There is a difference between hydroponics vs vertical gardening. So, which one should you adopt?
Welcome To Hydroponics World
Has it ever hit your mind why hydroponics farming is so important?
Undoubtedly, this farming method is increasingly becoming popular because of several benefits to humans, the environment, and the planet!
The farming spaces are, day in day out, becoming scarce. The human population is also growing at an alarming rate.
Such high growth rate comes with vast and diverse number of challenges. Many people do not have enough food for a healthy living. More so, many cannot access clean drinking water leave alone enough water for agricultural purposes.
Hunger is, therefore, a reality that we cannot bury our heads in the sand and assume that lack of enough food is not a major threat to humanity.
Climate change problems have no doubt worsened all these challenges. Our planet is in tears.
Furthermore, with the different forms of financial crashes and pandemics like the COVID-19, many people have been left unemployed, hungry, and devastated. Many have lost their dear lives.
Humanity Needs Solutions!
Hydroponics farming is one of the approaches that can help save or improve lives of many across the globe, especially in the global south.
I will tell you How!
Hydroponics vs Vertical Gardening at Hydroponics Africa
In illustrating the importance of utilizing hydroponics farming in addressing many challenges facing humans, we use Hydroponics Africa, located at Zambezi, in Nairobi Kenya as a case study.
As #Affluent_Farmers, We Have Also Organized for a Farm Tour to the Hydroponics Africa to allow you to Learn More- and then Implement some of these Noble Systems.
Hydroponics Africa focuses on installing hydroponics systems for farmers. The systems are made of different designs to suite a farmer’s need. For example, there are circulating and non-circulating systems. The non-circulating systems require less replenishing by water and mineral nutrients thus reducing labor needs.
The following picture illustrates a non-circulating hydroponics system. You can see how well the spinach are thriving.
On the other hand, circulating systems require regular replenishing and might need the use of a pump to regularly provide water and nutrients to the plants. However, though the systems might need larger investments they are beneficial because they are easy to automate, especially for greenhouse farmers.
What to Expect: Hydroponics vs vertical gardening
Mr.Peter Chege, the founder of Hydroponics Kenya, states that Hydroponics helps in:
- Reduction of water use by 80%
- Faster crops’ growth
- No soil-borne diseases
- Increased yield of up to 4 times than normal soil garden crops
Researchers agree with Mr. Chege’s notions, indicating that crops grown via hydroponics systems grow at least 20 percent faster than those grown in the normal soil gardens. Additionally, studies have shown that the hydroponics crops produce at a rate of 25% more yields than their soil garden counterparts.
The space occupied by crops in vertical gardens is vertical, unlike the normal horizontal spaces required in soil gardens. Consequently, this system of crop production helps solve the problem of limited spaces both in rural and urban centers.
You can see crop in Vertical hydroponic systems on rooftops in the image below:
The nature of vertical gardens, therefore, makes it easy to maximize space use. In fact you can create acres of vegetable or fruits land vertically.
The following image is not of the Great Walls of China (pun intended) but rather, a Great Wall of Spinach at Hydroponics Africa.
Hydroponics Systems
The Hydroponics Africa have devised innovative hydroponics systems that meet both the financial and resources capability of locals. Notably, the systems are relatively cheap to allow affordability by a vast number of people across the social strata.
Among the main systems provided by Hydroponics Africa are the following:
1 Hydroponic food crop systems–
Essentially, as the Hydroponics Africa clarifies, these systems help in production of a variety of food crops from fruits like strawberries and tomatoes, to vegetables, including spinach and lettuce, onions, among others.
Image of celery on wall garden
Essentially, the crops produced in these systems are not only heathier but the systems are efficient for easy production while conserving water.
2 Hydroponic fodder systems–
Are you a town dweller? If so, you definitely understand the challenges involved in producing quality and healthy fodder for your livestock. The Hydroponics Africa team led by Mr. Chege have got your back!
This is through their Hydroponics fodder systems that allows you to produce fodder for a variety of livestock from poultry, dairy, to pigs. Better, they also help you in setting up the systems, whereby they supply the required materials like hydro-net and hydro-clothes.
This goat at Hydroponics Kenya is among the livestock growing healthily by consuming barley fodder produced in the farm.
Apart from farm supplies, you will also get long-term agronomic services from one of their agronomists according to your agreement.
3 Plant responsive systems–
A smart form of drip irrigation system distributed by hydroponics Kenya to ensure crops have exactly the nutrients they need.
Aquaponics systems-
By installing this system, you are sure of having fish as well as crops such as vegetables and fruits. The system provides a mutually beneficial interactions between the plants and fish whereby the crops utilize the organic wastes produced by fish, thus clearing the water off wastes for a healthy survival of fish. The result is a clean healthy fruits and vegetables in addition to the nutritious fish you enjoy for your various dishes.
Summary
Evidently, application of hydroponics is a great way of addressing issues of hunger, unemployment, water scarcity, and climate change among other problems.
Note that hydroponics allow you to create sustainable food production systems where you grow your own food. With this, you have control to the food you’re eating, ensuring it is organic, clean, and healthy.
Through hydroponics, you can also customize through automation to allow you attend other chores.
This is the reason why we are taking you to Central and East Africa’s leading Hydroponics Farming Enterprise. Here, you’ll have an opportunity to learn from none but the best.
Note that the 1 day tour will be alongside another farm called NO Dig Farm where you’ll learn more on vertical gardens.
You’ll have fun, seeing the different ways you can grow crops without really the need of having soil!
