by all plants to thrive. It is an important component of many structural, genetic and metabolic compounds in plant cells. It is also one of the basic components of chlorophyll, the compound by which plants use sunlight energy to produce sugars during the process of photosynthesis.

Increasing the levels of nitrogen during the vegetative stage can strengthen and support your roots, enabling plants to take in more water and nutrients.  This allows a plant to grow more rapidly and produce large amounts of succulent, green foliage, which in turn can generate bigger yields, tastier vegetables, and a crop that is more resistant to pests, diseases, and other adverse conditions.

A nitrogen-deficient plant is generally small and develops slowly because it lacks the nitrogen it requires to manufacture adequate structural and genetic materials.  Older leaves become yellow or pale green due to the lack of chlorophyll, beginning in the tips of the lower leaves and eventually spreading throughout the plant.  In extreme deficiencies, the affected leaves become brownish, wither, die and hang down around the lower stem.

Using too much nitrogen, however, can be just as harmful to plants as too little. When there are high levels of nitrogen present, plants may not produce flowers or fruit. As with nitrogen deficiency, the leaves may turn yellow and drop. Too much nitrogen can result in plant burning, which causes them to shrivel and die.  If plants show any signs of nitrogen burn, immediately flush them with clean water.

It’s relatively normal for leaves to start turning yellow towards the end of the flowering cycle, as the plant uses excess nitrogen reserves for fruit and flower development instead. However, if you notice leaves turning yellow in the vegetative stage or during the beginning parts of the flowering stage, your plant may be experiencing a nitrogen deficiency, which should be treated.

All plants need nitrogen for healthy growth. Understanding the nitrogen requirements for plants makes it easier to meet their supplement needs. Use House & Garden’s Nitrogen Boost to raise nitrogen levels for your garden crops, helping to produce greener, more vigorous plants.

As NASA’s astronauts prepare to embark on increasingly longer missions, scientists are trying to find a way to adequately feed them.  As we haven’t yet found soil that can support life in space, and the logistics of transporting soil are impractical, hydroponics could hold the key to the future of space exploration.

Plants offer a promising solution in providing food to astronauts thousands of miles from Earth. They could grow crops that would not only supply astronauts with a fresh source of food, but also remove toxic carbon dioxide from the air inside their spacecraft and provide life-sustaining oxygen through the plant’s natural growing process. This is important for long-range habitation of both space stations and other planets.

In a Galaxy Far, Far Away
“Imagine a bright flower on a plant in a crystal clear growth chamber on the surface of the Moon, with the full Earth rising above the moonscape behind it” says Jane Poynter, president and founder of Paragon Space Development Corporation, “these are the ideas that got me interested in space.”

That vision of the first flower grown on the Moon may likely become a reality in our lifetimes.  In recent years, NASA has performed extensive research into the field of hydroponics, which can benefit current space exploration, as well as future, long-term colonization of Mars or the Moon.

To accomplish this vision, technology and biology have to meet in a way never before achieved. Teams combining engineers and horticulturists will work together, perhaps an entire team dedicated to each species that will be grown.

NASA’s Research Into Hydroponics
In an effort called Vision for Space Exploration, NASA is taking steps to learn how hydroponics can benefit the space frontier and even life on Earth. Researchers cannot just send the right equipment to outer space and expect to grow plants. There are many considerations to be made, including light, temperature, and even gravity.

Why would all of this matter? One main concern is the competition of plants for light, based on how they grow. If one species grows taller and spreads out wider than the species beside it, the larger plant may block the light from the smaller plants. For that reason, NASA is investigating dwarf varieties of crop plants, such as wheat and rice, which only grow to be a foot or so tall.

Temperature is another important challenge to overcome, as conditions on the Moon are well beyond what ordinary plants could survive. Temperatures can drop well below freezing and the plants would have to endure high levels of solar ultraviolet radiation.

Gravity is also a very important part of plant growth. Plants use gravity to direct which way their roots should grow and which way their shoots should grow.  Without the influence of gravity, the water used to grow plants won’t stay in one place on its own accord. How do you grow plants in a puddle of water that is floating in the middle of the cabin? And how do plants react to zero-gravity? Do they still grow up towards the light to maximize light intensity, or will they grow sideways to maximize plant surface area? Towards that end, NASA has been conducting research on plants for years, and has flown plants on board the Space Shuttle and Space Station to learn more about how they grow in space.

Growing Plants with Moon Dust
Here on Planet Earth, many gardeners use a material called perlite, often as part of a potting soil mix, or in the case of hydroponics, as a growing medium on its own. Perlite is actually made of expanded volcanic glass. The mineral is heated to temperatures of 850-900 degrees Celsius until it pops like popcorn. Water trapped in the structure of the material vaporizes and escapes, which causes the expansion of the material to 7–16 times its original volume.

Recently scientists found hardened lava, tiny beads of volcanic glass that contain water (which presumably would vaporize and escape when heated) and may be similar to perlite.  If so, it is possible that these materials could be mined, heated up, and used as growing media for hydroponic systems in space.

Farming for the Future
Aeroponics systems, which utilize a high-pressure pump to spray nutrients and water onto the roots of a plant, may be an essential part of space missions in the future. Aeroponic growing systems provide clean, efficient, and rapid food production. Crops can be planted and harvested year round without interruption, and without contamination from soil or pesticide use. Plants grown in aeroponic systems have also been shown to take in more vitamins and minerals, making the plants healthier and potentially more nutritious.

Aeroponic greenhouses could easily be assembled in space, seeded for farming, and then disassembled when food stores are replenished.  These ‘space gardens’ could provide up to half of the required calories for the astronauts though tomatoes, potatoes, and other fruits and vegetables. It can also help to recycle nutrients, provide drinking water and create oxygen in space. It could even provide building materials.

Ultimately, any technology produced by NASA could have far-reaching effects.  As these technologies are developed for space exploration, the same innovations can be applied back here on Earth. For example, space research could help develop faster growing trees to regenerate lost forest areas.  It could also help produce safe, high-quality food in places like sub-Saharan Africa, where destructive floods are often followed by severe droughts.

Though getting plants to grow in conditions in outer space, where there is no gravity, sunlight, or air movement, is no easy challenge, planetary scientist Chris McKay remains optimistic: “The first plant to grow from seed and complete its life cycle on another world will be a significant step in the expansion of life beyond the earth. The sooner we do it, the better.”

How did Hydro Earth come to be?
Two years ago (2009) Tyson and Brad were union construction workers with the love for gardening and Mark was an out of work corporate salesman.  Tyson and Brad did their research on the growing market and knowing what they spent in their own gardens, brought the idea to Mark who is Brad’s stepfather.  Mark in desperate need of work agreed on the idea and a month or two later the team was formed, Brad and Tyson the knowledgeable growers and Mark the much needed investor.

What sets Hydro Earth apart from other stores? 
There are many things that set hydro-earth aside from other retail garden outlets but there are a few that stand out.  The main thing is our knowledge of product and being able to stock what you need and what works.  If we wouldn’t use it in our grow room we wouldn’t sell it to you.  The next is the installation and consulting side of Hydro-Earth.  We take the time to listen to the customers goals, help design and execute the best plan we feel works for the location, budget, and overall long term goal of the customer.  Our consulting service consist of delivery, installation, and support up to first harvest.  Lastly we are fully stocked, certified installers and diagnostic techs for Current Culture Undercurrent hydroponic systems and components in New England.

What’s next for Hydro Earth? Any long term goals?
Sky is the limit for Hydro-Earth.  As long as the industry and market will permit we will continue to grow.  We definitely have plans to open more stores in the region, not to franchise but to build Hydro-Earth into a force to be reckoned with in the New England area.  The ambition of the owners and staff is what keeps Hydro-Earth ahead of the competition.

What other interesting things can you tell us about your store or staff?
An interesting thing about Hydro-Earth is the fully operational 6 light grow room featured at our Rhode Island location.  It is 16×12 ft. with fully automated climate control, state of the art equipment and glass walls on two sides. One inside the store the other 25 ft. off the main road.  Which I must say seriously increased the sales at Hydro-Earth.  As for the staff at Hydro-Earth,  we are all either family or a long time friend of the family.

Has the landscape of the industry changed in your area over the past few years? 
Yes,  the industry in the Rhode Island area has become much more saturated these days than it was 2 years back.  Mostly underfunded small shops that lack knowledge,  and their only move in the hydro world is a discount.  Anyone who understands the difference between mark up and profit margins knows that discount wars are a guaranteed race to the bottom.  We feel proper guidance and knowledge is worth much more than a discount.

How does H&G fit into your businesses future plans?
House and Garden nutrients will always have a home at Hydro-Earth.  As of now we feel House and Garden is the best nutrient line in the store not only for results but for the overall long term savings.  We pride ourselves on being able to supply good product that is as consistent and solid as H&G.  There are never any worries when a customer leaves the store with the House and Garden line up.

Tell us some of your favorite H&G tips or advice you give out.  House and Garden is an effective highly concentrated nutrient line so less is better, no need to reach for the sky with the ppm/ec levels.  Depending on plant genetics Cal-Mag deficiencies may become present when using H&G so you want to make sure you pick an equally solid Cal-Mag supplement to go along for the ride.  The most important tip for House and Garden users and nonusers is to “USE SHOOTING POWDER” regardless of your preferred nutrient line and the added yields will be nothing short of mind blowing.

Locations
www.hydro-earth.com

How did Cultivate Colorado come to be?
After co-owner Pete broke his back in Georgia a few years ago, he came to Colorado and met up with his friend Chip.  They opened a meager shop with very little in stock, but they kept making promises to customers and took care of them as best they could. It obviously worked out.  Cultivate Colorado has been growing strong for the past few years, now claiming 3 powerhouse stores on the front range of the Rockies.

What sets Cultivate Colorado apart from other stores?
Size for one, we have over 30,000sf of showroom space and pretty much the largest  selection around. We also pride ourselves on our customer service and knowledge, we have 40-50 years of gardening experience just between the employees working here right now.  We try to support our community whenever we can, anything ranging from donating our store grown veggies to the homeless to helping bring Chali 2na and Theivery Corporation to town for a party.

How does H&G fit into your businesses future plans?
It is here to stay, H&G is one of our top selling nutrient lines, if not our best seller.  We’re excited to get our hands on the Amino Treatment as well as the Nitrogen Boost, we’ve already put our orders in. Plus, we recommend Roots Excelurator to every customer, regardless of nutrient line.  It is the single most effective thing you can give your plants.

Has the landscape of the industry changed in your area over the past few years?
Since the boom a few years ago, things have changed.  First of all there are now almost 40 stores in our area, when there used to only be a couple.  So, it was slower this past summer, but now that some of the smaller stores are closing up shop, things have picked up and are steady again.  We’ve also noticed a trend towards consumables (like nutrients) and away from gear (such as ballasts & hoods), many people already have the hardware that they need to grow.

What’s next for Cultivate Colorado?
We’re working hard to launch our online store, running facebook giveaways and raffles to help build our online presence. We want to be in the digital game, at the moment we have no plans to open any more stores, we’re waiting a bit to see which way the market heads.

Locations

www.CultivateColorado.com