Our Volunteer Hydroponic Garden

A tract of land, measuring 6.89 acres, was donated to The Volunteer Way in 2008.
We wanted to use approximately 1.5 acres of land to grow vegetables for the less fortunate families of our community.

We cleared the land and started our project “Hydroponics Farming for Hunger”. With hydroponics, we are able to grow 12 to 16 plants in a space that is equal to the space of one plant growing in the ground. With hydroponics, all vegetables are grown organically and we can grow these plants twelve months a year. Hydroponics requires much less water than traditional gardens and the plants grow faster. This type of gardening requires less labor and gives families the option to eat fresh vegetables. The idea of hydroponics is a unique option for a food bank, which traditionally deals with non-perishable item only. Tomatoes, lettuce, beans, peppers, and other produce can be grown, in pots, one on top of the other, for the entire year.  This gardening innovation promotes healthier food options for those families served by our food bank.