ABOUT ME

I know you are here to learn about hydroponics, but let me take a second to explain why you are in safe hands 🙌

I'm Charlie and I started my journey with hydroponics as a joint venture with my brother Joe. We both grew up in a rural setting as part of a family who regularly grew and produced their own food, so when we discovered hydroponics it was a natural fit.

Upon hearing the word 'hydroponics' for the first time I really had no clue what the process involved, so I took to reading, watching, and practicing as much as I could in order to gain a better understanding. And with each new concept I learned I became more and more hooked.

I love building things, I love science, I love sustainability and self-reliance, and I love plants. For me, hydroponics is the perfect intersection of these categories.

However, my background is not in agriculture (it doesn't need to be by the way, hydroponics is for anyone and everyone). I'm an undergraduate and master's graduate of anthropology from University College London (UCL) and work within education. You might be wondering how that qualifies me to teach you about hydroponics? Well, that's the key: teaching.

I'm a teacher at heart, through and through. I've spent over 15 years exploring what makes students tick, what makes a good teacher, how to transmit knowledge, and how to apply that within any subject I need to teach. This is all reflected back on myself too. How can I be a better learner? What do I need to learn? How can I give back to those on a similar jouney and help smooth out the bumps in the road that I experienced.

When you combine a passion for hydroponics, the heart of a teacher, and the skills of an anthropological researcher, well, you get the perfect storm. I can bring you knowledge that is not simply anecdotal from my own experience but backed up by peer reviewed academic research and presented in a digestible way through the lens of an educationalist.

Since venturing into hydroponics I've felt repeated satisfaction at every success and a drive to learn and improve with each 'failure' (ultimately you never fail if you keep going).

I've completed an official qualification in hydroponic cultivation, created a hydroponics YouTube Channel with over 5000 subscribers, advised and taught many new and existing growers on their practise and I've continued to keep on growing, both personally and hydroponically 😉

I now dedicate most of my growing time to hydroponic chillies. They are my wife Hannah's favourite, and I love growing anything that produces fruit. The picture featured above is a small sample of a 2025 harvest.

ABOUT ME

QUALIFICATIONS