Welcome to iGrow News, Your Source for the World of Indoor Vertical Farming
5 Steps For Setting Up A Valuable LED Lighting Trial
2018
Philips Lighting
76% of growers growing under LEDs agree that LEDs have improved the quality of crops at their location
If you’re thinking about taking the first step with LEDs, the process can seem daunting. There are so many claims and so much information being shared that you may find it difficult to wade through the information with confidence and true understanding.
The reality is that LED technology is here, and regardless of the crops you grow, it’s time to begin seriously thinking about and preparing for the eventual transition to LEDs that will take place in your greenhouse operation.
You can begin the transition by starting with a small trial area in your greenhouse operation. As with other processes in the greenhouse, it isn’t quite as intimidating when broken down into smaller, more manageable steps. Follow these five steps to set up this trial area.
Step 1: Identify your challenge.
Some crops have higher values, meaning they generate more revenue or higher margins, than others. It could be that there is a high demand for a specific crop or that a crop brings in higher margins but presents some unique challenges when growing. Consider the following factors when selecting the crop/cultivar for your trial:
Production volume
Economics of production
Propagation challenges
Step 2: Determine a location to set up your trial.
Select a location in your greenhouse, ideally in a typical growing area. To get an appropriate sample size and maintain environmental conditions, it is recommended that the trial area for plug trays be approximately 1,000 to 1,500 square feet. If you’re conducting a lighting trial over potted plants, a larger space may be required.
Step 3. Set up comparative lighting scenarios.
You’ll want to work with a lighting supplier to determine the best way to set up a trial that allows you to compare your current lighting situation to a new lighting scenario.
Start by measuring the inside light levels of your current lighting and compare them to the daily light integral (DLI) for optimal growth of the crop being grown in the trial. This will help you determine if part of the lighting trial is to track the results of delivering increased light levels, or if the trial is to see the results of growing under a different spectrum. You want to see the effect of more light as well as understand the crop response to the focused red and blue spectrum of LEDs.
Step 4. Track the results.
Plan to track the data to not only document the effect on crop growth but also to understand how other crop inputs are affected by the LED lighting. Note adjustments that are made. It is recommended that measurements or data be recorded once a week. (See chart.) Be sure to have the same person measure and record the data at the same time every week during the trial.
Also, take side-by-side photographs of the crops to capture the difference in rooting, basal branching, coloration, speed of flowering, etc.
Step 5. Review the trial results
Let the results inform your decision. Did you see an uptick in the fill rate? Did you note faster flowering? Were you able to decrease the application of PGRs? Once the improvement in crop growth is translated into quantitative and/or qualitative results, you can then calculate the true ROI of an LED installation. This information will help you develop a plan for converting to energy-efficient LED lighting.
Check out this video of John Bonner, owner of Great Lakes Growers, explaining how he conducted a trial to compare and evaluate growing lettuce under HPS to growing under LEDs.
Ready to give LEDs a try? Contact a certified Philips LED horti partner to get started. Learn more about Philips horticulture products.
How To Improve Plant Growth With Micro-organisms
For indoor growers, beneficial micro-organisms are one of the keys to unlocking a garden’s full potential.
Eric Hopper | 2018
Presented by Sponsor: BluePlanet Labs
Takeaway: The advantages of beneficial micro-organisms in the garden are multifaceted, and experts believe their use will continue to expand throughout the horticulture industry. For indoor growers, beneficial micro-organisms are one of the keys to unlocking a garden’s full potential. The most common types of beneficial micro-organisms used by indoor growers can be broken down into three categories: beneficial bacteria, trichoderma and mycorrhizae.
Soil is so much more than just dirt. It is packed full of biological activity, and many growers consider it to be a living thing. In the last 10 years, researchers have started to understand just how important the biological activity in soil really is. Long-term use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides has caused significant damage to the network of micro-organisms naturally found in soil.
We are starting to understand that without a healthy, living soil, sustainable horticulture is impossible, and as we continue to learn more about the intricate roles micro-organisms play in the soil, we see more methods, techniques and products aimed at maintaining the soil’s biological activity.
The reason indoor growers are getting so revved up about soil micro-organisms is because they help produce healthier growth and more abundant yields. To enjoy the benefits of beneficial microbes immediately, indoor growers can purchase soils or grow mediums inoculated with beneficial micro-organisms.
If the soil has not been inoculated, or if growers want to supercharge the biological activity of their soils, they can add beneficial micro-organisms either to the soil or to their feeding program. The types of beneficial micro-organisms commonly used by indoor growers can be broken down into three categories: beneficial bacteria, trichoderma and mycorrhizae.
Beneficial Bacteria in the Garden
There are many different types of beneficial bacteria indoor growers can use in the garden, the most common being soil-borne beneficial bacteria. There are many different strains of bacteria that live underground and provide benefits to plants. Depending on their strain, these bacteria help break down organic matter, add to soil composition, facilitate nutrient uptake and help protect plants and their roots from pathogens.
Adding beneficial bacteria to the soil or grow medium gives bacteria a chance to colonize and multiply quickly. A large population of colonizing beneficial bacteria equates to a faster breakdown of organic matter. This breakdown converts the organic matter into soluble compounds, which become readily available to plants. A healthy population of beneficial bacteria increases a plant’s ability to feed, which accelerates growth.
Aside from being inoculated into a medium, there are other ways beneficial bacteria are being put to use in an indoor garden. Many organic pesticides and fungicides contain strains of beneficial bacteria. Certain bacteria feed on pathogenic fungi, such as powdery mildew, and can be used as an effective treatment against such pathogens. Bacillus subtilis are a great example of beneficial bacteria used to treat powdery mildew. These bacteria are administered via foliar spray and are only effective where they make direct contact with the powdery mildew.
Beneficial bacteria have also made their mark as pesticides, especially for indoor plants. The bacterial species Saccharopolyspora spinosa is used as an effective, general-purpose insecticide due to its ability to affect the way an insect digests its food and the way it molts. Basically, the bacteria break the insect’s life cycle so it cannot continue to reproduce. Another bacterium commonly used as an insecticide is bacillus thuringiensis. Commonly referred to as BT, this beneficial bacterium is effective at controlling soft-bodied insect populations. In general, bacteria-based insecticides are much less toxic than their chemical counterparts.
(Special organic services for large scale agricultural grows are available from AquaClean)
Trichoderma in Horticulture
In an indoor garden, trichoderma are most commonly used as a preventative defense against pathogenic fungi. Trichoderma are specialized fungi that feed on other fungi, but it is actually the enzymes released by the trichoderma that give these microscopic, defensive all-stars their power.
Trichoderma release chitinase enzymes that break down chitin—the primary material that makes up the cell walls of pathogenic fungi. The chitinase enzymes released by trichoderma microbes eat away at the pathogenic fungi and, in turn, protect roots from being attacked.
Trichoderma have gained a reputation among indoor growers as being soil pathogen preventers. In fact, when a large population of pathogenic fungi exists in the soil, trichoderma increase chitinase production and feed almost exclusively on the pathogens.
Trichoderma also release another enzyme beneficial to indoor growers: cellulase. Cellulase are beneficial to the garden in two ways. First, cellulase aid in the breakdown of organic material in the soil, turning it into readily available nutrients for the plant. Second, cellulase can penetrate root cells. How can penetrating the cell walls of roots be beneficial?
It turns out that when the cellulase penetrate the root cells, they automatically trigger the plant’s natural defense system. The plant’s metabolism is stimulated, but no real harm is caused to the plant. In this regard, trichoderma has a synergistic relationship with plants. Trichoderma feed on sugars secreted by roots, while the plants develop a heightened resistance against pests and pathogens.
Mycorrhizae in Horticulture
The beneficial micro-organisms most commonly supplemented by indoor growers are mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizae are naturally occurring fungi that form symbiotic relationships with more than 90% of the world’s plant species, so their presence in the soil is imperative. Many soil companies are now incorporating mycorrhizae into their soils. You may even find that your favorite soil or medium is now being sold with added mycorrhizae, and even some lawn-care products now contain mycorrhizae.
There are a couple ways to supplement mycorrhizae in an indoor garden. Powder and liquid concentrates of mycorrhizae are available, which allow you to inoculate any type of medium or hydroponic system. The symbiotic relationship between mycorrhizae and roots may be the most important relationship in organic horticulture.
Essentially, mycorrhizal fungi become an extension of the root system and further their reach into the depths of the soil. This extension broadens the plant’s access to vital nutrients. As mentioned before, mycorrhizae have synergistic relationships with plant roots. The extending web of mycorrhizal fungi assimilate nutrients for the plant and the plant’s roots secrete sugars or carbon for the fungi to feed on.
Like with trichoderma, it is the enzymes produced by mycorrhizal fungi that make these microbes such an asset to plants. The enzymes released by mycorrhizae dissolve otherwise hard-to-capture nutrients such as organic nitrogen, phosphorus and iron. Although many mycorrhizal formulations contain both types of mycorrhizae and are sold as general mycorrhizal supplements, there are actually two types of mycorrhizal fungi commonly used by growers: endomycorrhiza and ectomycorrhiza.
Endomycorrhiza are mycorrhizal fungi whose hyphae (long, branching filamentous structures of the fungus) penetrate the plant cells. Instead of penetrating the interior of the cell, the hyphae manipulate the cell membrane, turning it inside out, which increases the contact surface area between the hyphae and the cytoplasm. This helps facilitate the transfer of nutrients between them while requiring less energy than would otherwise be needed by the plant to do so. This specialized relationship increases the efficiency of nutrient uptake.
Ectomycorrhiza are a group of fungi that have a structure surrounding the root tip. Ectomycorrhiza essentially surround the outer layer of the root mass. In nature, vast networks of ectomycorrhiza extend between plants, even if they are of different varieties, and allow plants to transfer nutrients to one another. The ectomycorrhiza act as a super highway for the transfer of nutrients.
When sourcing mycorrhizal products, you’ll notice that formulations contain both types of mycorrhizae. These two types can also be purchased individually. A closer look at the product label reveals the percentage of each type of mycorrhizae it contains. The label of any mycorrhizal product should also have an expiration date.
Although supplements in powdered form generally have a longer shelf life, micro-organisms are living creatures and their effectiveness dwindles as they age and die out. Liquid formulations tend to have a shorter shelf life, so you should plan on using these formulas more quickly.
As scientists learn more about the complex world of micro-organisms and how they affect horticulture, we get closer to creating the ultimate indoor growing environment. Organic growers are paying close attention to the development of beneficial micro-organism products.
Beneficial micro-organisms in the soil or grow medium boost nutrient uptake, aid in the breakdown of organic matter and increase a plant’s natural defense mechanisms. Whether they are used to treat powdery mildew or combat a pathogenic insect, certain micro-organisms get the job done without the environmental impact associated with harsh chemical treatments.
Hydroponic Seed Starting 101: A Primer For Beginners
Starting your seeds hydroponically has many benefits, but many people are unsure how to go about it. Shannon McKee gives us a primer on the basics of starting your own seeds to expand on what you’re currently growing.
Shannon McKee | July 10, 2017
Takeaway: Starting your seeds hydroponically has many benefits, but many people are unsure how to go about it. Shannon McKee gives us a primer on the basics of starting your own seeds to expand on what you’re currently growing.
Many people skip starting their own seeds because of the time and effort to get them started, but there are some great reasons to start your own seeds hydroponically. It’s so much easier to just go to the store to pick up some seedlings to pop into your system and get growing, right? Well, store-bought seedlings do have some downsides that can be avoided if you start your own.
The first is that you’re limited to what you can grow in your system. You have to choose from the options available at the store. However, if you start your own seeds, you can grow anything. This means you can grow your favorite heirlooms or even rare plants that aren’t found at many nurseries.
Adding seeds to your hydroponic system means that they won’t go through any trauma or root damage from being transplanted into your system. This process may also introduce diseases or bugs into your hydroponic system from the store.
Also, you get the satisfaction of growing a plant from a tiny seed rather than just picking up a seedling. Plus, a packet of seeds can grow a number of plants for just a few bucks, whereas the cost of only one seedling can be the same amount.
Seeds are also more cost-effective than buying one or two seedlings in the long run, as you can save some for the following year. The germination rate can decrease over time, but often, you can still get quite a few to sprout over the years until you have to buy your next seed packet.
What You Need to Start Seeds in a Hydroponic System
The first time you start your own seeds for your hydroponic system may be a bit more expensive at the beginning because you need to buy more materials than in future years. Seeds need water, light, oxygen, and heat to grow. You really don’t need anything too special to grow your own seeds.
You can use a grow tray with a dome for your own miniature greenhouse to create an ideal environment. If you’ll be growing your seeds in an area that is cooler, you may want to invest in a heating mat that goes underneath the grow tray to keep it warm as this is a necessary condition for sprouting to occur. Light is good to have as well as this will help your seeds sprout.
Inside of your grow tray, it can be beneficial to use a pot that works for your seeds and their future as seedlings in your hydroponic set-up. You’ll want to use starter cubes, such as those made of stonewool (rockwool). The key here is to use something that can withstand being immersed in water without dissolving, as it could clog up your system after transplanting.
Step by Step Instructions for Sprouting Seeds in a Hydroponic System
The first thing that you’ll want to do is to soak your starter cubes in clean water for about an hour. After they’ve been given a chance to soak, put a few seeds into the cube’s hole. You’ll want to add several just in case you have some seeds that don’t germinate. Once they sprout, you can thin out the weaker plants to allow the strongest to grow.
Prepare your grow tray with about an inch of clean water or nutrient solution that is at half strength. Arrange the light source and heating mat as needed. You can keep the lid on to keep the heat and moisture in the tray.
Put these planted cubes into the grow tray and add water or the half strength nutrient solution as the level goes down in the grow tray.
After about four days, you’ll start to see some sprouts emerging.
Some people prefer to use a Ziploc bag, rather than a grow tray, when trying to get the seeds to germinate as it functions like a greenhouse. Seal the bag with a little bit of air and put it in a dark place for about four days to get the seeds sprouted. Then, you can put the starter cubes with sprouted seeds into the grow tray.
Step by Step Instructions on Transplanting
Keep your tiny seedlings growing strong with your hydroponic nutrient solution. Once they’ve gotten bigger, you don’t have to make the nutrient solution half strength.
You’ll start to see the seedlings’ roots coming out of the bottom of the cube, and this is the sign you’ve been waiting for, as it means you can start transplanting. This can take about two to four weeks depending on what plants you’re growing.
Clear up a spot in your hydroponic system’s growing media for the seedling – cube and all. Gently transfer the starter cube into your growing media, and cover it gently.
Give the root system a chance to naturally seek out the water and nutrients in your system by top watering it for a few days to give it a chance to grow the root system.
Voila! You grew your own seedlings into a strong plant for your hydroponic system. Depending on the type of plant, you’ll be able to get your first harvest about four to eight weeks from the time you transplanted your seedlings.
Cut out the dependency of only being able to grow the types of plants that are available as seedlings at your favorite gardening store. Take a little extra time to nurture your seeds so that they become strong seedlings ready to transplant into your system. You’ll be able to take pride in your efforts with how healthy your plants are and your overall system’s health.
What Are The Best Plants To Grow With An Ebb and Flow (flood and drain) Hydroponic System?
Hybrid seeds will give you significantly higher yields and multiple disease-resistant properties.
Written by Lynette Morgan
Q:
I have an ebb and flow (flood and drain) hydroponic system. I have tried growing many types of plants, but the best performers in the system were lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes. As I only have a 320 square foot greenhouse and wish to share the produce with my family, I want to grow the most productive plants. Can you suggest the best seeds for me to purchase for lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes? I live in northern Florida. Thank you!
A:
The best varieties for a small, hydroponic greenhouse in your climate would be hybrid types of tomato and cucumber plants, and heat-tolerant cultivars of lettuce. Hybrid seeds will give you significantly higher yields and multiple disease-resistant properties. They perform well under hydroponic growing conditions where they receive the ideal levels of advanced nutrition. Lettuce is essentially a cool-season crop and can struggle in warm growing conditions, so selecting more heat-tolerant or bolt-resistant types is recommended to help prevent problems such as upward stretching, or the development of tip burn under high temperatures. The following would be my seed recommendations for a hydroponic system in Florida:
Tomatoes
Beefsteak: Trust F1 and Geronimo F1. These are both grown commercially in greenhouses and are ideal for hydroponics. The fruit is large, so fruit trusses may need some support due to their weight. These varieties also have multiple disease-resistant properties. Hybrid tomato plants need plenty of potassium when the fruit is developing, so I recommend using a high-quality fruiting or bloom nutrient formulation at this stage.
Cherry: Flavorita F1 or Sakura F1. Both are red cherry tomatoes with a good, sweet flavor and multiple disease-resistant properties. They are less prone to splitting or cracking than other cherry types.
Cucumbers
There is quite a wide range of cucumber types that can be grown hydroponically. Here are some of my top recommendations:
Long, seedless Dutch type: Tyria F1. Fruit are 14 inches long, great-tasting, thin-skinned and non-bitter. They also have some resistance to powdery mildew, which is a huge advantage when it comes to cucumbers.
American slicer type: Corinto F1. Fruit are 7-8 inches long, have good disease resistance and are highly productive in hydroponics.
Mini cocktail type: Iznik F1. Harvested when just 2-3 inches long, and also called snack cucumbers, these cucumber seeds are a good variety for hydroponics as they produce a lot of thin-skinned fruits.
Lettuce
It pays to try growing a wide range of lettuce types, depending on your personal preferences, of course. However, the following types are proven performers in hydroponic systems:
Green butter lettuce: Pelleted Rex seeds are the best in terms of handling and germination. This lettuce is ideal for Florida’s climate. It is slow to bolt and very reliable. It also tolerates downy mildew.
Green frilled type: Muir. It is a medium-sized, light green, open and slow-growing variety. Muir is fairly heat tolerant and has a good flavor.
Salanova: For a mix of different lettuces and a surefire way to impress friends and family, the latest hydroponic lettuce trend is the Salanova lettuce types that produce compact heads of leaves that are all totally uniform in size and shape. I recommend the Salanova Home Garden Mix pelleted seed that will produce a range of colored Salanova types. This seed is a little more expensive than other lettuce types since it is a reasonably new development, but it is well worth the investment, particularly with the deep red types.
All of these seed varieties are available online from Johnny seeds (johnnyseeds.com) in different-sized packs. Good luck with your hydroponic greenhouse this season!
Have a question? Ask us here.
View all questions from Lynette Morgan.
Economics of Urban Ag
Targeting high-value, niche markets or products, and adapting a social business model can help urban greenhouses derive profit.
September 27, 2018
Robin G. Brumfield and Charlotte Singer
Editor's note: This article series is from the Resource Management in Commercial Greenhouse Production Multistate Research Project.
Urbanized agriculture is gaining momentum in response to increasing demands for locally produced fresh vegetables. Greenhouse or indoor vegetable production to meet local demands is the backbone for this evolving scenario. The viability of various indoor crop cultivation options demands proper documentation to guide appropriate recommendations that fit different production circumstances for growers.
Brooklyn Grange’s Brooklyn Naval Yard Farm
Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Grange
Recently a popular trend toward eating local, deemed being a locavore, evidenced by a growing social movement, has evolved (Osteen, et al., 2012). While the benefits of buying food locally are debated due to the economics of comparative advantages, consumer groups support urban agriculture for a number of reasons, such as to support local farmers; to provide local, fresh food in inner city deserts; to buy fresh food; to know from where their food is coming; and to respect the environment (Peterson, et al., 2015). Specifically, one study found that 66 percent of those surveyed welcomed more local food options because local food supports local economies (Scharber and Dancs, 2015).
Many consumers also cite environmental impacts as a reason to buy local, evidenced by one study finding that environmental factors were an important reason to buy locally grown food for 61 percent of those surveyed (Scharber and Dancs, 2015; Reisman, 2012). Another popular reason is to reduce food insecurity. USDA defines food insecurity as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food” (USDA ERS, 2017). Buying locally grown food can reduce food insecurity in that having local farms provides consumers who might not have previously had access to fresh produce the opportunity to purchase it. Some urban farms make a point of targeting food insecurity, and having local farms allows a city to rely less heavily on external markets to feed its population. Despite debate of realized benefits, consumers eat local food to feel good about it (Scharber and Dancs, 2015).
High capital costs
The low supply of special varieties such as these microgreens can drive a higher price to help cover the high costs of running a greenhouse.
Photo courtesy of Robin G. Brumfield
Regardless of the strength of their consumer base, the number of urban farms is still low due to the high costs that urban farmers face compared to rural farmers. Not only is the land more expensive, but also the limited plot size and probable contamination of the land with lead and toxins essentially necessitates the use of a greenhouse with high investment costs. Cost challenges that many urban greenhouse farmers face include securing funding, finding economies of scale, and facing high capital and operating costs. The energy necessary to heat a greenhouse through the winter makes utility costs high, the most productive greenhouse technologies are expensive, and land is of much higher value in cities than in rural areas (Reisman, 2012). Not to mention, the initial infrastructure cost involved in building a greenhouse is much higher than the costs that farmers growing in a field face. The costs of urban greenhouses vary greatly depending on size and type. The construction of, for example, a hydroponic greenhouse entails costs for site preparation, construction, heating and cooling equipment, thermostats and controls, an irrigation system, a nutrient tank, and a growing system (Filion, et al., 2015).
Another problem with growing in cities is shade from tall buildings and skyscrapers. Jenn Frymark, chief greenhouse officer at Gotham Greens, cites this as the primary reason that the business built rooftop greenhouses. This creates its own set of problems and increases costs compared to standard greenhouses on the ground. Other urban producers address the shade problem in cities by producing in buildings using vertical agriculture and artificial lights. However, this increases the costs even further because of the need for light all year. These high costs keep the number of urban farms small.
Marketing: quality optimization, high-value plant products, year-round production
Due to these high costs, urban greenhouses must derive profit in creative ways, such as targeting high-value niche products or markets, and producing year-round. Targeting niche products and markets allows urban farmers to charge a premium that covers the added costs of operating in the city. Targeting a niche product could entail producing special varieties of vegetables, like how Brooklyn Grange, a successful New York City-based greenhouse, grows microgreens and heirloom tomatoes. The low supply of these special varieties can drive a higher price to help cover the high costs of the greenhouse. To increase profitability, farmers can also find a high-end market (Sace, 2015).
Targeting a niche market could entail selling produce to high-end restaurants and supermarkets, such as Whole Foods, whose customers are already expecting to pay a premium price, or it could entail marketing produce specifically to locavores. In fact, one study found that, for example, consumers were willing to pay a $1.06 price premium on one pound of locally grown, organic tomatoes. In the same study, the researchers also found that urban consumers were more likely to buy locally grown produce, compared with rural consumers (Yue and Tong, 2009). The high costs associated with living in a large city means that cities have a high concentration of people who can afford to eat local in this way, and the demographics of large cities translate to a high concentration of people who also see value in eating locally produced food. Together, these create a market of locavores willing and able to pay a premium for locally grown produce.
By targeting niche products and markets, urban greenhouse farmers can take advantage of existing high-end markets to cover their relatively high costs. Since these producers use greenhouses, and a few use indoor facilities, they can produce year-round, thus providing a constant supply and a steady demand for their products.
Harlem Grown in New York gives students the opportunity to learn about agriculture and the food system in a hands-on nature.
Photo: Instagram: @harlemgrown
Agricultural jobs in urban settings and other social values
Adapting a social business model can open urban farmers up to alternate sources of funding. They may want to provide jobs to disadvantaged groups such as low-income inner-city dwellers, or people with autism. Some of these businesses have reduced labor costs through volunteerism, as individuals may be willing to volunteer on a farm that supports a social issue (Reisman, 2012). Some examples of causes that urban greenhouse social businesses focus on include education, research, the environment and food security. Harlem Grown in New York adds an educational component to the greenhouse, namely the opportunity for students to learn about agriculture and the food system in a hands-on nature, allowing the greenhouse to become eligible for funding from schools, governmental programs or donors particularly interested in education.
Targeting niche markets or products, adopting a social business model and finding inexpensive plots of land can help urban greenhouses derive profit.
Graphic: Charlotte Singer
Other urban greenhouses can, for example, pitch themselves to city dwellers as an environmentally friendly alternative to commercial farms, using less fuel for transportation and fewer chemicals. This could again render the greenhouse eligible to new sources of funding. AeroFarms in Newark, New Jersey, has adapted a combination of the previous two models. It uses environmentally friendly techniques and collaborate with Philip’s Academy Charter School (Boehm, 2016).
Greenhouses can additionally focus their business models on alleviating food insecurity by providing fresh produce to urban food deserts (US. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, 2013). Unlike the previous cases, greenhouses that choose to focus on alleviating food insecurity would not be able to additionally use the method of targeting high-end markets, unless they make an effort to use the high-end markets to subsidize the cost of providing their produce to food deserts. An example of an urban farm targeting food insecurity is World Hunger Relief Inc. in Waco, Texas, which brings produce grown in its greenhouse to food deserts in the City of Waco at a market or discount cost. What these three options share is a business model that incorporates multiple bottom lines, which allows them access to new funding and volunteer labor to reduce costs.
As consumers increasingly look to eat locally produced food, for reasons such as to support the local economy, to protect the environment, to change food deserts and to understand better where food is coming from, urban agriculture is becoming a growing trend. Targeting high-value, niche markets or products, and adopting a social business model to provide agricultural jobs in urban areas, constitute some of the ways urban greenhouses to derive profit in a capital-intensive industry. By utilizing these techniques, individuals looking to start their own urban greenhouses can add value to their business and derive profit.
From Seed to Plant: How to Grow Your Four Legal Cannabis Plants
The president of Nextleaf Labs says the process isn't too difficult and Canadians have plenty of good reasons to give home growing a try.
Updated: October 11, 2018
Adults in most provinces will be allowed to grow up to four cannabis plants per residence for personal use after legalization on Oct. 17.
Grow expert Tom Ulanowski, president of Nextleaf Labs in Coquitlam, says the process isn’t too difficult and Canadians have plenty of good reasons to give it a try.
“It’s a lot cheaper than buying from a store or LP (federally licensed producer), especially if your grow is low-tech or if you choose to grow outdoors,” said Ulanowski, a chemist and former quality-assurance manager at Canna Farms.
“You have total control and know exactly what your inputs are. And gardening can be fun and therapeutic, as well.”
Once a grower has their gear and has legally acquired seeds or seedlings (the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch will sell seeds in B.C.), here’s how Ulanowski recommends they put them to good use.
SEED GERMINATION
Fold a piece of paper towel twice into a pocket, place four seeds inside and dampen it with water. Seal the pocket inside a ziploc bag and put it in a warm place. After about a week, the seeds will open and plant tissue will show.
PLANT AND TRANSPLANT
Carefully take the four seeds and put them in peat pellets or small pots with damp peat-perlite mix or coco coir, about 2.5 to five centimetres deep. Set an 18-hours on light cycle, with the six hours off at night. Stalks will emerge in a week or two, and nutrients and water can be added. Vegetative growth will continue for a month or two, at which point the plants should be transplanted to larger pots. Trim away larger leaves.
FLIP AND FLOWER
Once the plants reach between 30 and 60 centimetres tall, give them a 12-hour light cycle. They’ll start flowering and reach maturity within eight to 10 weeks, depending on seed variety. Trim leaves two or three times during flowering. Once the plants mature and their trichomes (hairlike glands) turn cloudy, it’s time to harvest their buds
HARVEST, DRY AND TRIM
Cut off the larger branches and hang them upside down in a dark environment with about 50 per cent relative humidity and 20 C for a week or two. The drying process is done when smaller stems snap, not bend. Trim off leaves and remove dried buds. Put them into a mason jar with a special humidity-control pack. Keep the jar in a dark, cool place like a cupboard, opening the lid to “burp” the buds every few days. After a week or two they’re ready to consume.
Ulanowski said it’s crucial home-growers keep safety and cleanliness in mind. They should abide by dried cannabis possession limits in their province (1,000 grams at home in B.C.) and make sure their landlord or strata council allows home grows.
Tom Ulanowski, president of Nextleaf Labs in Coquitlam SUBMITTED: NEXTLEAF / PNG
“Stay away from pesticides, if possible, and instead rely on sanitation, environmental controls, and beneficial insects to control pests and disease,” he said. “Be discrete for obvious reasons. For example, B.C. laws require you to hide your plant — it can’t be in public view.”
For more details about growing, Ulanowski recommends The Cannabis Grow Bible: The Definitive Guide to Growing Marijuana for Recreational and Medicinal Use.
An Interview With Saani Abdulai: Growing An Agripreneur In Ghana
"To help improve the farming activities of local farmers in Africa, and gradually making food insecurity a thing of the past". "That is my ambition"
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Being closer to the local farmers is the enjoyable part because through negotiation, I help farmers get fair prices for their produce. I am the bridge between local farmers and outside markets because I understand the needs of both. This collaboration with farmers has enabled me to understand their challenges they face such as poor market access and competitive prices for their produce. It is a win-win situation.
What attracted you to agriculture?
I became attracted to agriculture when I was a child. I used to follow my dad to the farm, helping him weed using the cutlass and the hoe, while guiding our cattle grazing. It was a natural feeling for me to go into agriculture and I enjoy the farmland.
Fertilizer use is fairly low in Ghana, how do you see your business helping farmers to understand the benefits and use of fertilizer?
Yes, fertilizer use is low in Ghana because our farmers who are the main source of farm products have little knowledge about the appropriate application of the fertilizer. Besides, many do not know about soil types and when or what type of fertilizers to use for what crops.
The local farmer also needs to travel to the town from his local community or village to access fertilizers in urban areas. So easy access to fertilizer and equipping farmers with the requisite knowledge on the applications are the main challenges confronting our farmers. As a result many are not motivated to use fertilizer on their farms.
I am looking at venturing into an agro dealership and thereby helping farmers access fertilizers and other inputs easily and affordably. In addition, I am exploring conducting training seminars/workshops in partnership with developmental organizations and private sector companies in the fertilizer industry to equip the farmer with the necessary information on the use of the fertilizer.
Once farmers see the benefits of using fertilizers in increased yields, I believe they will be motivated to use them. Increased yields are also a benefit for me as a trader because I will have more to sell and without doubt better quality too.
What challenges have you faced in running your agribusiness?
Many. My main challenges are getting in touch with the right networks that will help me expand my business through bigger markets. Finance is a setback. Easy credit is not available for me to be able to meet my customer’s orders and to expand the business. I still need to build a name as young business person to access credit from banks, for instance. Besides, I also have a challenge of assets, I need to build my own warehouse and secure my own truck to move my goods to market.
I think the biggest challenge for now is to find investors to help me set up the fertilizer side of my business.
Something has worked well to keep you in business, tell us about it?
Oh really, the big opportunity I had ever since I started this business is when I registered to attend the West African Fertilizer and Agribusiness conference organized by AFAP in 2017. After the conference I had better knowledge about agribusiness and fertilizers. It was an eye opener to me and an encouragement to pursue by dream of building a branded agribusiness that will create job opportunities for the youth and local farmers at the local community level. The conference ignited zeal in me to fight more for the local farmers to raise their production now and for the future.
I would love to dedicate this eye opening experience I had to Sandra Pires from AFAP who encouraged me to attend this conference where I met agribusiness and fertilizer industry players. I say thank you to Sandra for this opportunity.
What motivates you?
Nothing motivates me in my work more than seeing a local farmer wipe sweat from their brow while doing what they are good at: farming. Sealing a deal and delivering the right commodities to my customers motives me too because I know I am able to get more business from satisfied customers.
Getting more youths into agribusiness is also a source of motivation because I believe the young hold the food future for our continent.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself running a reputable branded agribusiness company that is into mainstream supply of farm produce to organizations in the country and beyond its borders. I can see myself being a major distributor of quality fertilizers in the country.
What advice would you give to youths seeking a career in agribusiness?
Keep working on your dreams in the agribusiness. First play by the rules and register your business and keep working on it daily. The registration of my business happened sometime after I thought of trading farm produce. I was born and raised by a local farmer and knew from scratch the essence of farming which provides food and income. Without farming there is no food.
West Warwick, Rhode Island - High School, Sodexo Unveil New Hydroponic Farm
Kendra Port/klolio@ricentral.com
October 15, 2018
Photos by Kendra Port
WEST WARWICK –– West Warwick High School this week officially unveiled its new state of the art hydroponic farm and served up a number of delicious recipes using freshly harvested produce grown right on campus.
The Leafy Green Machine is a turnkey farming system located inside a shipping container that can grow the equivalent of 1.8 acres of farmland in only 320 square feet. West Warwick High School partnered with the district’s food service provider, Sodexo, and a small startup company out of Boston called Freight Farms, to purchase the unit, which now sits in the school’s courtyard.
On Thursday faculty and staff held a Hydroponics Harvest celebration event at the high school where kitchen staff used recently harvested lettuce to demonstrate some of the meals they will eventually be making for students once the machine is fully operational. Right now the school is only growing different types of lettuce as staff learn how to run the machine, but the Sodexo staff proved that you can make a lot of different meals with a simple head of lettuce.
Staff served up vegetable lettuce wraps, spiced lettuce cake bars, lemon pudding wraps, lettuce beef wraps, lettuce soup and leaf lettuce bread, all made with the fresh lettuce grown in The Leafy Green Machine over the last several weeks and harvested that morning.
Each table in the high school cafeteria was adorned with a colorful display of fresh lettuce from the farm for the celebration.
It’s only about 20 steps from the farm to the school kitchen, says Sodexo General Manager Donna Walker, and “you can’t get any fresher than that.”
Naturally the school plans to use the farm to produce food for all of its students, but eventually they would like to grow enough to feed the entire district. They also plan on using the farm as a teaching tool, and to start a Leafy Green Machine Club in the future to gather students to help run it on a regular basis.
The plants in the farm start out as seeds that are planted in a special seedling area in the pod for about three weeks. Afterward they are transplanted into vertical racks where they will grow for the next five weeks. In about eight weeks total the plants will go from seed to harvest and eventually onto the plates of students and teachers. They plan on growing things like basil, kale, Swiss chard, spinach, arugula, dill and parsley down the road.
Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants in water with a nutrient solution, according to Freight Farms Representative Dana Lucas, who attended the harvest celebration Thursday afternoon. There’s no dirt involved in the growing or planting process and the farm uses a number of LED lights to act as the sun. The nutrient solution feeds the plants and can adjust the farm’s pH as needed. The temperature levels can also be automatically adjusted based on a plants' needs. There’s even an app for the phone or computer where farmers can view or modify the farm’s settings 24 hours a day, meaning they can grow produce year round without having to worry about the growing season.
“It’s the coolest thing for me to see the farms in action,” said Lucas. “I love seeing them in high schools.”
Freight Farms now has over 200 farms throughout the country.
“This is an exciting joint venture,” said West Warwick Superintendent Karen Tarasevich. “We value our long standing partnership with Sodexo in so many ways.”
She said The Leafy Green Machine is just another way to give students and staff hands-on learning experiences, and she was excited when Sodexo brought the proposal forward to the West Warwick School Committee last year.
“This is one opportunity with one machine that has already served the purpose of expanding the mindset of what we can do,” she added. “This celebration of the first harvest is just the first steps towards feeding the world.”
Sodexo Regional Manager Mark Tucker said the company is always looking to create a partnership with local school departments to provide services beyond the lunchroom.
“We’re really looking to find a way to bring another avenue for students to learn, develop and have access to a machine like this you normally wouldn’t see,” he said. “This is helping us bring nutritional meals to students and redefine local. We all want to do our part and buy local and we’re happy to be able to do that here.”
“Hopefully this is bigger than just growing leafy greens,” he added. “Hopefully it will be an opportunity where we can continue to revitalize students’ minds.”
Lucas was one of the Freight Farms team members assigned to go out and train new users in how to operate the machine.
“Everything is regulated and it takes very little for a farmer to start up their farm,” said Lucas. “Anybody can be a farmer and be successful. It’s totally revolutionary for farming. You don’t need to check if your conditions are good or the nutrients in your soil. Data is being collected by computers and that data will allow us to feed the world. We take pride that students can learn not only about plants but about farming.”
Sodexo’s Hydroponic Consultant Amy Lynn Chauvin has been helping to maintain the farm over the last couple of months, working alongside teachers to get it up and running. Chauvin is a teacher with six years of hydroponic growing experience. Chauvin provided guests with tours of the farm Thursday, fielding question after question about how the whole thing works. Lucas said Chauvin is running the farm like a well-oiled machine and said its one of the most well maintained farms she’s seen in action.
West Warwick High School Science Teacher Haley Winsor has also been a major part of the program.
“Students have been talking a lot about this,” said Winsor. “There’s a lot of interest in getting in there. We’ve had a few students coming in and we need to continue to teach them how to maintain the cleanliness of it.”
Fellow West Warwick High School Science Teacher Gina Poulos said the school is already looking at ways to implement The Leafy Green Machine into the curriculum. The school will even be starting a Freight Farm Committee, which has its first meeting next Wednesday.
“Some faculty have already emailed me sharing ideas and we’ll discuss all this and how to incorporate it into all different parts of school,” she said.
Other administrators of the program include West Warwick Schools Finance Director Joseph Spagna and Director of Facilities Kenneth Townsend.
Follow Kendra Port on Twitter @kendrarport
From Roof to Table, This Farm is Bringing Organic Vegetables to Brooklyn Residents
Part of the Food Policy Community Spotlight Series
Name: Eagle Street Rooftop Farm
What they do: Eagle Street Rooftop Farm is a 6,000-square-foot organic vegetable farm located on a warehouse rooftop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The Farm is a product of the collaborative effort between the green roof design and installation firm Goode Green and the Brooklyn-based sound stage company Broadway Stages, which financed the installation of the Farm.
The Farm realizes the economic, ecological and societal benefits of green roofing while also bringing local produce to the North Brooklyn community. According to Michigan State University, green roofs can “improve stormwater management by reducing runoff and improving water quality.” In addition, they help to “conserve energy, reduce noise and air pollution, sequester carbon, increase urban biodiversity by creating a habitat for wildlife, increase the space available for urban agriculture, provide a more aesthetically pleasing and healthy environment for surrounding residents, and improve return on investment compared to traditional roofs.”
Eagle Street Rooftop Farm operates a weekly farm market and caters to area restaurants. Between 2010-2011, it became the first rooftop farm to host its own site-based Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. In 2010, the Farm also launched an Apprenticeship Program, which instructs seasonal apprentices (spring, summer, fall) in organic farming based on the Farm’s planting and growing practices. Additionally, with support from Growing Chefs, a nonprofit field-to-fork education program that is also under the aegis of Annie Novak (the co-founder and farmer of Eagle Street Rooftop Farms), the rooftop farm’s education staff operates a range of other educational programs.
How they do it:
In its first season, the Eagle Street Rooftop Farm grew over thirty types of produce, from watermelon to cabbage, in order to see which would thrive in a green roof growing environment. The most botanically successful crops for health and high yield included hot peppers, cherry tomatoes, and sage.
Since the 2012 growing season, the Farm has focused on a selection of hot peppers to begin development of a Brooklyn-based hot sauce. Currently you can find their hot sauce – “Awesome Sauce” – at Archestratus Books + Food as well as at Littleneck Outpost, both located in Greenpoint.
The Farm sells its harvest through its site-based Sunday farm market and delivers fresh produce by bicycle to local restaurants including Williamsburg’s Marlow & Sons and Greenpoint’s Paulie Gee’s, Brooklyn Brine, Eastern District, Anella’s, Spritzenhaus, Ovenly, Sea Bean Soups, and Champion Coffee.
On Sundays in the growing season, the Farm is open to the public and welcomes volunteers of all skill levels during its market hours, which are listed on the events calendar. Growing Chefs curates the farm’s Free Lecture series, which are held at two o’clock on Sundays and have covered topics ranging from urban chicken-keeping to pickle making.
Mission: to provide fresh, organic, locally produced fruits and vegetables to Brooklyn residents and restaurants
Latest project/campaign: The publication of their book, The Rooftop Growing Guide: How to Transform Your Roof into a Garden or Farm, in February 2016.
Major Funding: Broadway Stages, Gina Argento & family
Profit/nonprofit: Profit
Interesting fact about how it is working to positively affect the food system: The Eagle Street Rooftop Farm’s education staff, working with Growing Chefs’ curriculum, hosts a range of workshops for children and adults. Topics include growing food in New York City, seed-saving, the art of cooking locally, city composting, the benefits of green roofs, beekeeping, and guest lecturers.
FACT SHEET:
Location:
44 Eagle Street
Brooklyn NY 11222
Core Programs:
-Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA)
-Community Outreach/Education (urban farming education, Growing Chefs workshops)
-Farmers’ Markets
-Apprenticeship Program
Number of staff: 4
Areas served: Brooklyn
Year Started: 2009
Director, Manager or CEO: Annie Novak
Contact Information: info@Rooftopfarms.org
Owned by Broadway Stages and built by Goode Green, the farm was made possible by the generous support of Gina Argento and family. Learn more about Broadway Stages’ green work in Greenpoint here!
Tags: Eagle Street Rooftop Farm Farmers markets Garden Education Organic Farming Rooftop Farm Urban agriculture
Gabrielle Khalife
US (HI): Helping Waimānalo Families Use Aquaponics, Improve Health
Researchers Help Waimānalo Families Use Aquaponics, Improve Health
Three researchers at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa have won a national fellowship and will receive $350,000 funding over three years to assist Waimānalo families with backyard aquaponics to sustainably produce healthy food.
The project will connect the modern technology of aquaponics with Native Hawaiian food practices. Aquaponics taps into the power of the natural symbiotic relationship between fish and plants, and combines the raising of plants in water with raising fish in tanks to create a sustainable, contained food production system.
The fellowship was awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to promote health equity in the U.S.
The research team is comprised of Jane Chung-Do, an associate professor with the UH Mānoa Office of Public Health Studies in the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work; Ilima Ho-Lastimosa, community coordinator at the Waimānalo Learning Center and an education specialist in the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Science (TPSS) in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; and Ted Radovich, a TPSS associate specialist.
They will expand their work with families in Waimānalo to develop an aquaponics program to grow fresh fruits and vegetables and raise fish that families can use to prepare meals and Hawaiian medicines. This builds on the decade-long work that Ho-Lastimosa has been promoting in her community of Waimānalo.
The researchers will recruit Native Hawaiian families in Waimānalo to participate in aquaponics lessons and will guide the families in building and maintaining backyard systems. The researchers will follow up to see whether the systems are successful in helping the participants increase their intake of and access to fresh fruits, vegetables and fish, as well as promote healthy eating habits. In addition, impacts on participants’ mental wellness, cultural identity, family strength and community connectedness will be measured.
Ilima Ho-Lastimosa feeds fish in an aquaponics set-up, while Jane Chung-Do looks on.
“Our goal is to restore Native Hawaiian practices related to food and community,” said Chung-Do. “The study embraces the perspective that health is holistic and interconnected with our culture, families, communities and the ʻāina.”
As a public health scientist, Chung-Do has worked to enhance the wellness of children and families in Hawaii, especially in rural and minority communities.
Radovich was born and raised in Waimānalo and holds a PhD in horticulture. His expertise is in sustainable and organic farming systems.
Ho-Lastimosa grew up on the Waimānalo Homestead and holds masters degrees in social work and acupuncture; she is also a master gardener. The community leader and cultural practitioner in Waimānalo founded God’s Country Waimānalo, a group that initiated a food sovereignty and sustainability movement in the community.
Source: University of Hawai'i (Theresa Kreif)
Publication date : 10/11/2018
Indoor Garden Towers Installed At GBHS
Soon Great Bend High School students will be growing vegetables indoors in a soil-free system called a Garden Tower®, Assistant Principal Randy Wetzel said.
This Tower Garden® growing system in the GBHS Library is one of three purchased to grow plants without soil at Great Bend High School.
Students Will Grow Food Without Dirt
October 13, 2018
Soon Great Bend High School students will be growing vegetables indoors in a soil-free system called a Garden Tower®, Assistant Principal Randy Wetzel said.
The school used funds from the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education bill to purchase three of the aeroponic, vertical growing systems to grow plants and vegetables in the classroom without dirt.
“The Tower Gardens were bought for our Family and Consumer Science Cluster (Culinary Pathway),” said Wetzel, who is also director of the Career Technical Education program at GBHS. They were assembled by students who are now learning how to use them.
The towers were suggested by Amber Wolking, the new Family and Consumer Science (FACS) teacher. They are set up in the library, a biology classroom and Wolking’s own classroom, the “foods lab.” Plants should start growing in the next couple of weeks.
“What’s great about the Tower Garden is that it takes up less than 3 square feet of space, indoors or outdoors, and you can grow 20+ fruits, vegetables or flowers using a vertical aeroponic growing system,” she said.
Like hydroponics, aeroponics is an alternative form of gardening. The main difference is that hydroponics uses water instead of soil as a growing medium, but aeroponics uses 90 percent less water than a traditional garden, Wolking said.
“We have two mineral blends that we will add to the (tower’s) green base, which is the water reservoir,” Wolking said. The plants are grown in rock wool.
“We also test the pH of the water and add an acid or base, depending on what is needed. The water and lights will come on in timed intervals to help simulate the outdoors. The water goes up the center and then gently falls on the root system inside the center tube,” Wolking said.
“Research has found aeroponic systems grow plants three times faster and produce 30 percent greater yields on average,” she added.
The students will have the opportunity to grow their own plants from seedlings purchased from a company that specializes in growing starter plants for Tower Gardens.
“I’m excited to have the students take ownership of the gardens and watch them grow. We will be utilizing what we harvest in the classroom to create different recipes, canning, taste testing and comparing to grocery store produce, experimenting with different herbs and offering extra produce to the community. The students will take pride in what they create from ‘Tower to Table’ and will learn that healthy can taste good!” Wolking said.
Climate Cell On Wheels Helps Dutch Growers With LED Dilemma
"Everybody wants to do 'something' with LED and has the feeling something has to be done with it, but what? There's so much going on and being offered - how to get started and what to do?" That's why the Hortilux & Green Simplicity teams created a research solution for the industry. Currently they're on the road with it: for two weeks, a climate cell on wheels is shown at various companies. This Thursday it will be shown at Hortilux themselves.
The roadshow is fully booked, and every day two or three companies are visited: breeders, seed growers, research institutes and growers of course. For example De Ruiter and Syngenta are being visited. The climate cell on wheels drives there, and the possibilities of LED in horticulture, places without daylight, research and vertical farming are discussed. There's a lot of interest and many colleagues are visiting the climate cell. "We're not getting bored", the Hortilux / Green Simplicity teams agree.
"For example the roadshow offers an insight on the possibilities in research, but also how to translate it to a solution for production: going hybrid with SON-T or LED only, in a greenhouse or a vertical farm. With Hortilux & Green Simplicity we can have a fair amount of knowledge and can help with this."
This Thursday the roadshow will be at Hortilux, (Vlotlaan 412) and their employees can take a peek. Between 10:00 - 13:00 everybody is welcome to enter, also other people / companies with interest. Just send a message to Martin Moes or leave a voicemail (+31(0)6-22981504) in advance.
For more information:
LED'S RESEARCH
www.leds-research.com
How Urban Farms In New York Schools Are Raising Food To Fight Inequality
Teens for Food Justice’s farm-to-table concept brings fresh, student-grown produce to the cafeteria
September 27, 2018
Teens for Food Justice
It’s the type of experience expected at a top-rated restaurant: Diners gaze at produce growing in a hydroponic garden next to the kitchen. Behind plexiglass, herbs are carefully plucked in anticipation of being added to every plate.
This high-tech take on farm-to-table, however, is being built for the cafeteria of a New York City public school in Manhattan.
As part of a nonprofit program called Teens for Food Justice, a handful of schools in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan have turned spare classrooms, unused science labs, and, in one case, an empty closet into urban hydroponic farms, an experiment in self-sufficiency, science education, and food equity.
It’s not unheard of to find produce grown within the five boroughs: supermarket chains like Whole Foods and companies such as Gotham Greens have helped pioneer and popularize large-scale commercial farming in New York City.
But Teens for Food Justice isn’t just about urban farming, it’s about using agriculture in the classroom as a tool to educate and empower communities without easy access to fresh produce.
“These communities lack access to healthy food,” says Katherine Soll, the founder and CEO of Teens for Food Justice. “How could we utilize a school program to make it possible for food desert communities to provide food for their community?”
Teens for Food Justice
Teens for Food Justice now has more than 300 students in New York City public schools actively participating in hands-on learning, either during the school day or in after-school and weekend programming. The student farmers at the program’s three locations manage to raise an impressive annual harvest of leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes, and cucumbers: DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx grows 25,000 pound of produce a year, Brownsville Collaborative Middle School in Brooklyn brings in 15,000 pounds, and Brooklyn’s Urban Assembly Unison School nets 3,000 pounds.
After the food is harvested, cleaned, and cut, most of it gets used in school cafeterias to supplement existing dining options. Think salad bars with most of the items raised on site, including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, kale, swiss chard, basil, and bok choy. Any remaining fresh produce gets sold at an affordable price to the community via farmer’s markets.
Connecting salads and service learning
Soll initially became involved in student service and philanthropy in 2009. A mother of two on the Upper West Side, Soll was disappointed student volunteer options weren’t addressing issues of inequality in New York City, and decided to take it upon herself to create more community-oriented programming.
“There wasn’t any rich service learning opportunities,” says Soll. “We felt that was really the key to creating a generation of young people who were civically engaged and involved in local justice.”
Soll helped launch Students for Service, which offered a variety of service learning opportunities. Within three years, the program was working with more than 1,000 students across a variety of city agencies and nonprofits. As the program grew, volunteers often worked on issues of sustainability, emergency food assistance, and urban gardening. According to the New York Food Bank, 16 percent of New Yorkers are food insecure, meaning they lack reliable access to fresh food, and more than 1 million reside in “food desert” communities, which lack access to fresh food.
An idea started taking shape: what if you could create a Gotham Greens-esque program, but for schools, and they could sell produce into their local communities?
The first Teens for Food Justice garden launched in 2013 in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, at Urban Assembly Unison School. Initially, the program worked on a volunteer basis, with students from across New York participating in after-school gardening. In 2016, TFFJ decided to change how it operates, focusing on drawing volunteers from within the school. By integrating the program in the school day, the thinking went, the program offered new classroom and learning opportunities.
“For a youth led-project to really move the needle, the community needs to drive it,” says Soll. “If you really empower the children and families and leadership, you can embed it deeply in the ongoing learning of the school.”
Teens for Food Justice
Supporting social change from the ground up
With funding and support from companies such as Whole Foods and Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, as well as support from city government, the program is expanding its aim. Soll says the program is looking to increase the size of the farm at Urban Assembly Unison School, build a new farm at Manhattan’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Collaborative School in Columbus Circle, where the garden-in-cafeteria-concept is taking shape, and potentially launch new in-school farms in Miami.
The focus on sustainability isn’t just about produce. Soll says the program is working with Boston Consulting to develop a more self-sustaining platform, to make it easier to expand into new schools while helping existing sites grow and make a great impact on their communities.
The benefits of onsite gardens go beyond fresh food (which is a big deal in food-insecure communities). Students gain lessons about biology and nutrition, and DeWitt Clinton High has incorporated farm work into AP courses. Evaluations discovered students learn a lot of soft skills around collaboration, and gain confidence in the garden. But more importantly, Teens for Food Justice shows teens how they can make an impact.
“When children speak passionately about an issue, adults listen to them,” Soll says. “If you believe your voice can be heard, and you believe you have the power to make a difference, that builds confidence on so many levels, and triggers engagement and involvement.”
Education Matters: Students Grow Food Hydroponically
By: SUSANNE BRUNNER
September 24, 2018
CABOT, Ark. - Growing food without soil? It's happening at Cabot High School.
"It most definitely grabs their attention," says Griffin Prior, Cabot High Senior.
When you're walking down the halls, it's hard to miss these plant towers.
"It teaches us so much responsibility because if we don't take care of it, then it's just going to die," says Cora Hicks, Cabot High Senior.
Using a pH System, students in Plant Science Class are testing out their new hydroponic grow tower. The lettuce sprouts without soil. Instead, these teens use mineral nutrients in water and light.
"It's easier than to dig in dirt to show kids how the root system grows, how the plant itself grows, on what it uses to grow," says Prior.
Prior and his classmates are nurturing the leafy greens with a pH System. Periodically, students will test the pH in the water to see if the plant is getting the right amount of nutrients it needs. The process was a lot of trial and error.
Since July, students have harvested about 9 pounds of organic lettuce. With 6 of these plant towers on hand, there's enough lettuce for everyone.
"We kind of share it throughout the district. It is good! It tastes just like a salad," says Hicks.
From tower to table, Plant Science is growing with interest and this method is planting the seed to something bigger in agriculture education. Cabot High School received the towers during the summer and they hope to get more in the future.
To keep up with Susanne Brunner's Education Matters Reports, you can like her page here
Evergreen Farm Will Install 6 Operational Grow360 Units (worth 750,000 €) In Espoo Innovation Garden in Finland
This farming facility will perform research, as well as, produce food and industrial crops (biofuels and bioplastics), yielding up to 12,960 crops per harvest.
Evergreen Farm Oy will provide the farming units, training, and mentoring free of charge, since Ali Amirlatifi believes in the enormous educational value this hands-on experience has for students particularly in fields of automation, robotics, computer science, electrical engineering, space technology, material science, manufacturing, chemistry, biology, water management, marketing, communication, and business.
This farming facility will perform research, as well as, produce food and industrial crops (biofuels and bioplastics), yielding up to 12,960 crops per harvest. The students’ objective is that the revenue from food production can be used to fund further technological development in indoor farming, biorefineries, manufacturing, and the space adaptation of such technologies.
Evergreen Farm is in negotiation with Urban Mill, Aalto University (ACRE), and City of Espoo,
Finland to obtain the premises for the indoor farm, which could be the pre-existing underground tunnel or any other available facilities in the Espoo Innovation Garden ecosystem in the heart of Aalto university campus.
DreamTree, Taos, New Mexico - Farms The Future With Hydroponics For Youth Nonprofit
Thursday, September 20, 2018
By Jesse Moya
jmoya@taosnews.com
Imagine growing nearly 2 acres worth of food in your closet, year-round.
Hydroponic pioneers at DreamTree Farms are doing the unthinkable.
They have started producing food for Taos in a storage container in the front yard of the DreamTree Project. After more than a year of work and several trials and errors, the container has been up and producing since February and is capable of producing nearly two acres worth of food in an 8-foot by 40-foot shipping container that has been retrofitted for growing food year-round.
"I love it and I'm so excited," said DreamTree Executive Director Catherine Hummel. "The whole goal is to raise money for DreamTree."
In 2017, DreamTree began its venture into the hydroponics world when the youth services group applied through the town of Taos to put the shipping container on the property. After a special-use variance was obtained, the crew began attending trainings and setting things up to start the indoor farm. The venture allows DreamTree to grow several different types of vegetables and herbs to sell to local restaurants and markets to bring in some revenue.
With a bit under 10 gallons of water per week, DreamTree's Freight Farms container is capable of up to 52 harvests per year at full capacity and is climate- and light-controlled, so the food can be grown at any time of the year without fear of frost. Currently, the small facility grows leafy greens, radishes and some specialty herbs. Crops must have similar growing conditions since the trailer is kept at the same temperature year-round.
"We don't worry about what's going on outside," laughed farm manager Jerrod Rowlison-Elliot.
With a specialized system, Rowlison-Elliot can seed crops with ease and quickly transport them from seed trays to vertical gardens. The vertical gardens act like bookshelves holding the plants up in rows while a specialized drip system sends water directly to the roots. When the harvests are ready, twice per week, the vertical trays of plants are moved from their hanging racks, placed on a table where they are harvested and bagged for transport and sale.
A few local businesses have already started taking advantage of DreamTree's farm and have been using the product to replace imported goods. The goal is to expand the farm and get the vegetables into more local avenues and reduce some of the footprint made by imported produce.
"This is a really secure way to provide food locally that doesn't require a lot of fossil fuels or traveling," said Rowlison-Elliot.
On the outside, the container was a giant white train car that had to undergo a beautification process, according to town codes. Without hesitation, officials at DreamTree agreed to bring in local talent to paint the side of the container with an image honoring the DreamTree and the youth clients they work with.
Local aerosol artist Omar Wilkins agreed to work with some of the DreamTree youth to develop a mural for the farm that symbolized their time at the center. With their help, Wilkins is actively adding pieces to the mural when he can and is even teaching some of the teens basic art techniques.
"It's an opportunity to paint another mural in Taos," Wilkins said.
DreamTree is an active center to assist youth in the area who need an extra hand. The center offers a transitional living center for teens to help them get accustomed to the adult life of paying bills and managing money. Several of the youth will be working both on the mural and with the farm to learn about the business mechanics of selling the vegetables, according to Rowlison-Elliot. In the future, DreamTree hopes to purchase another shipping container and expand its food-growing program.
West Warwick, Rhode Island High School Goes Hydroponic
Sodexo and the school department teamed up to purchase “The Leafy Green Machine,” which is now in operation on the high school campus. The only other school-operated Leafy Green Machine in Rhode Island is located at Cumberland High School.
Kendra Port/klolio@ricentral.com | Sep 21, 2018
West Warwick High School is now the second school in the state to have an indoor hydroponic farm on-campus after purchasing "The Leafy Green Machine" from Freight Farms with the help of Sodexo earlier this year. The Leafy Green Machine is a 40 foot shipping container repurposed into a hydroponic, climate controlled farm. Photo Courtesy Freight Farms
WEST WARWICK –– The West Warwick School District is no stranger to leading the way in educational innovations, and thanks to a partnership with their food service provider, Sodexo, West Warwick High School is now the second high school in the state to implement a campus hydroponic farm from Freight Farms
Sodexo and the school department teamed up to purchase “The Leafy Green Machine,” which is now in operation on the high school campus. The only other school-operated Leafy Green Machine in Rhode Island is located at Cumberland High School.
The Leafy Green Machine, created by Freight Farms, is essentially a “farm-in-a-box.” It’s a 40-foot shipping container outfitted with all of the tools and equipment necessary to run a productive hydroponic indoor farm. The system uses 90 percent less water than traditional farming methods and requires no soil, fertilizer or other planting materials to produce fresh, crisp and flavorful plants year round in a temperature controlled environment.
Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants by placing roots in liquid nutrients rather than soil. There are different types of hydroponic systems, and the Leafy Green Machine uses two — drip irrigation and ‘ebb and flow’. The plants are placed on a vertical growing medium, or tower, and the farm’s emitters drip water and nutrients onto the crops, which trickles down to the roots.
Any water that isn’t consumed by the plants flows to the bottom and is recirculated back into the plants. The farm uses only five gallons of water per day. The plants are surrounded by LED lighting to provide the optimal wavelengths of light required for photosynthesis.
The machine also has a seeding station, a shallow trough with enough space to hold up to 12 trays of seedlings. The trough gets filled with water and is allowed to drain several times a day. Using the “farmhand” platform, farmers, or in this case school staff, can get real time data from sensors and in-farm cameras and even remotely control the farm from their phones.
Right now staff and teachers are working on a crop of rex and butterhead lettuce planted in mid August that they eventually hope to be able to harvest and use for school lunches. According to Freight Farms, the farm should be able to produce up to 150 pounds of produce per week. It is expected to put out around 500 full heads of lettuce a week; 60 to 100 pounds per week of hearty greens or 35 to 80 pounds per week of herbs.
West Warwick High School Science Teacher Hailey Windsor gave a brief presentation to school faculty and staff Wednesday afternoon to talk about ways they can implement the Leafy Green Machine into their curriculum. She said that although the food produced in the farm can’t technically be classified as “organic” because of strict regulations, there are still no pesticides are used, and she’s willing to bet what they grow is still better than your typical store-bought produce in terms of chemicals.
According to West Warwick Public Schools Director of Education Reform, Compliance and IT, Jim Monti, the Leafy Green Machine is really an extension of something the school district is already doing in its elementary schools - creating and maintaining hydroponic farms in the second grade elementary school classrooms. It’s all part of the district’s effort to provide more experiential learning opportunities to students.
“Every grade two classroom has tower gardens that fit right in with this,” said Monti. “We’re trying to get the kids in science all the time. Their system is a smaller version of this Leafy Green Machine.”
Monti said the farm is “quite prolific” and claims it can generate enough produce to fill Gillette Stadium over the course of a year.
“I think there’s a lot we could end up doing with this,” he said.
Sodexo and the school department plan on holding a formal harvest celebration some time next month. Their goal is to eventually have the farm produce enough to supply all of the district’s schools with produce.
Follow Kendra Port on Twitter @kendrarport
Sarbanes Announces Federal Grant to Support Maryland Urban Farming and Environmental Education Program
Representing The 3rd District of Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes
Funding Will Help Local Nonprofit Provide Hands-On Urban Farming Classes and Environmental Learning Experiences for Maryland Students
September 18, 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today announced that ECO City Farms, a local urban farming and education nonprofit, will receive $97,844 in federal grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide Maryland students with immersive urban farming classes and hands-on environmental learning experiences.
Funding comes from the EPA’s Environmental Education Program, which offers grantmaking opportunities to education programs that promote environmental stewardship and outdoor learning. The grant will support ECO’s “Growing Young Stewards Through Urban Farming,” a program that educates Maryland students about sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation, and encourages youth to play a larger role in protecting local ecosystems.
“This new federal grant will allow ECO City Farms to provide more Maryland students with hands-on urban farming and sustainability education and better connect them to our natural world,” said Congressman Sarbanes, a longstanding environmental education advocate who authored the No Child Left Inside Act. “By providing our students with access to outdoor learning experiences, we can instill them with environmental values and inspire a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship.”
To learn more about ECO City Farms, visit: http://www.ecoffshoots.org/about-us/
For more information about the EPA’s Environmental Education Program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/education/environmental-education-ee-grants.
CAN (QC): 2,000 Square Feet of Gardens To Be Added To School
Villa Maria is launching its new Techno-Farm program, an urban agriculture and composting project to be carried out on the School's campus. With this educational project, the school seeks to encourage its students and their parents to become more eco-responsible.
Involving the creation of more than 2,000 square feet of garden plots as well as the implementation of a composting program, the urban Techno-Farm offers students a variety of learning activities: observation visits, thematic workshops, production workshops (various sensors, composting systems) as well as data analysis workshops.
"We invite Villa Maria's students at every level to get involved and contribute to the project within the framework of their extracurricular and Academics+ activities. This initiative will allow students to lead a series of ongoing scientific experiments and engineering projects enriching their scientific knowledge. They will also have the opportunity to apply concretely, many elements of their study program," noted André Cholmsky, one of the School's teachers.
Villa Maria's Techno-Farm received funding from the NovaScience program, an initiative of Québec's Ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation (Ministry of Economy, Science and Innovation), which supports a better understanding of science and technology. The Techno-Farm is also supported by Building Blocks Tutorials, the Villa Maria Parents Association, the Villa Maria Parent-Teacher Association and the Villa Maria Mothers' Guild.
Within the framework of the NovaScience program, visits, workshops and long-term projects will also be organized for other schools. "This project will further make it possible to raise awareness, among students of neighbouring schools, of the small-scale use of agricultural technology, agricultural science and composting as well as the broader notions of eco-citizenship and sustainable development. Once harvests are adequate, plans call for distributing the gardens' produce to community organizations," concluded Villa Maria teacher Rebecca Pearce.
For more information:
www.villamaria.qc.ca
Publication date : 9/18/2018
NL: The Green East Opened A New Innovation Center
“We are proud that we have such a gem in the municipality of Raalte,” said mayor Martijn Dadema during the opening of The Green East on Friday 24 August.
Exactly a year ago, the presentation of the plans for a new innovation center with its focus on a circular economic future for the agri-food business was held. Now a large part of the innovation center was ready for use. During this festive day, The Green East, ABC Kroos and Energiefonds Overijssel also signed an agreement to jointly establish a pilot factory for the extraction of proteins out of duckweed.
Cultivation room
The new innovation center wants to be a 'home of green development', not only for Raalte and the Zwolle region, but it also has ambitions to be active nationally and internationally. Educational institutions, (research) companies and start-ups can head to The Green East to acquire knowledge and to exchange information with each other. For example, secondary education students will be able to complete a research project at the innovation center. Also for higher education institutions, there is the opportunity to gain knowledge about the latest developments in the field of circular economy. For example, students from Aeres Hogeschool Dronten will start their Entrepreneurship minor at The Green East in early September, as is explained by Geert Sol, board member of The Green East. “Knowledge valorisation and multifold value creation are two of our core values. We are very much looking for links with companies, governments and educational institutions to take steps together in the transition to a circular economy in the agri-food business.”
Water lentils the new gourmet food
Jeroen Willemsen, 'green protein crusader', was pleased with the cooperation agreement signed between The Green East, ABC Kroos and Energiefonds Overijssel in order to work towards energy efficiency in the meat industry. ABC Kroos is going to install a pilot factory on the site of The Green East where duckweed, also called water lentils, can be processed into ingredients that can be used in human food and food supplements, but also in raw materials for use in animal feed. In order to provide the world's population in the future with food, a food transition has to take place. "There will have to be a shift in the consumption from animal to vegetable proteins. A margarine manufacturer already advertises with the slogan 'plants are the new cows'. Soon water lentils will be the new gourmet food", according to Willemsen.
Laboratory
Martijn Dadema, mayor of Raalte, is also pleased with such an innovation center within his municipality, where companies and educational institutions are willing to contribute to the revolution in agribusiness. One of the other speakers, Menno ten Heggelen, program manager for circular economy at the Province of Overijssel, was also positive about the arrival of an innovation center that fits within his field of expertise. He already sees various initiatives in the province in the field of circular economy, but calls for a transition of, for and by the sector. "The Green East research center is already a great example of this."
For more information:
The Green East B.V.
Drosteweg 6 - 8
8101 NB Raalte
The Netherlands
info@thegreeneast.nl
www.thegreeneast.nl
Publication date: 9/13/2018