Food Co-op reveals modular hydroponic farm

Growcer Modular Vertical Farm | Danielle McPherson |

IMAGE: Lead hydroponic technician, Deven Graham-Smith. leading a tour of the new Growcer modular vertical farm. (Photos: Danielle McPherson)

Friday was an exciting day at Muskoka North Good Food Co-op as their new addition, a Growcer modular vertical farm, was unveiled. 

The indoor hydroponic modular farm with climate control technology is the answer to generating healthy, affordable, and sustainable produce year-round, according to organizers.

Guests heard from nine speakers ranging from Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith to the lead modular farm technician Deven Graham-Smith. 

Graham-Smith gave those in attendance a tour of the progress the vegetables have made after a month of growing inside the module. “We actually have been growing food in there (the module) for a month now and we have had an incredibly successful harvest each week. It’s been really amazing,” said Co-op General Manager Kelli Ebbs. 

Graham-Smith who moved to the area with his family last summer was pleased with the turnout. “(I’m) grateful for the opportunity to do this and feel welcomed to a new community… it’s been a pretty cool experience so far,” he said.

Both Ebbs and Graham-Smith were excited to show off their project. “It feels good, it took a lot of work to get her going, but it feels great. The community is really excited. I get a lot of the members here (at the Co-op) and the customers, coming through here just raving about it,” said Graham-Smith. 

Ebbs explained that the project itself was around $500,000, with a $139,000 grant from the Trillium Foundation, with Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) and the Co-op funding the remaining costs. 

Ebbs and her staff are delighted for a multitude of reasons, “… we’re closing a big project and feeding our community, this project will allow us to feed our community for years to come … So, it is really a lovely time for us to celebrate local food production but to also celebrate our local farmers,” said Ebbs. 

Ebbs asked people to forget their local farmers. “We just cannot forget that they are the bread and butter, and the salt to the earth for us. We really want this to be a project that augments farming. So, while we think this (project) is a wonderful idea, it is very important to remember this is not going to replace our farmers, nor should it ever,” said Ebbs. 

People can book a tour inside the module by calling the Co-op at (705) 789-0020. 

Original Article: https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/food-co-op-reveals-modular-hydroponic-farm/

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