The produce I grow in my experimental Aquaponics setup tastes just fine.
Mostly I grow Kale, Swiss Chard, Cabbage, Leaks, and Strawberries because those are what I've found survives the non-heated winter temps in the greenhouse.
Posted on 11/21/2017 4:51:37 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Barre, VT - In late November most farmers are getting the winter cover crop in the ground. But, two farmers are preparing crops as if it were spring.
Vermont is well know for agriculture, and in Barre a first of it's kind farm is coming to the state, vertical farming.
"It's growing horizontally in layers or in our case vertically, and we go up 16 feet," said Greg Kelly. He and Jake Isham are co founders of Ceres Greens. The two men are taking farming to the next level, growing produce indoors, in vertical tubes.
"What this industry is able to do is revitalize urban communities that no longer have their factories operating. You can convert them into vertical farms," said Isham.
Isham and Kelly are converting an old granite shed in Barre into a state of the art indoor farm.
"We are going to be growing year round, leafy greens and herbs, arugula, basil, salad mixes," said Isham.
Once the quarter acre size warehouse is up to speed, they are projected to produce a thousand pounds of produce a day. Which will create 10 to 12 new jobs.
"In our cold climate you can't grow year round outdoors. Even in the green house it's a little bit difficult, if we go in doors we are able to grow year round," said Isham.
Which will allow for a quick growing process Kelly explained, "between four or five weeks till harvest. We will plant every day, and harvest every day."
This is because the facility will have ideal growing conditions 24/7, and will use LED lights to replace natural sunlight.
Both men tell us, this farming model will help to cut down on the carbon foot print, and reduce water consumption.
"We use about 90% less water, because we don't have the evaporation that you would have outdoors," said Kelly.
This way of farming will guarantee a scheduled harvest, different than the conventional farm.
Seeds will hit the soil come mid to late December with the first harvest expected late January to early February.
For more information about Ceres Greens, click here.
“What this industry is able to do is revitalize urban communities that no longer have their factories operating.”
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Or else, we could bring back, some jobs from China.
Just saying.
I bet the produce will taste like Crap. Much the way Most Tomatoes do today.
You are wrong. Vertical farming uses no pesticides or hormones to produce food. There are no pests either. The food is as pure as the fallen snow.
Some cool stuff being done with growing practices. Israel has incredible produce and a lot of it is grown in hothouses.
Politics is a scam and we’re suckers for playing.
Sales of so-call Microgreens DIRECT to the end user. Cuts out the middleman and ups your profits. It is a 7 day/week job tho.
Check out any number of UToob videos on the micro-green industry.
If they use really good seed lines they will have superior produce.
The produce I grow in my experimental Aquaponics setup tastes just fine.
Mostly I grow Kale, Swiss Chard, Cabbage, Leaks, and Strawberries because those are what I've found survives the non-heated winter temps in the greenhouse.
Exactly right. About the only tomatoes we can get here now are indoor hydroponic fake crap that taste like cardboard. We’re relying more and more on our garden even though we are at high elevation (for the east) and a short season.
Tomatoes are tricky. Greens, squash, other stuff is easy.
I’m planning out a build in my house in this style this year.
Measuring the nutrients that reach the bottom is a bit challenging, but it’s fun. What’s really fun is shaping the PVC pipes. Make a slit, and then you bend the lower out, the upper in and voila !
Hydroponics makes an interesting vegetable. Since it’s indoors, there is no wind or turbulence. The cells are weaker and the veggies are more “tender”. Keep a fan on them and they’ll stand up more, get crispier cells and be more of what you’re looking for.
Does this thread have a gardening ping ?
They have had that at Epcot Center for years!
It is a win for Barre...not a major job creator but it is something.
If it is economically viable and tastes good I will buy it. If it is expensive and tastes vile I will not.
My grown in Texas soil and fertilized with chicken crap are pretty damn good. However, if our Texas summer is hot and early it is not good for my tomatoes but the squash love it if I give them a lot of water.
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