07/23/2023
I believe knowing how to grow your own food is a skill everyone should posses. As a child I watched my grandfather cultivate a bountiful garden each year and my grandmother preserve all that was not immediately consumed. I had such reverence for my grandfather that just watching him work the soil, observing the miracle of photosynthesis (which I was certain he controlled) and enjoying what grew gave me a tremendous appreciation for nature and what the earth can provide. It was their stories of surviving first, the Spanish Flue then the depression that made me aware of the need for common sense preparedness. Several years of participation in the Boy Scouts and a term of military service further reinforced that belief.
So this farm grew out of the need for a retirement project that would observe that safe advice while providing me some hard, meaningful work, quality food and an opportunity to use my background in science to build a farm using sustainable, eco friendly practices. I became intrigued with a farming practice called Aquaponics and made the focal point of this farm a solid structure greenhouse dedicated to this ancient practice In brief, Aquaponics combines aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in water instead of soil) to cultivate crops. It's a closed loop ecosystem where constantly recirculating water brings nutrients created by the fish to the plants which absorb the nutrients and return fresh water to the fish. I grow vertically (Just Grow Up Farm) so I can produce 6 times more vegetables per square foot than conventional farming. It utilizes but 10% of the water required for conventional farming, requires no weeding, pesticides or fertilizers. Growth is faster as plants are bathed in a constant supply of nutrients and they can be grown year round as the environment is controlled. Its primarily for the product of leafy greens as pollinators are discouraged from going in the greenhouse. Fruiting and root vegetables are raised outside in grow beds which are all equipped with drip irrigation for water conversation.
Fortunately this project was never intended to be a money making enterprise as it became a very involved and time consuming DIY project. Now complete, I'm trying to determine how to best put this farm to use. During the development and learning phase of this project I experimented with a variety of leafy greens and vegetables that I forced on friends, neighbors and the community. For certain I'm going to continue donating produce and have identified a group called "Building Bridges" that provides meals and a place for veterans to gather that I'm looking forward to working with. But with the greater interest in local farming, I'm hoping this page attracts other enthusiasts that would enjoy sharing ideas, resources, and time. With world events as they are, it's never a better time to develop community with your neighbors and other like minded people.
"Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because in the end it will contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness: - Thomas Jefferson
