Kathy Demler, who owns the new hydroponic farm with her husband, Jim Demler, wants to be a prototype for the rest of the world.
Hydroponic farming is an all-natural process using a liquid-mineral solution instead of soil to bring nutrients to the plants. Sweetgrass Farms has 40,000 plants across 3.5 acres of the 7-acre property at 8350 Carolina St.
“We feel that this is a good way to feed a lot of people in a small amount of space, so it is the future of farming,” Kathy Demler said. “Clean food will change the world if people will allow themselves to make sure they eat clean.”
Sweetgrass Farms uses the Verti-Gro system, or vertical gardening, which has been used in Disney’s EPCOT. Growing pots are stacked on a tower and filled with ground coco nut husks, and nutrients and water are dripped at the top of the tower, flowing into the pots.
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They broke ground in February and began selling produce at the farm in the fall. Now the farm, between U.S. 301 and Tuttle Avenue, will have its grand opening celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. During the grand opening, Nik Wallenda, nicknamed the “King of the High Wire,” will have a meet and greet from noon to 1:30 p.m. in addition to a number of local vendors selling food, drink and crafts.
Tours of the farm will be given and there will be live entertainment by Ta Bueno, a Latin band, and the DeWitt Punch and Judy Show. The event is free, but all attendees are asked to bring canned food that will be donated to All Faith’s Food Bank.
“If we are going to do it, we are going to do it right,” Kathy Demler said. “This is our chance to introduce ourselves to the community and we want it to be nice.”
The community will be able to see the farm’s 15,000 strawberry plants and other produce including lettuce, herbs, squash, tomatoes, scallions, kale and radishes.
PAUL VIDELA/Bradenton Herald
