Source:https://www.freightfarms.com-https://www.freightfarms.com/blog/8-ways-to-use-your-container-farm
Creative ways to put your Freight Farm to good use
Do you like the concept of becoming a Freight Farmer, but aren’t sure how to get the most out of your farm? Not to worry, we have compiled a list of just some of the great ways our farmers are using to cultivate fresh produce while also doing good!
Innovative Ways to get the Most out of Your Farm
1. Expand the Local Food Movement
Container farms are bringing fresh, healthy produce to areas with challenges accessing local food. Many independent farmers, like Phil Hatcher at Very Local Greens in Halifax, Canada do so on a small scale in their local communities. However, the farm can be used on a larger scale: Swedish grocery store chain ICA Maxi has placed a container farm directly in front of their store in Halmstad, Sweden. Store employees also grow and package the greens to be sold just feet away–a big deal in a country with a short growing season and harsh winter climate.
2. Provide Equal Employment Opportunities
Studies have shown that the practice of farming can be therapeutic and increase the quality of life of both children and adults. Zeponic Farms in Woodbridge, VA employs the special needs community on their hydroponic farm, empowering their staff to participate in the workforce in ways that benefit both personal health and the health of their community. OD Greens in Willoughby, Ohio provides fresh produce to the region while providing veterans with occupational development therapy and job training at his farm.
3. Champion Corporate Social Responsibility
Companies seeking to reduce their carbon footprint are using container farms to offer great food at a low environmental cost. Google, the internet giant notorious for offering free breakfast, lunch and dinner for their more than 20,000 employees, is growing produce in a Freight Farm on their campus in Mountain View as part of their farm-to-table initiative.
Other companies, like SEFCU in Albany, New York have a personal farm that is given to non-profits in the area. The program was so successful, SEFCU purchased and donated a second container farm to the local chapter of the Boys & Girls Club.
Everlane purchased three farms with the proceeds from it’s Black Friday charitable fund to bring pesticide-free produce to their employees at the Saitex denim factory in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam. The factory provides free greens to their pregnant employees, and sells the remaining greens at subsidized rates that compete directly with the chemical-doused alternative.
4. Extend the Growing Season
Freight Farms enables farmers to grow fresh food year-round regardless of where they live. Using hydroponics eliminates climate variability and allows farmers to keep their yields steady. Though many of our freight farmers don't have any background in farming, traditional farmers like Karma Farm in Monkton, Maryland are using the farm to extend their growing season and bring fresh produce to their customers no matter what the season.
5. Supply Students with the Freshest Produce Year-Round
A 2017 study by the Produce Marketing Association found that 55 percent of college students say fresh ingredients are the most important attributes of their campus food service–second only to taste (66 percent). As a result, independent food service operations and dining service vendors like Sodexo are providing students with locally grown greens all year. Just a handful of examples are Clark University and Georgia State University. Plus, see what other schools are doing with their campus farms.
6. Promote Community Revitalization Through Farming
Localizing food production can help cut down on food miles, grow local economies, and create jobs. Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is taking community revitalization to the next level with the Institute for Local Food Systems and Innovation, a certificate program designed to prepare Maine residents to participate alternative agriculture. Saint Joseph’s hopes the program will encourage more young people to stay in Maine by exposing them to a growing industry with good wages and potential for career development.
7. Lead the Way in Controlled-Environment Agriculture Research
At the Freight Farms headquarters we are continually investigating how to make local food possible in the most extreme climates like in deep space. We worked alongside NASA and Clemson University to create a Self-Sustaining Crop Production Unit (SSPU) that would allow astronauts to grow crops with zero input.
8. Grow Food At Any Age
Many colleges and universities are getting their young adults involved in farming from the moment they step on campus. However, they’re not the youngest Freight Farmers by far! Across the country, K-12 schools are using container farming as alternative classrooms and platforms for engaging after school programs. We’ve highlighted five K-12 schools!
