Sustainable, Urban Farming at FoodChain in Lexington
- Nov 19, 2015
- 2 min read
What is FoodChain?
FoodChain is a non-profit organization that specializes in aquaponics farming. According to its website, FoodChain is the first commercially operating aquaponics system in the state of Kentucky. FoodChain also serves to educate people in the local community about indoor, urban farming methods, such as aquaponics ("About Us").
Image courtsey foodchainlex.org.
Why is FoodChain sustainable?
Since FoodChain operates on an aquaponics system, it is a highly sustainable “farm”. In short, aquaponics is a farming system in which plants and fish are essentially grown together. The fish produce waste, which is then dissolved in the water. The water from the fish tanks is then circulated into grow beds for plants, such as lettuce and herbs. Since the plants use the fish waste as food, this process cleans the water for the fish ("What Is Aquaponics - Backyard Aquaponics"). For more information about how aquaponics farming works, visit Backyard Aquaponics. Since FoodChain’s system of aquaponics produces no waste and requires very little input (fish food only) – FoodChain has its very own fish hatchery to grow baby fish -- FoodChain is capable of sustainable farming ("About Us").
Video courtsey foodchainlex.org and youtube.
How is FoodChain connected to the local community?
FoodChain is currently partnered with a next door restaurant, Smithtown Seafood, to market and sell its products. FoodChain supplies Smithtown Seafood with tilapia, lettuce, and herbs on a weekly basis. Smithtown Seafood then gives about $8 per tilapia purchase and $1.50 per salad purchase to FoodChain. FoodChain is also currently working with its other next door neighbor, West Sixth Brewery, to be able to use the spent grains from the brewery to feed the fish, therefore allowing FoodChain to be a completely sustainable operation requiring no commercially produced input ("About Us").
So if you are ever in the Lexington area, be sure to head on down to The Bread Box on West Sixth and Jefferson Streets and visit FoodChain, Smithtown Seafood, and West Sixth Brewery.
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