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| Inside the hydroponic green house where vegetables and herbs thrive. |
A little while back, I had the pleasure of touring a wonderfully unique hydroponic farm on Cape Cod. E & T Farm is simply amazing. Eighteen years ago, they began as beekeepers and began pollinating the local cranberry bogs. From there the farm grew.
As you approach the front door of the farm, you cannot help but notice the neatly stacked piles of excess beehives to the side of the building. Once you enter the building you discover that this is a very different farm indeed. It utilizes aquaponics. Not only do they raise and farm fish, but it is those very fish that are used to feed their many thriving crops through hydroponics. Water from the massive fish tanks circulates throughout an extensive amount of planting troughs. The ammonia rich fish waste is broken down into nitrates by beneficial bacteria. The nitrates in turn act as food for the plants and the plants help to filter the water and keep it clean for the fish. Everything works together!
This year round farm grows strawberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, fresh herbs, a huge variety of mixed greens, garlic, onions, squash, beans, kohlrabi, beans, edible flowers and micro greens.
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| Tender seedlings |
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| Early beet plants |
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| Fabulous basil |
Of course there are chickens outside too! I could not help but notice the clever creation that they made to keep the chicken feed dry. They converted an unused beehive into a elevated open shelter for a hanging chicken feeder.
The girls were all so happy to see me. As I completed the tour, I tucked some rich green clover into the fence. I had no idea that a place so amazing was right in my very own backyard.
Photo Credit: Tilly’s Nest
4 thoughts on “A Very Unique Cape Cod Farm”
I saw a documentary about a couple that converted their swimming pool into a set up similar to this but I don't think they had the bees. It was right in the middle of a subdivision- I'm sure their neighbors were thrilled! They had fish in the pool, plants above, all enclosed in a greenhouse sort of set up. This is wonderful and talk about the cycle of life!
How beautiful! Lovely story, place, and pictures!!!
Love the system they have going with the fish feeding the plants. Do they sell fish too? What a fabulous find!
That's very neat.