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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Are Organic Hydroponic Greenhouses Environmentally Sustainable

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  • From: Brigette Leach <avalonfarmshomegrown AT earthlink.net>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Are Organic Hydroponic Greenhouses Environmentally Sustainable
  • Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 19:48:34 -0500

Allan,
Start up costs can be very high for commercial hydroponic production, but that doesn't have to be the case and there are many ways to approach it, high cost isn't the only way to go. I know a grower in northern lower Michigan who does everything on the cheap because he is very creative, innovative and is willing to put in his time rather than his money. I on the other hand am more able to invest a few more dollars and less able to add any more to my aready over loaded day. Aspects such as access to capital, access to labor, geographical location and hours of sunlilght, availablility of fuel sources all come into play. By the way, I know a greenhouse grower who uses peach pits from Gerber in Fremont to heat his houses. I can only speak for our operation, but the plastic buckets, tanks, pipes and hoses we use are not replaced every year. I don't know how long they will last, but this is our sixth season and we haven't found the need yet. Adrianna might have better input on this since she's been at it a little longer, but she may use a bag system rather than buckets. We replace plastic roof covers as needed, and so far have gotten 4 years out of the first batch.

Brigette
Avalon Farms Homegrown
Zone 5

Allan Balliett wrote:

The backyard garden seems most sustainable. A hoop house or high tunnel
might come next. Where would hydroponics fit in? Would productivity and
low transportation costs make it worth while?


I'd love to be corrected on this assumption: hydroponic operations are not sustainable in any sense of the word and, to be effective, require never ending purchased inputs. Ecologically, the plastic of a hoop house can be rationalized by the savings in petroleum local food achieves. With hydro, you add substantial overhead (and costs) with all the additional plastic pots, troughs, pipes and hose that must be purchased in. To what benefit over from-the-Earth raised beds?
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