The Hydrofarm, An Alternative Type of Farm
Hydroponics, though not really a new concept, is transforming the growing industry. Individuals and hobbyists are maintaining hydroponic gardens in their homes; people are setting up hydroponic grow rooms in their houses as an alternative to maintaining outdoor gardens; and now, we’re beginning to see the hydrofarm emerging as an alternative to regular farming.
Besides “Hydrofarm” being a common brand name of hydroponic products, a hydrofarm is essentially a farm that grows its produce utilizing the concept of hydroponics. Hydroponics is the growing of plants without the use of soil replacing the soil with a different anchor for the roots, and directly supplying nutrients to the roots through a water-based formula. Plants can grow strong and healthy, and yield more fruit in this manner, because the elements needed for plant productivity are carefully controlled to maximize the effect on the plants.
Where hydroponics has long been a fringe aspect of agriculture (and still fights the stereotype of being utilized primarily for growing illegal plants), in recent years, it’s grown in reputation to the point that even countries like Holland and Canada are beginning to grow food this way on a larger scale. Today, there are many a hydrofarm throughout the country; some participate in local farmer’s markets or sell their produce to stores, and many sell their produce directly to the customers by a variety of methods.
The hydrofarm has increased in popularity because people often consider the food to be safer, plus with the use of lighting and temperature controls, produce can be grown out of season. In spite of the misconceptions that this is an artificial method of growing plants, there’s barely anything artificial about it (no genetic or chemical engineering); it is simply an alternative way of providing the natural elements a plant requires in order to grow, and because these elements are controlled, plants can be given the optimal amount of light, water and nutrients to yield good produce time and again. In fact, one of the reasons people purchase hydroponic produce is that they realize that it’s a healthier, more natural alternative to the mass-producing agricultural methods commonly used now.
In time, the hydrofarm may become a primary food supply for third-world countries or places where it’s not conducive to grow in the soil. Fascinatingly, this alternative is also being explored as a way of growing food in space! Indeed, to the ignorant, the hydrofarm is merely a fringe concept, but to the learned, this is critical for the future of agriculture.
