Garden of Eden Urban Farming
Hydroponic Gardening Overview
 
 
 
Don't miss this introduction to home hydroponic gardening! We will teach you how to choose techniques and equipment, install and grow a variety of fresh, healthy vegetables and microgreens right in your own home, along with an overview of hydroponic gardening. We offer the course in the Seattle-Tacoma-Everett area monthly or whenever demand warrants. As in our other courses we examine the role of "STEAM concepts" — science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics — in the achievement of objectives. Taught in both on-site and online formats.
[Terms]
 

Course Outline

OVERVIEW
Garden of Eden Urban Farming offers courses in hydroponic home gardening, ranging from countertop home gardens through large-scale commercial operations. Our courses focus on both enjoyment and profitability, with additional emphasis on nutrition and localization of food production. Specific content and activities will vary between sessions.
  • What is hydroponics?
  • What is indoor farming?
  • How does it differ from outdoor farming?
  • Benefits? Advantages?
  • ACTIVITY: Write a statement of objectives, issues and procedures.
SCIENCE
Application of the scientific method to hydroponic gardening.
  • observe, measure
  • hypothesize
  • test, repeat
  • Applicability to hydroponic gardening: participants are encouraged to adopt rigorous models to advance their skills and productivity.
  • ACTIVITY: Complete an exercise in typical problem solving in hydroponics.
TECHNOLOGY
Equipment used to support hydroponic cultivation
  • Air/Ventilation
  • Water
  • Lighting
  • Growing Medium
  • Nutrients: N-P-K
  • DIY vs. packaged systems
  • ACTIVITY: Examine and evaluate technical choices using a worksheet with your own criteria.
ENGINEERING
A Systems Approach
  • Recycling Water Systems
  • Light Recipes
  • Home Garden Systems
  • Commercial Systems
  • ACTIVITY: Team up to research system alternatives.
ARTS
From Seed to Table
  • Health & Nutrition
  • Fresh Local Produce
  • Culinary Arts
  • What about taste?
  • ACTIVITY: Write a marketing flyer or script.
MATHEMATICS
How we know it's working
  • Instrumentation
  • Measurement
  • Estimation
  • Validation
  • Modeling
  • Evaluation
  • ACTIVITY: Execute an experiment (varies with session).

APPLICATIONS

During our laboratory session we will plant, cultivate, and harvest sample produce from the class garden. (On-site sessions only.)