As you may have read in the teaser, the other day I visited Hydro Harvest Farms in Ruskin, Florida, which is located just south of Tampa. During my visit, I took the more-fun-than-it-sounds “U-Pick” option, and purchased scallions, basil, eggplant, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and green peppers. I also was able to speak with the farm’s helpful staff, as well as the owner, John Lawson, who gave me valuable insight into hydroponic farming. (More pictures are available on their website and 2nd Green’s Flickr account).

While even organic farms do their part to protect the environment, hydroponic farms stand out in their ability to conserve the resources used for production. At Hydro Harvest Farms, the plants automatically receive water and nutrients through a tube three times per day. It was especially impressive that in one day less than one gallon of water is used to sustain 24-30 plants. In total, the farm consumes about 1,500 gallons of water daily – which sounds like a lot until you realize that’s 80 percent less water than a conventional farm would use. In one day, it works out to a savings of 6,000 gallons.

More than just saving water, hydroponic farms occupy a very small space. Hydro Harvest Farms is only ¾ of an acre. Not only can the plants thrive in less space than they would need in soil, but because the plants grow in a tower, the farm can cultivate up to six times as much food. (Six levels is about the maximum because there wouldn’t be enough nutrients to trickle down to the bottom plant.) A huge benefit of taking up so little space, as John pointed out, is the potential for farming in urban settings.

While hydroponic farms are more efficient by design, Hydro Harvest Farms is unique in several areas. John mentioned the large container at the base of the towers as an example. Their bigger size allows them to grow “root vegetables” (growing below the surface) such as carrots, onions, potatoes, and beets. Another distinctive feature of the farm is that zero pesticides are used. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is practiced instead. According to their website, this means they “use every method to eradicate organisms and pests in the early stages of the problem by using natural enemies, natural solutions, organic controls and NO chemical pesticides.”

So…why aren’t farms like Hydro Harvest everywhere? John cited start-up cost as the biggest obstacle, saying that it took a six-figure investment to start his ¾ acre farm. Another disadvantage is that they must plant and uproot crops by hand. While laborious, they don’t have to worry about any soil-borne diseases like E-coli, or paying for and running a tractor, reducing operating costs.

If you’re interested in buying the freshest produce or just want to go somewhere else besides a grocery store, I think hydroponic farms are a great place to go. Not only will you support your local economy, but you’ll see first-hand why hydroponic farming is a great way to save the environment.

[Image by author]