As the population grows on our beautiful planet, so does the need for increased food supply. Farmable land is limited and healthy crops are dependent on ideal weather conditions, pest control, and fertile soil. But what if there were a more efficient alternative?
Vertical hydroponic farming can grow the same number of plants in 400 square feet as three acres of traditional farming. It only requires about five gallons of water per day versus five to seven thousand gallons for three planted acres. Insects and catastrophic weather are a non-issue as the plants are grown indoors in a climate-controlled space.
Entrepreneurs with a Conscience
Blake Tate and Alexandra Isaksen are friends who share an entrepreneurial spirit. They saw a need for creating a local food source that is sustainable, efficient and nutritionally dense. While researching all of the possibilities, they discovered a company that was outfitting vertical hydroponic farms in shipping containers.
“They can be placed almost anywhere and we were sold very quickly after seeing one in action at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo,” Tate says.
Sustainable, Efficient, and Nutritionally Dense
OTK Farms is focusing their efforts on a variety of lettuce, leafy greens and herbs. Their 40-by-10-foot shipping container is equipped to grow up to 9,000 plants, using only five gallons of water per day. The high-tech operating system controls climate conditions, nutrients and lighting, and can be accessed remotely through an app on a smartphone.
Their produce is herbicide-, pesticide-, and GMO-free. Because it is grown locally, the time from farm to table/restaurant is decreased, providing a more nutritionally dense product. The longer produce sits on a truck or in storage, the greater the loss of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. OTK Farms prides itself on getting produce to the consumer in about two days.
“Capturing and maintaining the quality of produce from the moment it is harvested to the moment is goes to the customer can stretch the brain sometimes!” Tate says. “Coordinating harvest dates with deliveries and ensuring that the produce is happy in the interim takes up quite a bit of time, especially when you have different crops that like diverse ways of being stored.”
Future Goals
Tate and Isaksen eventually plan to expand their current operation to include breeding specialty chickens, producing local honey, as well as creating a line of sauces utilizing their herbs. They also plan to buy a second hydroponic unit to grow edible flowers and to experiment with fruiting crops.
In addition, they proudly donate a portion of their harvest to the Springs Rescue Mission as a way of providing healthy produce to the unhoused. They have been thinking about other ways they could support the mission in the future.
“We would like to eventually offer their community employment opportunities (learning the ropes of hydroponics) to help individuals who have shown a desire for a new way of life to get back on their feet,” Isaksen says. “To offer this through our business would be incredible.”
Commerce
The farm sells in bulk to private chefs, restaurants, and retail spaces. They also offer direct sales to consumers via farmers’ markets as well as a subscription service for home delivery.
Website: https://www.otkfarms.com/
Facebook + Instagram: @OTKFarms