Lorhill Farms Near New Hamburg is Spearheading Sustainable Agriculture With Vertical Vegetables
by Lisa Hagen for the Independent New Hamburg Independent
Tonia Streicher stands among Lorhill Farm’s vertically grown, hydroponic vegetables. The plants take up a fraction of the space of tradition row planting and use 90 percent less water. - Lisa Hagen
A surge in “eating local”, as well as a generation of farmers looking to produce food in a sustainable manner has given rise to farmers switching to methods that are better for the environment and their livestock. Lorhill Farms, just west of New Hamburg, is one of the vanguard spearheading sustainable agriculture.
Lorhill Farms was formerly a dairy farm, but as the fourth generation of the Wagler family took over the homestead, the business branched into several, environmentally conscious departments. Tyler and Maegan Wagler Scheerer look after the market gardens, landscape business, and poultry divisions; Dwayne and Tonia Streicher oversee indoor hydroponics and beef and pork production; and original owners Larry and Pat Wagler consult in all areas including a spiritual retreat on the farm.
At the forefront is the family’s hydroponic, vertical farming operation. Housed in their former milking building, the indoor garden, affectionally nicknamed the I-Farm, grows salad vegetables and herbs in a closed-loop environment.
“In a closed loop, we are able to control what comes in and out of the area,” explained Tonia Streicher. “Growing vegetables vertically takes up a fraction of the space of conventional, row farming and because we’re closed loop, we use 90 percent less water which we then recycle. The only energy spent is on lights and we are moving towards solar panels soon.”
Another aspect to a closed-loop is that no pesticides are required as few insects find their way into the sealed room. The few that do are caught in the old fashion way, on specialized, adhesive paper. As the plants are “no-till” they take no nutrients from the soil. Over tilling is known to strip the land. In contrast, the no-till system constantly adds to the soil’s health as old plants are composted.
The year-round, hydroponic vegetables make up the popular Lorhill Greens Boxes. The fresh vegetable boxes can be purchased online and are delivered to customers’ doors to reduce the long distance transportation impact. In the summer, market garden vegetables are added to the selection for the “choose what you want” boxes which, like all their packaging is compostable or recyclable. The outdoor vegetables are pesticide-free as beneficial insects are employed to ward off unwanted pests. Lorhill herbs will be available at the New Hamburg Sobeys in the near future
Lorhill beef, pork, poultry, and egg production also adopts all-natural processes. Livestock are treated responsibly and are pasture-raised with no hormones and no antibiotics.
“My kids name nearly all the animals,” said Streicher. “I want them to have a relationship and respect with them so the animals and kids feel safe. We give the livestock the best lives we can.”
This philosophy includes keeping cows and calves together until the young ones significantly mature.