Vertical Aeroponics
Hollygrove Market & Farm is proud to host the first vertical aeroponic farm in the city of New Orleans. Together Aquaponic Modular Production Systems (AMPS) and VeritFarms design, build, and operate sustainable soil-less farms. This farm provides high volumes of fresh produce for sale within our market and to local restaurants.
Impact on our Market
Since 2008, Hollygrove Market & Farm, has taken a leadership role in the New Orleans urban farming movement. In addition to increasing the accessibility to fresh organic produce, we have worked to incorporate environmentally sustainable growing methods. Our purpose has been to demonstrate how conservation is an integral part of nutritious food production. In pursuit of these objectives, Hollygrove Market & Farm has agreed to host this vertical aeroponic farm, helping to fulfill the AMPS vision of providing sustainably grown fresh food to urban food desserts. This farm increases the availability of fresh and local leafy greens for sale at our market. All produce avialable for sale will be harvested within 24 hours of the time it reaches our shelves.
How it works
This on-site demonstration farm features plants grown in oxygen-rich aeroponic towers that use no soil and only 5% of the water and nutrient needed for conventional gardens and farms. Seedlings are planted in grow-ports, optimally spaced and molded into the vertical towers. The columns provide as many as 44 ports per tower and rise as high as 14 ft. Depending on plant type, each port supports one to three plants. This configuration increases plant density (per square foot) as much as 6 to 10 magnitudes. Also, because the interiors of aeroponic towers constantly expose plant roots to nutrient and oxygen, crop yields are maximized, enabling multiple harvests per season. The towers are built by Future Growing.
Sustainability
Applying aeroponic technology to urban agriculture provides an environmentally friendly alternative to large scale agri-business. Urban soil-less farms reduce transportation miles, cause no nutrient runoff to expand the 'dead zone' in the Gulf of Mexico, efficiently use nutrients, reduce water consumption by ninety percent, avoid lead contamination (does not require fresh the shipment of soil from other places) and create a higher yield in small spaces.
About the Company
Douglas Jacobs founded AMPS with the intent of increasing the availability of fresh and local vegetable by using state of the art soil-less technology. The AMPS approach to urban agriculture works with clients such as communities organizations, restaurants, markets, and schools to create viable solutions for food production. Clients have the opportunity to have VertiFarms professionals manage these systems in order to ensure a quality product for the consumer. By using innovative technlogies, this business model eliminates the middle man, storage, and transportation costs.
The company is currently participating in the Idea Village Water Challenge, a competition which encourages entrepreneurs to take innovative approaches to floodwater management within the New Orleans area. The company has gained traction in New Orleans and is in the process of developing projects to supply produce for Grocery AGogo, the New Orleans healing center, a local supermarket chain, and restaurant. The company also builds and operates hydroponic and aquaponic systems, for a complete list of technologies used, click here. They have also designed and built the Mary Queen of Vietnam CDC's aquaponic system.
