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Who are we? |
We are a mini-micro urban farm utilizing organic practices, pesticides and fertilization methods. We started in October 2016 when Chris decided to start her dream of being more self sufficient with the food she loves to cook. Her love of food, working hard and eating healthy is what planted the seed for USF. We now consist of 2 people with the supplement of many other helpers here and there. We would like to expand into having volunteers who can learn all about aquaculture and organic urban farming, while lending a hand.
Lawns are such a waste of precious resources, water and land, so the idea of urban farming has always been a brilliant idea to Chris. "Why have grass when I can have organic food grown with the love and care of a person, rather than a machine - like big tractors and metal made assembly lines?" All of our work (prepping, planting, harvesting et al.) is done by hand or with hand tools on our small urban farm. Our 1/4 acre plot has a 14' x 30' hot greenhouse with multiple growing tiers, a 1000 gallon, water efficient, ecologically sustainable aquaponics system (with the addition of tilapia, prawns, perch and possibly trout underway), and a 20' x 20' cold frame greenhouse. With possible future plans of another one being 20' x 60'. Since we are so new there are many plans in the future, and that means evolving and changing to what works best for creating our Urban Sanctuary Farm.
Chris first learned about urban aquaculture on a visit through New Orleans where there were numerous community gardens and aquaponics systems providing food for local people, and restaurants. Again, Chris thought this was brilliant and finally got to put this idea into fruition. Aquaponics uses 90% LESS water than conventional farming, and can be a closed looped with some extra work. The fish produce waste, the beneficial bacteria eat the waste and produce food for the plants, the red worms in the growing media will eat decaying roots and also provide plant food. For the beginning, our aquaponics system will have fish, prawns, fish food and plants added into the system. We will be growing duckweed to not have as much fish food input but will be some time in the future before we can have a 100% closed loop. Our aquaponics greenhouse is a triple wall polycarbonate which has one of the best insulation value out on the market right now, this allows us to heat the greenhouse during colder months and have the ability to grow all year round.
We grow non-GMO, organic seed, chiefly heirloom and rare variety tomatoes, kales, cucumbers, carrots, greens, microgreens, peppers, beets, turnips, garlic, onions, zucchini, eggplant. Future plans include; goji berries, raspberries, kiwi berries and blueberries.
Lawns are such a waste of precious resources, water and land, so the idea of urban farming has always been a brilliant idea to Chris. "Why have grass when I can have organic food grown with the love and care of a person, rather than a machine - like big tractors and metal made assembly lines?" All of our work (prepping, planting, harvesting et al.) is done by hand or with hand tools on our small urban farm. Our 1/4 acre plot has a 14' x 30' hot greenhouse with multiple growing tiers, a 1000 gallon, water efficient, ecologically sustainable aquaponics system (with the addition of tilapia, prawns, perch and possibly trout underway), and a 20' x 20' cold frame greenhouse. With possible future plans of another one being 20' x 60'. Since we are so new there are many plans in the future, and that means evolving and changing to what works best for creating our Urban Sanctuary Farm.
Chris first learned about urban aquaculture on a visit through New Orleans where there were numerous community gardens and aquaponics systems providing food for local people, and restaurants. Again, Chris thought this was brilliant and finally got to put this idea into fruition. Aquaponics uses 90% LESS water than conventional farming, and can be a closed looped with some extra work. The fish produce waste, the beneficial bacteria eat the waste and produce food for the plants, the red worms in the growing media will eat decaying roots and also provide plant food. For the beginning, our aquaponics system will have fish, prawns, fish food and plants added into the system. We will be growing duckweed to not have as much fish food input but will be some time in the future before we can have a 100% closed loop. Our aquaponics greenhouse is a triple wall polycarbonate which has one of the best insulation value out on the market right now, this allows us to heat the greenhouse during colder months and have the ability to grow all year round.
We grow non-GMO, organic seed, chiefly heirloom and rare variety tomatoes, kales, cucumbers, carrots, greens, microgreens, peppers, beets, turnips, garlic, onions, zucchini, eggplant. Future plans include; goji berries, raspberries, kiwi berries and blueberries.