By: Carolanne Korolowicz
Between headlines and algorithms, it is apparent the ideas of “knowing your farmer” or “grow your own” are some of the top trends in health & wellness. As fast-paced city-slickers, recreating the mini-homesteads plastered all over Instagram and Pinterest feels, and probably is, impossible. Though the aesthetic and manual labor might not appeal to many, most everyone loves the idea of eating and supporting local. The average grocery store vegetable travels over 1,5000 miles and is stored in warehouses for weeks, so it is difficult to consume hyper-local, fresh produce. Area 2 Farms, a USDA-organic farm share, has brought a solution to Arlington residents with their simple mission – “move the farm, not the food.”
When I recently took a tour of Area 2 Farms, the best description would be that it was like I got the “organic golden ticket”. Inconspicuously located amongst South Four Mile Run’s rows of industrial buildings, a team of Arlington-local farmers grow all their own produce, year-round, inside an expansive commercial space. Unlike traditional farming, this urban version features rows of crops expanding upwards. A variety of lettuce, microgreens and root vegetables were thriving in Area 2 Farm’s unique equipment that looked to almost graze the ceiling.
The bulk of produce is grown on an impressive piece of machinery designed and patented by the farm’s founder. Silo, the farmers’ name for the system, starts with each crop planted within a “tote”, essentially a planter box, and set on wheels. Each floor has varying light and heat to mimic the natural temperature and intensity of the sun within a 24-hour period. The crops are moved by a conveyor belt in a snake-like pattern up and down the machinery. Silo also irrigates the plants and features a system to recapture and reuse water.
Another unique aspect, unlike a lot of urban/indoor farming, is that the farm doesn’t use any hydroponic systems. Everything is grown in coconut husk soil that is composted in-house. The composter, referred to as “the tube”, was built by Area 2 after receiving a grant from the USDA. The machine holds an approximate 5,000-6,000 pounds of soil and allows for about 90% of the organic soil to be reused. Another cost effective measure the farmers have taken to invest in their soil is breeding their own worms — Red Wigglers, to be exact. Along with the freshly harvested produce, worm farms are also available for sale (I was very tempted to buy one for my kids).
If the large contraptions and wiggly friends weren’t enough, tours end with a taste test of specialty microgreens and herbs. This solidified my “Healthy Wonka Factory” comparison. Samples included purple shamrock, Wasabi Arugula (yep, it had a kick), and lastly, Tooth-Ache Plant, a.k.a. Electric Daisy – a bitter plant that leaves a numbing sensation. Luckily, the farmers passed out fresh spearmint as a palate cleanser.
I made sure not to leave without taking home this week’s harvest, featuring a nutrient-dense mix of microgreens, kale, radishes and more. Seeing the labor and friendly faces behind the produce has given a greater appreciation of the vibrant array of greens I’m greeted with when I now open my refrigerator.
Interested in Arlington grown produce? I highly recommend taking the free tour. Offered the first Sunday of every month, the in-person experience is a wonderful way to start the farmer-consumer relationship. When you are ready to join – Area 2 Farms sells harvest “shares”, but it’s limited to 400 spots to ensure high quality for all the members. Delivery is available for any shareholder who lives within a 10-mile radius. Memberships vary in commitment from 4-week to year-long shares. For those slightly further west, Area 2 Farms plans to expand to a second location in the heart of Fairfax later this fall.
