LED Gardener
                                                     
Rooftop Gardening
  St. Hilda's & Saint Hugh's is an independent, Episcopal school in New York City that is
devoted to changing the world one child at a time. Children enjoy organic milk and pesticide
free fruit.  Food is purchased from local vendors so as not to contribute to the
environmental impact of shipping food across country.  Solar-powered sensor-activated
hand washing sinks are available alongside the waterless urinals and dual flush toilets.  Their
2.5 million dollar renovation utilized recycled, natural, non-toxic, and renewable materials.
 
And the most recent edition- led grow lights.
These changes and more have made them one
of the first schools in New York City to reduce their annual electricity related carbon
emissions by 100%, saving the city approximately 376 tons of emissions per year.  St.
Hilda's & Saint Hugh's is not stopping there.
  In the past,  school greenhouses have been limited to operation in the spring and fall
simply because many areas in the United States do not have a natural photoperiod that will
support growth year round.  Safety issues prevented the use of traditional greenhouse
lighting as a supplement.  As a general rule of thumb- schools do not mix children and hot,
fragile,  high voltage devices that contain lead and mercury.
       The safety and efficiency of LED Grow Master lighting has made it the perfect choice
for St. Hilda's & St. Hughs to extend the photoperiod for year round gardening.  Toddlers
through eighth graders will soon be enjoying their own greenhouse  located on the rooftop
high above the busy streets below.  Scheduled for completion later this month, the
greenhouse will be an extension of their science curriculum.  Cucumbers, tomatoes, sprouts,
and other fruits and vegetables will be grown by the children and then made available in the
cafeteria's salad bar. Providing the students with hands-on experience of how their food
comes to the table, as well as the satisfaction and delight that come from eating the fruits of
their labor.-AL

*****************************************************************
Vertically Stacked Planting Beds
Using LEDs as a plant growing light source reduces the distance between the planting bed
and the lights, allowing more efficient use of the available growing chamber volume.  Using
led grow lights as the plant light source, it is possible to employ up to three or more vertical
layers of planting beds in the area now being used by each single planting bed.  This would
effectively at least triple the biomass production of the growth area.
 The low heat output of LEDs makes this further feasible.  HID lighting operates at
temperatures above 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.  Which is why adding an additional layer to a
grow chamber utilizing this light would make the heat unmanageable.  LED Grow Master
lighting operates at less than 15 degrees above ambient temperatures so they will not
overheat the area or burn plants and people.
 Farmland is shrinking and the number of people to feed is growing.  Why not turn that
wasted four feet at the top of your grow space into a second crop? The technology is here,
and you know what they say... "Waste not, want not."--AL  

*****************************************************************
Determining the Mounting Height
  We have developed general guidelines to follow when hanging the LEDs.  For instance, a
single LGM5 should be mounted 28-18" from the top or sides of your plants.  One of the
few common characteristics of traditional lighting and LED lighting is that they both follow
the Inverse Square law for light intensity.  The light intensity decreases as the square of the
distance from the light.  For example, an LGM5 hung at 36" will have approximately 1/4 of
the intensity of the LGM5 at 18".   This is a large range of light intensity that enables
growers to adjust for the needs of different plants.  Because 100% of the light emitted is
being used by your plants (as opposed to 10% of the light from traditional lighting) there is
a danger of giving your plants too much light.
   Hanging the bar further away will increase your coverage area but decrease the
intensity.  Hanging the bar closer will decrease your coverage area but increase your light
intensity. The exact mounting height that will satisfy your plant's light requirements can
only be judged by observing your plants reaction to the light, and of course, good old
fashioned common sense.  Changes in light intensity should be gradual.  A plant that
naturally grows in the deep shade of the rainforest will likely suffer if an LGM5 is placed at
20 inches over the plant.  A plant that naturally grows in the bright sunlight may thrive at 20
inches.  Like all light sources, the bars will need to be raised to maintain this distance from
the plant.         
   Remember that plants will generally survive a period of low light but too much light may
permanently damage them.  This is why we recommend that you start your bars off close
to the maximum distance recommended and then watch for signs to determine if the bars
should be lowered.  If you have a nearby window and you see your plants leaning toward
the window you may want to lower the bar.  If there is not another light source and the
plants are leaning away from the LEDs it could be a sign that they are getting too much
light.  Not enough light will cause leaves to turn yellow but too much light will bleach the
leaves.  If the bar needs to be closer you may see reduced leaf size and longer internodal
lengths.  If upward growth stops the lights should likely be raised.  Once you have
determined a distance that is promoting the vigorous growth you are looking for you can
assume that this is the optimal mounting height.  
 Different plants have diverse needs and there are many environmental factors that can also
cause the above symptoms.  If you are having difficulties determining whether your bars
are mounted properly please do not hesitate to call or email for product support.
Representatives will ask for basic information about your grow area and research the light
requirements of your garden or help troubleshoot environmental factors.  We are available
seven days a week for your convenience.  --AL   
December 1, 2007             Volume 2, Issue 11

In This Issue
Rooftop Gardening

Vertically Stacked Planting
Beds

Determining the Mounting
Height











Featured Distributor

MPlus Trading
Authorized European Dealers
www.ledgroeilampen.nl
info@ledgroeilampen.nl
info@ledgrowlights.eu
+31618785301
Postbus 91247
3007 ME Rotterdam
Netherlands


Educational Links

St. Hilda's & St. Hugh's

Inverse Square  Law

Patrick Blanc

School Greenhouses

Care to Comment?
The LED Gardener appreciates all
the input we receive from our
readers.  If you would like to
submit an article or pictures; or if
you would like to comment on a
current article please send
submissions and comments or
questions to
angela@led-grow-master.com

You are receiving this email
because you subscribed at
led-grow-master.com  If you do not
wish to receive this newsletter
:Request your name removed  
angela@led-grow-master.com

Contact LED Grow Master Global:
Admin@led-grow-master.com



Featured Product:  
The LGM1
For leafy plants, seedling to
early vegetative, where
compact vegetative  growth is
desired. LGM1 is perfect for  
countertop gardens  Easily
mountedanywhere you would like
to grow. Receive 10% off of your
purchase of the LGM1 model in
the month of December by simply
mentioning that you are a reader
of the LED Gardener.  Order now.
1-866-414-7244