Mushrooms, Microgreens & More

These farms utilize alternative growing methods that are more efficient and consistent than other methods.

EMMA BEAUCHAMP, Communications Manager

HYDROPONICS: PLANTED DETROIT

Meg Burritt, Leader of Business Development

Planted Detroit is a culinarily-led indoor vertical hydroponic farm growing year-round in Detroit.

planteddetroit.com

WHAT DO YOU GROW? Baby greens, microgreens, herbs, and edible flowers

HOW MUCH? 130 pounds (about 600 salads worth) per week and growing!

HOW DO YOU GROW THESE GREENS? At our farm, we grow using a form of Controlled Environment Agriculture — we control everything from the light to the water to the temperature. We never use pesticides or herbicides, and use minimal water. Our plants are grown using Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), meaning the little plants look like they’re growing in a gutter with a small amount of water circulating throughout the stacks.

WHAT DO YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW? This type of growing is really new — so there are a lot of unanswered questions about best practices. We take our customer’s health very seriously, so we grow everything from seed to harvest, right on the farm, with very rigorous biosecurity protocols and cleanliness standards in place. Our customers can feel extremely confident in the flavor, shelf life, and food safety of our greens.

AQUAPONICS: KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S FOOD INNOVATION CENTER

Ben Bylsma, Production Manager

Within the college's 10,000 square foot greenhouse is an Aquaponics system, which raises fish and plants in a symbiotic relationship. The farm is a part of ValleyHUB which also includes a food hub and a vegetable processing operation.

kvcc.edu/valleyhub

WHAT DO YOU GROW? We raise tilapia, herbs, and leafy greens in the aquaponics system, as well as using it for propagation of other plants.

HOW DOES THE SYSTEM OPERATE? The fish are raised in four tanks containing different generations. The water from the tanks flows to the plant growing areas before being pumped back to the fish tanks in a large recirculating system. The water supplies the nutrients the plants need and the plants clean the water for the fish.

WHAT DO YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW? Aquaponics is a great method of growing for demonstrating the connection between plants and animals. It requires constant monitoring and care for both the fish and plants but is a favorite of classes and kids camps.

MUSHROOM CULTIVATION: MIDNIGHT HARVEST

Matt Hall, Owner

Midnight Harvest is a small scale indoor mushroom cultivator in Northern Michigan.

midnight-harvest.com

WHAT DO YOU GROW? We grow shiitake and maitake, but we will be focused on shiitake this summer.

HOW MUCH? 60 pounds per week, and just over 3,000 lbs annually

HOW DO YOU GROW MUSHROOMS INDOORS? We have a 400 square foot growing space which contains our lab, incubation, sterilizer, fridge storage, and a fruiting room. It is very water efficient: ultimately, the mushroom material plus water is mixed, sterilized, inoculated (bagged), and set on a shelf for 8+ weeks. The bag acts as its own microclimate.

WHAT DO YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW? In terms of pounds to square foot, growing mushrooms is one of the best in the market. Some mushrooms can get multiple flushes indoors, like Oyster and Lionsmane which dramatically increases their production weight to square foot use.