A Landmark-based organization, Neva Farms, has found a way to harness hydroponic technology to grow environmentally friendly crops all year round.

Neva Farms Owner Denny Black notes the word hydroponics literally means “water-working”. He says this technology has massive implications for his produce.

“It allows us the ability to control the environment and grow plants without the use of pesticides and herbicides inside a greenhouse. It also allows us to grow year-round, so Manitobans have fresh local produce available to them when outdoor agriculture isn’t necessarily producing crops.”

Black explains the deep water culture system his farm uses facilitates the production of leafy greens like arugula, kale, basil, and butter-lettuce, although, he mentions hydroponics can be used to grow a wide variety of plants. “There are other hydroponic farms in the province” Black mentions, “but they don’t grow the same produce as us. I see them as a complementary partnership, rather than competition.”

Neva Farms is undergoing some small renovations to make itself available for tours come fall, indicates Black, so anyone who wants can come learn about hydroponic technology. “As we move forward in the 21st-century people understand less and less when their food comes from.” He suggests it is important to him that people of Southeastern Manitoba know where some of their produce comes from and can access local goods throughout the entire year.

Black looks forward to continuing his ownership of Neva Farms and wants to spread the knowledge of hydroponics to any who want to learn.