With all the publicity generated by Hobo Wells Hydroponics it caught the attention of Alexander Black, of GeoProducts based in Oakland. With what seemed a blink of an eye, GeoProducts secured a lease to 3,000 acres directly across from Hobo Wells. GeoProducts named this venture Honey Lake Hydroponic Farms. Their technique would be somewhat similar to Hobo Wells, though they would use cold water containing 16 nutrients to feed the plants.

In 1977, GeoProducts constructed 30 greenhouses similar to Hobo Wells, which by way was dormant. On other hand, Black, like so many promoters of developments on the east side of the Honey Lake Valley, suffered from illusions of grandeur. According to Black the company would build a total of 150 greenhouses,. Next on the list a power plant, which would enable to build 700 greenhouses. Also in works, their own alfalfa ranch, and a alfalfa dehydration plant. Such a large scale operation would need housing for its employees, since Wendel with a mere population of 30 could not accommodate. With that in mind in 1979, plans were in the works for 200 home community, exclusively powered by geothermal energy.

Any visitor today to Wendel, knows that these proposals never materialized. Just by the early 1980s, like Hobo Wells, GeoProducts abandoned their operation. There seems to be one general consensus, one problem it was too costly to transport the tomatoes to a large outside market.

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In 1971, an itinerant hunter from San Diego ventured into the wilds of Lassen County. One of the things he encountered was Wendel Hot Springs. Whatever the case may be this wandering hunter, Phil Gutman, had an epiphany.

The following year, Gutman did something extraordinary, that no one had done before. Gutman came up with the concept of Hydroponic farming utilizing the hot springs for there geothermal potential. On August 28, 1972 Hobo Wells Hydroponics, Inc. was finalized along with two other partners—Mark Souza and Gutman’s son, Andy. Hobo Wells entered into a long term lease with Mapes Ranch for the property. In August 1972, the first greenhouse was built, measuring 28 feet wide, 140 feet long shaped like a quonset hut covered with a translucent plastic. It was planted with 1200 tomato seedlings. The seeds are initially started peat moss, and set in pea gravel in nine-inch-deep beds.  Then several times a day the plants are watered with the necessary nutrients. They also experimented with other vegetables and florals as well, but the high quality tomatoes were in demand, thus the most profitable. Hobo Wells operation was not limited to a single growing season, as the geothermal heating allowed the operation to grow year round.

Another aspect of this enterprise that is unique, was that Gutman had no background in agriculture or geothermal energy. As a matter of fact, he had only retired from the Army after twenty years of service.

In time, the operation expanded to six greenhouses. The goal was to raise 40,000 pounds of vine ripened tomatoes per greenhouse, per year.

Hobo Wells received extensive press coverage, locally, state and nationwide. In addition, he designed an taught a two-year course in Aquiculture at Lassen Community College, where the students received first hand training at Wendel. All that attention, brought in a competitor across the road by the name of GeoProducts.

Something happened that changed the operations. First there was the sale of the Mapes Ranch in 1976. Then for reasons unknown, Gutmans and Souza were no longer on the scene in 1977 and the greenhouses were idled.  In 1979, John DeLapp of Standish had taken over Hobo Wells. By the early 1980s the operation was abandoned.

Tomorrow: GeoProduct’s Honey Lake Hydroponic Farms

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On May 20, 1862 President Lincoln signed the Homestead Act of 1862. It was part of the nation’s westward expansion and made filing on government lands easier. A great deal of the American West was settled in this manner, this region was no exception.

For a small registration fee, one could file on 160 acres of government land. After making improvements, and making it your primary residence one could acquire the title to the land at a cost of $1.25 per acre. By 1934, 270 million acres of government land had been transferred through this act. It remained on the books until it was finally repealed in 1976.

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Actually, this is slightly different take on things. In the 1970s, Philip Gutman’s Hobo Wells Hydroponic operation at Wendel seemed to have a bright future. By 1975, Lassen College incorporated into its curriculum an offered an Associated Arts Degree in Hydroponics.  By the late 1970s, Geoproducts, Inc. became involved to expand the enterprise. By the early 1980s the operation was abandoned. Does anyone know why it shuttered?

Tim