A Balance Made on Freshly Grown Farms
Innovation and Intuition
The loud humming of fans almost drowns out the trickling song of running water inside Paul Grant’s greenhouses on Freshly Grown Farms. Inside these greenhouses, the air is heavy and humid, but something is missing—the familiar earthy smell of soil that so often accompanies a trip to a farm. And there’s a reason for that; instead of planting his lettuces and herbs in soil, Grant grows his crops with a hydroponic system known as Nutrient Film Technique (NFT).
Using a weather tracker and computer inside each greenhouse, Grant’s lights, fans and evaporation cooler work together to create the ideal growing environment.
For this farming technique, Grant plants seeds in small pods in his one germination greenhouse. In this first step of the process, seeds develop roots and begin to sprout in a warm, moist environment.
After two weeks, they are moved into one of the other three greenhouses. Grant equipped these greenhouses with rows of PVC pipes, each with three-inch holes where the plants will grow. For the next four weeks, sprouts develop into leafy greens. Instead of absorbing nutrients from soil and fertilizer, the plants rely on a stream of water that trickles through the pipe passing the necessary nutrients on through the roots. That is where the term Nutrient Film Technique originates. All the pipes are on a slight incline that allows the water to move across the roots. At the end of the row, water is collected into a gutter, which leads back into a water tank. Inside of the tank the water’s pH and nutrient level is measured to ensure ideal nutrient uptake by the plants. Water then re-enters the pipes, and the system begins again.
“Everything in here is set up and designed to use energy and grow plants efficiently,” Grant says. NFT avoids runoff and issues of drought or flooding. Meanwhile, the weather tracker measures the temperature and level of humidity. The computer takes information from the weather tracker to adjust the temperature, fans and lights inside of the green house.
This system does not solve every problem though. There is a final key to making this system work: a farmer. Grant still must be cognizant of the environment around his greenhouses and attuned to the health of his plants.
“If you are working in an area that naturally has plants that attract white flies, your risk of infestation in the greenhouse is much higher,” he says.
The house keeps many pests away, but the structure is not impervious. Likewise, the change of seasons and available daylight affects growing. Even though his greenhouses are on the same plot of land, he can’t treat them all the same. The largest greenhouse backs up to the woods that block the early-morning sunlight. On that side of the house, he has compensated by adding LED lights to make sure that the plants grow at the same rate as those that receive more natural sunlight.
“You have all of this technology, but that doesn’t mean you are superman” he says.
While not at super-hero status, the NFT hydroponic system and other farming innovations keep farmers on the cutting edge of providing nutritious food quickly and efficiently. Grant sells his produce at Rosewood Market in Columbia, and at 14 Carrot Whole Foods in Lexington. His greens can also be found at 18 different restaurants around the Midlands. Grant says that he is always stretching the bounds of what he can do on his farm.
“I get lots of requests from chefs and I’ve tried a lot of different plants and varieties of plants. I’ll give it a shot and if it doesn’t work I might try it again later. The good thing is that you know whether or not something will work in about six weeks. You just have to be honest.”
Computers, weather monitors and regulated environmental controls all point to the innovative nature of this farm. But truth be told, innovation is nothing without intuition. This farm could not run without Paul Grant observing and learning from his success and mistakes. When it comes to farming, and food in general he says, “we have to be willing to do things differently. You can’t lock yourself in.”
Where to Find
| Rosewood Market | The Wired Goat Cafe |
| 14 Carrot Whole Foods | 116 Espresso & Wine Bar |
| Crave Artisan Market | Bourbon |
| Motor Supply Company | Gervals & Wine |
| Bistro | Nonnah's |
| Tazza Kitchen | Southern Squeezed |
| Saluda's | Spotted Salamander |
| Terra | Ristorante Divinio |
| Hampton Street Vineyard | Rosso Trattoria Italia |
| The War Mouth | Goat's |
