We Took the Farm Back to School

The Crop Stop Farm recently packed up a little piece of the farm and headed to Belleville High School for the Belleville Green Team's Green Fair.

Along with some of our seasonal produce and freshly harvested microgreens, we brought something that sparked plenty of curiosity: one of the hydroponic growing systems we use at Crop Stop. Throughout the afternoon, community members stopped by to see the tower up close and ask questions about how hydroponic growing works. Could you grow lettuce in one? Absolutely. Can it be used indoors and outdoors? Both. How much space does it take? Our tower uses a footprint of roughly two square feet, allowing us to grow vertically rather than spreading plants across a traditional soil bed.

We also talked about water use. Our system holds approximately 20 gallons in its reservoir. A pump moves the nutrient solution up through the tower, where it reaches the plants' roots before returning to the reservoir and circulating again. Rather than continuously using new water, the reservoir is topped off as plants use it and water is lost over time.

One of our favorite conversations was about accessibility.

Several visitors wanted to know how much a system like ours costs. We explained that Crop Stop grows commercially, so we've invested in multiple larger systems, but a home grower certainly doesn't have to start there. Smaller countertop hydroponic gardens can be enough to grow lettuce and herbs, and DIY growers can even explore simple bucket-based hydroponic systems. The goal wasn't to convince everyone that they needed our particular equipment. It was to show what's possible. We also talked honestly about some of the practical lessons we've learned. A filled reservoir gets heavy! If you're growing outdoors seasonally or expect to move your system, plan its location carefully. We keep a separate pump available when we need to empty our systems for moving and cleaning between growing cycles.

We believe food security starts with community, and part of strengthening our local food system is helping more people understand how food can be grown, whether that's on a farm, in a backyard, at a school, on a countertop, or in a two-square-foot corner with a hydroponic tower. Thank you to the Belleville Green Team and everyone who stopped by, asked questions, and let us talk your ear off about growing food. 🌱

Trust is the New Organic.

This Week at Crop Stop

🌱 CSA boxes are available this week🛒 Shop here for free local delivery on September 26. Boxes are available on a first-come, first served basis.

Fall microgreens are now available! We are switching up our microgreens offering, just in time for fall. Our microgreen options will offer the same nutrient dense goodness and will feature beautiful fall-inspired colors. The fall lineup will include a rotation of the following:

• Red Army Amaranth

• Sango Purple Radish

• Purple Vienna Kohlrabi

• All Year Round Cauliflower

• Celery

• Rainbow Beet