November 29, 2017

By Kevin Shea

kshea@njadvancemedia.com,

For NJ.com

The town of Robbinsville says they're the first municipality in New Jersey to take delivery of a portable, hydroponic box farm from which they plan to grow leafy greens.

The farm - located in a 40-foot metal shipping container and can produce an assortment of lettuce, kale and herbs - arrived Tuesday from the Boston company Freight Farms. It's called a Leafy Green Machine.

It's the future, Robbinsville says: the "vertical" farm can pump out leafy greens all year round without the worry of weather or the need for soil or pesticides from a 320-square-foot space. Hydroponics is the science of growing plants in nutrient-rich water.

And it's also a nod to the township's rural, farming past, the town says.

Kevin Holt, the town's recreation activities coordinator, says the box farm - which cost $104,000 - will aid Robbinsville and residents in three ways.

First, the town plans to grow lettuce and other greens and supply township programs, like the senior center, where the box will reside, and Meals on Wheels.

In the near future, the town plans to partner with nonprofits or organizations that aid the needy or hungry with low-cost produce.

Then, Holt says, the town plans to start a community share garden and sell greens to residents, maybe with a set monthly fee or something similar. "And that will help offset the cost," he said.

Plans are still in the works, Holt said.

In addition to lettuce, the farm has the capability to make mustard greens, Asian greens, endive and herbs like basil, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, thyme and parsley, the town said.

The grand plan, town spokesman John Nalbone said, is to pay off the box in five to seven years. "That's the goal," he said.

Plus, the town will offer the Leafy Green Machine as an educational tool to schools, and for community engagement and volunteer opportunities, Nalbone said.

"Growing our own food that is healthy and nutritious, with an eye on partnering with organizations such as Meals on Wheels, is a wonderful concept," Mayor Dave Fried said in a statement.

"We really want our seniors and children to take part in this ground-breaking program and learn about futuristic farming," Fried said. "Hydroponics is the way of the future, and we are proud to be on the cutting edge as the first municipality to purchase and operate a Freight Farms hydroponic system."

Kyle Clement, who graduated from Rutgers University recently, where he studied plant science graduate, will spearhead the program for the town, with the title, hydroponic farm coordinator.

"Food connects everyone," Clement said. "Today, people are becoming more and more invested in understanding where their food comes from, and we want to give everyone the chance to explore that."

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.