I have an area in my basement where I start my seeds under florescent light. I set it up last year because I wanted to heirloom tomatoes and most of the varieties are only available by seed. No problem. I put hung the two lights I had from chains, so they could be easily raised and lowered. I put a table underneath them. I purchased some seed-starting mix, a few pots, some seeds, and then away we go. Oh, I needed a timer to keep the lights on for 18 hours each day. And I got a heating mat to help germinate the seeds. I started 45 tomato plants and they all made it to the garden.
Of course, this year I just had to do more. Vicki requested some prairie flowers, so I started them. I’d wanted some more lights, so when they went on sale I just had to get a few more. I’d picked up some pepper seeds from Seed Savers, and Vicki requested Brussel Sprouts, so I started those too. And just last week I started my main tomato crop. 2 each of 36 different types, mostly heirlooms. Here’s a picture of the little toms:
What does this all have to do with the police, you asked? Well, apparently one way that the police can tell if you have an indoor marijuana-growing operation is to monitor your electricity usage so see if you have lots of florescent lights in use. And I do. There was a story from last year of some college kids who had a police forced-entry come through their door because of some tomatoes they were growing in a closet. I expect one of those to come through my front door one of these days. If I’m not shot at that point, I expect to point at my tomato seedlings and mock them.
Mike
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Please don’t do anything that gets me deported, okay?