Spotlight on the John Bosco House and their Hydroponic Program

The John Bosco House is a New York State-certified transitional residence that serves homeless and runaway young men, ages 16 to 21. John Bosco House residents receive care and case management in a home-like setting, while working towards finishing their education and securing stable employment. About four years ago, the John Bosco House was gifted a building that sat empty until May of 2012. After considerable research, Deacon Gilbert Nadeau, executive director and founder of John Bosco House, saw an opportunity to turn the unused space into an organic greenhouse enterprise.

Announcing Tech Center East! Growers Supply’s Latest in Educational Resources

Some of you who have followed our blogs for a while may have seen pictures or read about the many opportunities that we have to offer our customers. We organize workshops, seminars, webinars and more, all designed to inform and educate our communities and customers about exciting topics in the agricultural community. Our most popular topics include how to grow fodder, CEA (controlled-environment agriculture) techniques, hydroponic growing and greenhouse growing. Until now, all of our seminars and workshops have been held at our Dyersville, IA location, equipped with our CEA Technology Center greenhouse, as well as one of our Hercules Truss Arch Buildings where we manufacture many buildings for our affiliate company, ClearSpan Fabric Structures.

Give Students the Gift of Growing

Greenhouses are a wonderful tool for growing flowers and produce, but more and more educators are realizing that they have a second benefit that can help children grow into well-rounded, health-conscious adults. Using greenhouses as part of schools’ curriculums is increasing in popularity, as people are becoming more curious about where their food comes from. By adding a greenhouse to school property, children will be able to get out of the classroom and into the fresh air to develop skills that will help them lead healthy, responsible lives.

The Red, White and Blue of Growers Supply’s NFT Hydroponic Systems

In honor of the Fourth this week, we wanted to highlight one of our favorite American-made product lines. Hydroponics is growing in popularity for growing a variety of different plants. It requires much less space than traditional growing methods and uses only water to bring plants to maturity. Here is a little run down on Growers Supply’s NFT hydroponic channels that fits in with the theme of the week—the good ole’ red, white and blue!

Gone Fishin’ – Growers Supply Dives into Aquaponics

At Growers Supply, we are always looking to try out new things. We stay up to date on the latest innovations and try to delve into new markets as often as we can. That’s why we are so excited to announce that not only do we have a great new aquaponic system at our Iowa location, but we have developed a line of aquaponic systems that will make its debut in our August catalog!

Photos are worth 1,000 words—or $500!

Do you love taking pictures as much as you love your Growers Supply products? Well, it’s time to get inspired and take some great photos of your favorite Growers Supply items in action because our 2013 Photo Contest starts June 18th! We love our loyal readers so much, we wanted to give you a couple days head start to find (or take) the perfect photo!

Get ready for your ten seconds of fame, because if you win, you’ll be featured on our website and this very blog. Anyone can enter and we’re looking for photos showcasing how you use our products, so get snapping.

The grand prize winner will receive a $500 Growers Supply gift certificate and five lucky runners-up will each receive a $200 FarmTek gift certificate. How’s that for motivation?

Spotlight on Mantua Gardens and their Ever-Expanding Hydroponic System

Mantua Gardens, located in northeastern Ohio, has been in business since 1995, and has provided the community with high-quality annuals, perennials, garden supplies and more. In 2012, owner Darin Kelley was approached with the idea to start growing hydroponic lettuce and other fresh greens year round, in addition to continuing with the established garden and greenhouse center. With the demand for locally grown produce, Darin decided to branch out into the realm of hydroponic growing and looked to Growers Supply to help him get started.

Get your Gifts for Mom!

At Growers Supply, we want to make sure the whole family is happy! That’s why we’ve put together a list of great Mother’s Day gift ideas so you can kill two birds with one stone – buy everything you need for your growing operation and get Mom’s gift at the same time! hoses to greenhouses, this list covers every need and every price range. If you don’t see something you like, or aren’t sure what to get this year, why not get your favorite lady a gift certificate so she can pick out exactly what she needs?

Nutrient Management: A Recipe for Successful Growing

To be the best grower you can be, you need to have a good understanding of the essential nutrients for plant growth. Nutrient management means getting the most “bang for your buck,” while not wasting money and time by over-fertilizing or using the wrong fertilizer at the wrong time. Most of you know about N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), but do you know that there are 15 other nutrients that are considered essential to plant growth?

Review: Growers Supply’s First-Ever CEA School

Last month, we hosted our very first three-day CEA School. This event combined hydroponics, fodder production and aquaponics into a hands-on learning experience for growers of all experience levels. The CEA School was held at our Technology Center in Dyersville, IA, and hosted by our greenhouse team, Sam Shroyer and Brittany Orris. Participants traveled from 13 states, making it a great networking event and learning experience.