FLO Nation Farms
Urban Farm / Indoor Agriculture Specialists
Creative Solutions
In many parts of the world, an agricultural revolution is growing. Consumers are developing a vested interest in how their food is grown, where it comes from, the environmental footprint, and the prevention of foodborne illnesses. These concerns have created opportunities for innovators to tackle these issues in new and creative ways. At the forefront of these innovations are hydroponics and vertical farming.
Hydroponics
Hydroponics is the term used for any method of growing that does not use soil. Plants are grown using various inert media, which do not hold nutrients and often do not hold water. Some of the most popular choices are; expanded clay pebbles, glass beads, and coconut husks. In these systems, one dissolves the nutrients for the plants in water. The water is then either pumped to or sprayed at the plant’ ’s plant’s roots, providing the plants’ nutrients and water while allowing the roots more oxygen than they would have underground. These factors lead to explosive growth, often twice the speed of field-grown vegetables. There are a few drawbacks of growing food hydroponically, the most notable of which involve the nutrients themselves. Most hydroponic systems use chemical nutrients rather than natural ones. The water containing the nutrients must be exchanged periodically, with the used water needing to be disposed of somehow.
Hydroponics
Hydroponics is the term for any method of growing that does not use soil. Plants are grown using various inert media, which do not hold nutrients and often do not hold water. Some of the most popular choices are; expanded clay pebbles, glass beads, and coconut husks. In these systems, one dissolves the nutrients for the plants in water. The water is then either pumped to or sprayed at the plant’ ’s plant’s roots, providing the plants’ nutrients and water while allowing the roots more oxygen than they would have underground. These factors lead to explosive growth, often twice the speed of field-grown vegetables. There are a few drawbacks to growing food hydroponically, the most notable of which involves the nutrients themselves. Most hydroponic systems use chemical nutrients rather than natural ones. The water containing the nutrients must be exchanged periodically, with the used water needing to be disposed of somehow.
Aquaponics
One promising offshoot of hydroponics is called aquaponics. Aquaponics is a combination of hydroponics and aquaculture (fish farming). Fish are raised instead of using chemical nutrients to feed the plants, and the plants are grown using the fish's water. The plants then clean the water for the fish, allowing the water to be continuously recirculated and not wasted. This system closely resembles the way plants and streams work symbiotically in nature, just in a more controlled environment.
One promising offshoot of hydroponics is called aquaponics. Aquaponics is a combination of hydroponics and aquaculture (fish farming). Fish are raised instead of using chemical nutrients to feed the plants, and the plants are grown using the fish's water. The plants then clean the water for the fish, allowing the water to be continuously recirculated and not wasted. This system closely resembles the way plants and streams work symbiotically in nature, just in a more controlled environment.
Aquaponics
Vertical Farming
Vertical farming is just as it sounds. It is the practice of either stacking horizontal growing spaces on top of each other or growing on a vertical surface. Using these methods, producers can grow a substantial amount more in a smaller area. Another added benefit of vertical farming is that it is usually inside a shelter, whether that is a greenhouse or a warehouse-style facility. Indoor agriculture allows for complete control of the growing environment, often used to facilitate growing crops year-round despite outdoor conditions. Growing inside of a controlled environment also mitigates most potential pests and biological issues when appropriately used.
Vertical farming is just as it sounds. It is the practice of either stacking horizontal growing spaces on top of each other or growing on a vertical surface. Using these methods, producers can grow a substantial amount more in a smaller area. Another added benefit of vertical farming is that it is usually inside a shelter, whether that is a greenhouse or a warehouse-style facility. Indoor agriculture allows for complete control of the growing environment, often used to facilitate growing crops year-round despite outdoor conditions. Growing inside of a controlled environment also mitigates most potential pests and biological issues when appropriately used.
Aquaponics
Vertical Farming
Our goal at FLO Nation Farms is to bring sustainable, healthy, year-round agriculture to Atlantic Canada. We will do this using a unique farming system that has been custom-designed, from the ground up, to grow food in a way that is good for; our customers, our community, and our planet. This system will employ a combination of aquaponics and vertical farming inside a Canadian designed cold-weather greenhouse.
Our other main goal is to help grow a vibrant community passionate about local agriculture and food sovereignty. We aim to build this community by hosting on-site classes, farm tours, educational opportunities with local schools, and culinary events.
We aim to be an integrated part of our communities by providing our local restaurants with fresh local ingredients, increasing our local food sovereignty by offering our grocery stores a safe local alternative to imported products. We also aim to be leaders in providing education on ways that we, as a province, can move toward a sustainable future.