Sustainabiltiy
Our farm is feed by solar panel system at Coolings Lifestyle, this helps to reduce our yearly electricity needs (we are not on 100% renewable year-round, yet.) During our growing process we use about 1kg of feed to grow about 1kg of fish weight but also 5kg of fresh produce. This simple efficiency is what drives the sustainable nature of an aquaponics system.
Reduce, Recycle, Reuse
Within our polytunnel is around 20,000 litres of water held in grow beds (only a small fraction is refreshed each day). This large body of water help to cool the polytunnel when its too hot naturally absorbing the heat, then when the temperature are too cool, the heat is given back off. So without any external heating (fossil fuels) we are able to help regulated the growing temperature of our system. The water enables a more even system temperature without more resources like air-conditioning.
Less is more
EcoGro Farm seeks to reduce total resource usage. We do not look at any part of our system as having a ‘waste’ product. All parts that were once wastes have been reused and recycled back to provide further benefit. Composting on site of green ‘waste’ mixed with cardboard impoves the composting efficiency by adding more carbon to the nitrogen, decreasing the time for the ‘waste’ to be turned into soil for growing outside of our system.
Teaching the next generation
EcoGro Farm also engages with local schools to teach about: where food comes from,what farming is, benefits of Aquaponics and healthy food. We have been into schools to talk about farming with a practical section in planting seeds which the young learns thoroughly enjoyed.
Learning about alternative farming methods and starting to think about why things were done it a certain way previously and how they might be improved for the future, is a corner stone of our farming innovation. We are proud to have been able to give back time and provide a learning experience to children.
We are always looking to reduce our footprint further, we are aware that more can always be done, help us to realise that goal.
Our focus on sustainabilty and quality of our product sets us apart from others. Have a look at our selction of produce boxes here.