Hydroponic Food Production (ePub)

Howard M. Resh (born January 11, 1941) is a recognized authority worldwide on hydroponics. His website: www.howardresh.com presents information on hydroponic culture of various vegetable crops. In addition, he has written six books on hydroponic culture both for commercial growers and backyard hobbyists. While a graduate student at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, Canada in 1971, he was asked by a private group to assist them in the construction of hydroponic greenhouses in the Vancouver area. He continued with outside work in greenhouses and soon was asked to conduct evening extension courses in hydroponics.

Upon graduation with his doctorate degree in Horticulture in 1975 he became Urban Horticulturist for the faculty of plant science at the University of B.C. He held that position for three years before the call of commercial hydroponics took him to many projects in countries such as Venezuela, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and in 1999 to Anguilla, British West Indies, in the Eastern Caribbean.

While in the position of urban horticulturist, Resh taught courses in horticulture, hydroponics, plant propagation, greenhouse design, and production. During this period, while he was urban horticulturist and later general manager for a large plant nursery, he continued doing research and production consultation for a commercial hydroponic farm growing lettuce, watercress, and other vegetables in Venezuela. Later, during the period 1995- 1996, Resh became project manager for the Venezuelan farm to develop hydroponic culture of lettuce, watercress, peppers, tomatoes, and European cucumbers using a special medium of rice hulls and coco coir from local sources. He also designed and constructed a mung bean and alfalfa sprout facility to introduce sprouts into the local market. In the late 1980s, Resh worked with a company in Florida in the growing of lettuce in a floating raft culture system.