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Page 70--Shaw/Free Press Media Group, Inc. 1983 Fair Guide 4-Herand 'scientist"Fettes grows plants without soil Because her project was a demonstra­ tion, Lynctte had to go one step further and adapt the chest to allow viewing. She cut away one side of the ice chest and glued another piece of plastic there. People could then see the entire hydroponic pro­ cess: nutrient solution, pump, tube, perlite and plants. Mead of taking the heavy chest to the state competition, die used the piece of Styrofoam she'd cut away to allow viewing as a visual aid. She cut [pieces of felt to signify the pump, perlite and solution and tacked them up on the Styroioam, to il­ lustrate how she constructed the chest. The cost of growing at tins plant, however, is four times the cost of field growing. Yet hydroponics look increasing­ ly attractive in light of ever-rising land prices and a world where hunger still ex­ ists in some areas. Lynette speaks knowledgeahfy aid en­ thusiastically about her project Her father, John, an electrician, helped with the construction, and her employer, Huntley farmer Tom Halat, answered some questions, but Lynette credits the Woodstock Public library with providing her with the most information. She continues to prepare for the national competition -- even while finishing up seven other 4-H projects created the environment with petals, a fluffy, white material winch takes the place of soil and urtraert solution, which circulates across the plants' roots. "I read an article abort taytfceponica in my mother's Better Homes and Gardens Guide to Gardening book," she sail "I started Ttm&ng op on it in January." The project received a first fllace in McHenry County's horticulture demonstration contest in March and was WOODSTOCK - Lynette Fettes of Hrartley has joined scientists at the forefront of agriculture research with her 4-H project in hydroponics -- growing plants without soil. The 16-year-old member of the Huntley Harvesters 4-H Club has grown African violets, tomatoes and flowers Without soil in a Styrofoam ice chest she adapted to grow plants. Using instructions from books, Lynette Champaign-LTrhw to go to the national mHiHiiia in Tulsa, OBa ̂Bus falL Par her demonstration, Lynette placed abort five inches of perlite on a plastic • 1-1 1 « JL_ -» •*** - f II • •• I M ll II II ledge gnaea uniiijr to toe say iwuun aoes, abort halfway down the cheat She then filled the chest almost to the perlite wtth the fahriah nutrient solution, which a small pump circulated through a tuhe The tube ran up through the perlite and laid across it, feeding the nutrients to the roots through evenly-spaced holes Lynette punched with a pin and nafl. Small holes in the plastic ledge allowed the mixture to drain back down, and a thin screen glued to it prevented particles of the perlite from (hrtying the solution. "You have to use fiberglass screening and not metal or else it reacts with the nutrient solution," die said. Lynette didn't start from seeds but in­ stead transplanted already-sprouted plants into the perlite. She discovered every trace of soil had to be rinsed off at the roots, or the nutrients would not reach them. The solution, ordinary (riant food diluted in water, contains the nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium essential to plant growth and ordinarily provided by sofl. . _ On Your Way To The Fat... WHILE YOU'RE IN WOODSTOCK, STOP IN! WE HAVE MANY UNIQUE ITEMS FOR YOUR HOME PLUS ANTIQUE CUPBOARDS AND REPRODUCTIONS BANQUETS ARE US! EVERY DA Y: A Fresh Fish Special SATURDAY: Prime Rib, Beef Wellington - SUNDA Y: Sauerbraten , SPECIAL OF THE MONTH----, FROG LEGS Sarrad With WILD RICE ALL PATIO FURNITURE SUMMER CLEARANCE ^oroup WEDNESDAY: Bavarian Night Our regular menu plus Bavarian Special* Cathy (from Munich) plays Zither, Sings ami Yodels FRIDAY: FISH FRY 1 BANQUETSI Kta. 144178 Crystal Lake People & projects