I finally finished the new ebb and flow tomato system. The long rectangular pieces are a 12' piece of PVC fence post cut in half with caps on both ends. The right side has flood and drain fittings fitted to each. Underneath is the 28 gallon nutrient reservoir. It contains the submersible pump ($10 from Harbor Freight) and the supply and return lines. It rest on a PVC frame that serves several purposes. It elevates it above the nutrient tank so it will drain, it is slightly higher on the left so all the nutrients drain out, and it serves as an anchor for the trellis system that comes down from the middle. The lighting system is also new. I bought 4 fixtures from Wallmart for $8 each, and hacked them together to make two ultra bright fixtures. Each individual tube is receiving twice the current from it's own electronic ballast. The only downside is that the bulbs only last 1/2 as long, but at $3 each, it's not a huge issue.
Our neighbors Ted and Jo gave us 5 ducks and 3 geese, as their dogs were slowly decimating their flock. We brought them down and introduced them to our pen, but so far they are very "clique", apparently for good reason. You can tell the turkey in the foreground is up to no good. Of course, turkeys usually are.
A shot of the root system from the underside of the lettuce raft. Today was the first nutrient change for the lettuce system.
We are very pleased with the lettuce raft system. It just keeps growing! A small aquarium pump runs 24/7 to keep the nutrients aerated, and we have two regular fluorescent fixtures on a timer for light. As far as human intervention, all we have to do is change the nutrient solution every once in a while, and pick and eat the lettuce!
