News
Farmer’s Market news: Great lettuce and dirt-free gardening
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| Annette Kelly | Special to the Green Valley News Peter Graef redesigned a hydroponic growing system he created for orchids and sells his vegetables at the Green Valley Farmer’s Market each Wednesday at the Green Valley Village. |
By Annette Kelly, Special to the Green Valley News
Can an inventor really retire? “No!” is the answer in Peter Graef’s case.
He moved to Green Valley four years ago and set about redesigning a hydroponic growing system he created for orchids. He made it ideal for home gardeners to grow produce year round.
Peter uses a mid-size model to grow his Farmer’s Market offerings of fresh, tasty bags of sweet mixed greens ready for the salad bowl. He tosses in a few extra vegetable and herbs packets as well for those who arrive early. The price is perfect, just $2 for the greens.
When last seen, he was also offering the last of this season’s basil at $1 a bag.
Speaking of early, you may be noticing some vendors are selling out. That’s great news and they’re gearing up to bring more products each week to meet the demand.
Our market hums along on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Green Valley Village. Stalwart regulars welcome new local vendors each week. Spaces are just $10, so come try your hand, too.
Bring your baskets or bags or find vendors who sell reusable sturdy versions and “Shop the Market First” for the freshest and most interesting items around. In doing so, you will be keeping overall fuel costs down as local people keep their jobs and you stimulate our local economy.
Hydroponically grown plants use water as a growing medium rather than earth. “I think it’s better than organic because it uses very little water,” says Graef. “It’s a self-contained system; you control the nutrients. You can grow twice as fast as you can in soil. There’s nothing like a fresh salad,” he adds with a smile.
In addition to lettuce, Peter markets his custom-made growing systems. The $199 model includes two 6-foot long, 4-inch diameter tubes; he designed it to fit snugly in narrow side yards. No greenhouse is required. It’s ready to go with everything you need including set up and delivery (if you’re within 20 miles of Green Valley).
Seeds germinate and grow right in the system. “You change the solution and nutrients monthly and use a timer to control water circulation so you can even leave it for two weeks without worrying. This time of year it runs four times a day for 15 minutes — more often in the summertime,” says Graef. “The system is nearly effortless — even for the monthly nutrient change when you let the pump empty it and use a garden hose to fill it and a funnel to add the nutrients. I sell a bag of replacement nutrients for $5. That’ll last six to nine months.”
Now for the real cincher, “There’s no weeding and no stooping because it is off the ground. The bunnies can’t get to it, either,” he says. For a two-person family, Graef says, “It should keep you in lettuce, herbs, kale and spinach in the winter and you can add cukes, peppers, tender herbs, tomatoes and beans in the spring.”
He moved to Green Valley four years ago and set about redesigning a hydroponic growing system he created for orchids. He made it ideal for home gardeners to grow produce year round.
Peter uses a mid-size model to grow his Farmer’s Market offerings of fresh, tasty bags of sweet mixed greens ready for the salad bowl. He tosses in a few extra vegetable and herbs packets as well for those who arrive early. The price is perfect, just $2 for the greens.
When last seen, he was also offering the last of this season’s basil at $1 a bag.
Speaking of early, you may be noticing some vendors are selling out. That’s great news and they’re gearing up to bring more products each week to meet the demand.
Our market hums along on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Green Valley Village. Stalwart regulars welcome new local vendors each week. Spaces are just $10, so come try your hand, too.
Bring your baskets or bags or find vendors who sell reusable sturdy versions and “Shop the Market First” for the freshest and most interesting items around. In doing so, you will be keeping overall fuel costs down as local people keep their jobs and you stimulate our local economy.
Hydroponically grown plants use water as a growing medium rather than earth. “I think it’s better than organic because it uses very little water,” says Graef. “It’s a self-contained system; you control the nutrients. You can grow twice as fast as you can in soil. There’s nothing like a fresh salad,” he adds with a smile.
In addition to lettuce, Peter markets his custom-made growing systems. The $199 model includes two 6-foot long, 4-inch diameter tubes; he designed it to fit snugly in narrow side yards. No greenhouse is required. It’s ready to go with everything you need including set up and delivery (if you’re within 20 miles of Green Valley).
Seeds germinate and grow right in the system. “You change the solution and nutrients monthly and use a timer to control water circulation so you can even leave it for two weeks without worrying. This time of year it runs four times a day for 15 minutes — more often in the summertime,” says Graef. “The system is nearly effortless — even for the monthly nutrient change when you let the pump empty it and use a garden hose to fill it and a funnel to add the nutrients. I sell a bag of replacement nutrients for $5. That’ll last six to nine months.”
Now for the real cincher, “There’s no weeding and no stooping because it is off the ground. The bunnies can’t get to it, either,” he says. For a two-person family, Graef says, “It should keep you in lettuce, herbs, kale and spinach in the winter and you can add cukes, peppers, tender herbs, tomatoes and beans in the spring.”
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