A Visit to Swank Hydroponic Farm Growing Vertically and Naturally

[trexmobile1]

do u think u could use butterflys instead of bees?

[jelad100]

the worst video I have seen on here. The commentator obviously knows nothing about the subject, the mike should be given to the farmer as you cant hear what he is saying, the camera should be more focused on the plants and the system rather than the dickhead who is yelling into the mike.

[1982FMJ]

has anybody done a taste test of hydroponic food vs soil grown food? It would be interesting to see the difference in taste between sunlight vs artificial light. I'm gonna try growing indoor aeroponic bluberries under compact flurescent and hps

[fatwadmcskylar]

do the bees have to be within the greenhouse zone to pollinate all the plants? i would prefer to have hives out in the yard somewhere away from me, and they would (hopefully) travel to the greenhouse and do the work for me. The last thing i want is to swallow another bee in my beer while im enjoying the day

[baluyotsforever]

guy on the right needs a better mic. The video would have been much better. nice operations and information though.

[lilnurseratchet1960]

I had a difficult time hearing Mr. Swank and missed half of his comments. Thanks for all the good info. Wish I could farm for a living. Guess I'll have to marry a farmer.

[madeofyucca]

Also, what makes this "natural" as opposed to other hydroponic operations? (I am very interested in the topic)

[growingyourgreens]

There is no legal defninition of "natural". Just because your hydroponic doesn't meant you dont use pesticides. Normal hydroponic growers may use pesticides, fungicides, etc.

[jitakyoeiJL]

amazing place. Hope to visit someday

[madeofyucca]

Wow. Very impressive!

Did you happen to ask how many pounds of produce they produce a year on average?

[growingyourgreens]

Didn't ask. But alot. Many are micro greens, so they don't weigh alot

[DOLITTLEMAN1]

I went to visit Swank Produce for the first time in March 2010 & I must say these are the very best vegetables, greens & flowers you will ever have in your life!!!!!!!!! Very clean operation and the Swank's were extremely informative and wonderful, wonderful people ~ I would consider them family. I recommend that everyone give it a try & see what you think for yourselves.

[bestestmama]

*does the happy dance* YAY! A hydroponic vid!

[jimbogu3]

I think this is one of the best videos this year. I would love to have a hydroponic garden set up like that. I am inspired. How about using compost tea as a means of giving the plants the nutrients they need? Do you think that would provide enough nutrition for the plants? I truly believe hydroponics is the farming of the future. More yield per acre.

[growingyourgreens]

They do use compost tea. There was soo much footage that didnt make the cut, due to the 10 minute youtube time limit.

[zekehooper]

Hey John, Have you thought about a aquaponics set up? You can also grow your own fish as well as you own greens.

[growingyourgreens]

I have thought of it and have seen it, but want to wait until I see more examples of those systems before I install one.

[fatwadmcskylar]

@growingyourgreens you should try out just a tiny one feeding a few plants and see how you like it, it seems pretty simple, just the costs of keeping the water warm, but the warmed fish tanks double as heating for your greenhouse. Duckweed and whatnot can be grown as a free fish food to remove that cost as well

[boxa888]

@growingyourgreens man your the best! great work! thank you!

[PhotoNika]

well done! excellent focus on genetic diversity. I always plant several types of each veggie in my garden so that I can cope with the freakish new england weather and climate change

[H8RbyN8URE]

Excellent reporting. Swank Specialty Produce has an impressive and commendable set up that does green organic farming right proud. Thanks for the continued education; your passion for sustainable farming is nothing short of contagious man.

[thedurianking]

Good video John, I have to check it out

[crewlla]

I would love to have a farm. look at all the vegetables you can grow. WOW!!!!! If I had the bee's I would make honey. honey never goes bad.

[OS253]

Farming honey is a great idea. Most of the natural bees in the wild are disappearing due to global warming. We use to see a lot of bees in our yard back in the 1980's. Today, if we're lucky, we find some bees pollinating our garden. I have n't seen the ladybugs either. Have you?

[crewlla]

@OS253 I live in a colder area so we do still see bees and lots of ladybugs. Every year I have lady bugs covering my back of my house. My dogs eat them as crunchy snacks. The bees we do see are huge as big or a little bigger then cherry tomatoes but we see more hornets. Both are very aggressive.

[koztowz]

John this was an excellent vid! I was totally amazed with the lima beans growing so tall, 12 feet WOW.

[monteros]

I love the idea of farming honey while gardening too. Double wammy :)