The word hydroponics comes from two Greek words, "hydro" meaning water and "ponics" meaning labor. The concept of soil-less gardening or hydroponics has been around for thousands of years. The hanging Gardens of Babylon and The Floating Gardens of China are two of the earliest examples of hydroponics. Scientists started experimenting with soil-less gardening around 1950. Since then other countries, such as Holland, Germany, and Australia have used hydroponics for crop production with amazing results.

Hydroponics, sometimes referred to as "vertical gardening", has proved to have several advantages over soil gardening. The growth rate on a hydroponic plant is 30-50 percent faster than a soil plant, grown under the same conditions. The yield of the plant is also greater. Scientists believe that there are several reasons for the drastic differences between hydroponic and soil plants. The extra oxygen in the hydroponic growing mediums helps to stimulate root growth. Plants with ample oxygen in the root system also absorb nutrients faster. The nutrients in a hydroponic system are mixed with the water and sent directly to the root system. The plant does not have to search in the soil for the nutrients that it requires. Those nutrients are being delivered to the plant several times per day. The hydroponic plant requires very little energy to find and break down food. The plant then uses this saved energy to grow faster and to produce more fruit. Hydroponic plants also have fewer problems with bug infestations, funguses,and disease. In general, plants grown hydroponically are healthier and happier plants.

Hydroponic gardening also offers several benefits to our environment. Hydroponic gardening uses considerably less water than soil gardening, because of the constant reuse of the nutrient solutions. Due to lack of necessity, fewer pesticides are used on hydroponic crops. Since hydroponic gardening systems use no topsoil, topsoil erosion isn't an issue. If agricultural trends continue to erode topsoil and waste water, hydroponics may soon be our only solution.

The Mock's grow several hydroponic crops in their greenhouses including tomatoes, watercress, Boston Bibb lettuce, basil, and cucumbers. While 99.5% of the Mock's yeild is marketed outside Morgan County, the Mock's do participate in the Berkeley Springs Farmers Market each week to increase awareness and marketing within the County.

The bonus of hydroponic produce is that when you purchase it, you are purchasing the entire plant so you can "pick" what you need as you need it and it will stay fresh a lot longer than conventionally grown produce.

Bon appetit!