At the mere mention of the word farming, and one would typically be drawn towards images of the rural lifestyle, endless fields and coveralls. However, this could not be further from the truth – advancements in technology and an ever-increasing focus on sustainable farming have brought about a paradigm shift.
Urban farming makes use of hydro, aero or even aquaponics to enable even amateur farmers to cultivate and grow delicious vegetables without the use of soil or even land for that matter. In a nutshell, hydroponics is a technique of farming that utilizes a specially formulated nutrient solution to grow plants or vegetables.
Besides hydroponics, aquaponics – a system that utilizes aquaculture and hydroponics to grow vegetables have become increasingly popular in recent years due to the dual-nature of the system i.e. the cultivation of fish, crustaceans and other aquatic livestock along with vegetables.
While soil-free cultivation methods have been around for years and practiced by hobbyists, many have begun discovering the commercial benefit of urban farming. For example, Sky Greens – an urban farm in Singapore have tapped into the demand for fresh, organic vegetables by utilizing hydroponic technology to grow microgreens right in the heart of the Asian financial hub.
So, with all of that in mind, we now take a look at why you should seriously consider starting your own hydroponics farm.
1. Space is No Constraint
When starting your hydroponics farm, you’ll be shocked to realize how little space is needed to get started.
You don’t need the space of a horse farm, raising stallions for the Kentucky Derby race. Living in an apartment with limited room? Fret not.
The smallest hydroponic reservoirs are typically between 28cm in length and 14cm in height making them slightly larger than most cardboard boxes which means that you can easily place it on your balcony.
Furthermore, when compared to soil-based alternatives, hydroponics setups have been proven to be 3 to 10 times more productive thus making them a much more efficient choice for folks with space limitations.
2. Feed Yourself and Your Loved Ones Sustainably
The convenience offered by modern-day living is hard to dismiss. However, we need to ask ourselves how sustainable is the food that we are eating every day.
From pesticides to issues of quality and freshness, there are a multitude of reasons why an increasing number of folks have chosen to take part in the “local food” movement. So instead of having to buy greens, why not take it a step further and start growing your own vegetables.
Hydroponic farming gives you the flexibility and the freedom to ensure that your vegetables are truly 100% organic and pesticide-free. Thanks to advancements in technology, you’ll be able to grow organic vegetables all year-round right at home.
On the long-term, you’ll be amazed at how much you’ll save on shopping costs whilst also enjoying the undeniable delicious taste of fresh vegetables.
3. The Growing Demand for Local Food
Considered by many to be a recession-proof industry, the food and agriculture business is always worth looking into. As was mentioned in our previous point, there is an ever-increasing demand for fresh, sustainably grown food in our communities and urban farming may be just the answer to this.
By bringing farms back into the city, food producers will no longer have to worry about transportation costs due to the relatively short supply chain which gives them an advantage over more conventional businesses.
Additionally, if you’re able to grow a surplus of fresh, organic, vegetables, chances are good that you’ll have plenty of ready buyers within your community thus making it worthwhile to invest in an urban farm.
4. Hydroponic Farms Have Lower Upkeep
Unlike soil-based farms that are significantly more labor intensive, hydroponic farming is much simpler – only requiring one to check on water pH levels regularly whilst keeping the roots healthy.
This means that you can leave your little farm on its own while you go about your day hence making it a convenient option for those with a packed schedule.
So, there you have it, a complete summary on just some of the reasons why you should take up hydroponic farming. With things being the way that they are, hydroponic farms may just be the future of agriculture.
