DelVal has embraced new Freight Farm technology on campus thanks to the generous support of URBN, Terrain, Twin Silo Farms and Delaware Valley University.
Fully contained, environmentally controlled agricultural systems are a newer trend in agriculture. They are designed to produce high quality, nutritious food in areas with adverse outdoor growing conditions. These agriculture systems provide growing opportunities in non-traditional environments like urban spaces, deserts, and even arctic conditions. These self-contained growing systems may well be one of the non-traditional growing systems utilized to help feed our planet.
Freights Farms Inc. has taken a standard insulated shipping container and fitted it with a vertical hydroponic growing system. It contains all the necessities for hydroponic growing (no soil), including a computerized system for lighting, water, and nutrient distribution, as well as a controlled nursery system for starting plants. The computerized system maintains a consistent controlled environment for maximum produce production. This controlled environment system is mainly designed for the production of leafy greens, lettuce and herbs. The container farm at DelVal has the ability to produce leafy greens comparable equivalent to four acres of tillable land over the course of a year.
Managed by our hydroponic and Greenhouse staff, this facility provides an additional and excellent education environment for students at DelVal. This hands-on opportunity is an example of the experiential learning opportunities in which all DelVal students are engaged prior to completing their degree. The produce harvested from this system is served at the Terrain Café, Terrain Gardens, and the DelVal dining hall, with excess production donated to the local Bucks County food distribution network.
