Jeff ,

Interesting stuff. Couple things.

1. I can't get your web site to come up looking "normal". Does it come
up fine in your browser? I've tried Netcape 7.1 AND IE 6.0.

2. How old are those vines and how many gallons of wine did you get
this year from 12 vines?

3. How do the grapes taste compared to soil grown CF. The berries look
GREAT BUT they seem rather big for Cabernet Franc. Does the abundance
of water dilute the flavor? I could see this being great for table
grapes but have you compared the taste to soil grown CF in the area?

4. With hydoponics, can you simulate limestone/shale/other
minerals/etc... in the water?

5. Are your leaves a dark green or is that just the picture that makes
them look light green?


Interested in you answers.


TIA,

Bob


"Jeff Chorniak" > wrote in message >...
> Cost per pound can't be calculated until I know I'm producing maximum
> yields. The vines are still young. Each year will produce a greater yield.
> Eventually the yield will max out proportionatley to allowable root size.
>
> Cost per vine to set up depends on which system you want to use. There are
> several configurations for hydroponics. I am currently working with a static
> bubble system. That is a system where the roots are suspended in nutrient
> solution constantly bubbled with oxygen.
>
> 12 vines are being bubbled by 6 pumps ($16 each; Wal Mart), plus hoses and
> reservoirs (minimal costs, $3 for a pail, a buck for hoses, etc). Then
> there's auxiliary hardware for electrical wiring, trellising, etc. It's
> nickel and dime, but can add up. The greatest cost is the nutrient solution.
> Nutrient solutions are concentrated and diluted in water to parts per
> million. Maintaining pH and solution concentration requires a pH meter which
> varies according to what kind you buy, and an EC meter, which measure the
> electrical conductivity of the solution; that is, the concentration of
> mineral salts in the water.
>
> Some costs are one-time, others, like nutrients, are regular.
>
> It's the nutrient that requires change every two weeks. Aside from that,
> there are other more economical systems like flood and drain: Reservoirs
> fill and drain on a timer. The roots are kept wet, but not submurged.
>
> I could go on, but there are countless variations on the same theme.
>
> Can you grow 200 vines? My vineyard is designed for the small scale home
> winegrower who can't or doesn't want to grow grapes in soil. However, there
> are two vineyards I've hear of doing it large scale. One in Kenya, growing
> table grapes, and another in Israel. The website for the one in Israel is:
> http://hydroponics.homestead.com/index1.html
>
> Jeff
>
> "J F" > wrote in message
> .. .
> >
> > "Jeff Chorniak" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Africus Rex has undergone a major, major change in grape growing, as you
> > > will see. Even so, the chage has increased health in the vines in spite
> of
> > > the garbage weather we've had this summer. Autumn weather has been
> > > extraordianry for ripening conditions.
> > >
> > > Check out: www.africusrex.com
> >
> > Hi Jeff,
> >
> > What is the final cost per pound of grapes using this method?
> >
> > What is the cost per vine to set up the system?
> >
> > Will the cost scale down if you planted a larger number, say 200?
> >
> >
> >