Sweetgrass Farms 'growing into the future' with hydroponics

UNIVERSITY PARK -- At Sweetgrass Farms, they are "growing into the future."

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.

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.

While the farming industry is new to the Demlers, they are learning and are already "absolutely amazed with the system we are using," Kathy Demler said.

"This is really something that can change people lives," she said. "It is efficient way to grow clean foods."

Located on the Manatee-Sarasota county line, the farm is right off the highly trafficked University Parkway, but while at the farm, the noise from the road can't be heard.

"We are just fortunate that we are right in the middle of the base of our customers," Kathy Demler said. "I'm hoping that this will be a place that people enjoy coming to. I hope it will be more of a destination rather than a place to stop and get groceries."

The Demlers plan to have a sanctuary on the land to the right of the park with trails and benches.

"We want to make it a sanctuary for people to come enjoy and meditate," she said.

In constructing the hydroponic farm, farm general manager Jose Torres said he was able to use his vision.

"It's amazing that we've been able to accomplish this in eight months," he said. "I could easily say it's the best project I've worked on. Their passion is probably greater than mine when it comes to growing."

The Demlers also want to educate the public, especially children, about the values of clean food.

"We definitely feel the need and value in pursuing that aspect of what we do," she said.

Plans call for the farm to get larger.

"We are planning next year to have twice as many strawberries," Demler said. "Once we see what the community wants, we will grow it. We are passionate about growing good, clean food. We would like to be a prototype for the rest of the world. Hydroponic farming is on the cutting edge of growing for the future."

All produce will be sold locally at the farm, Sarasota Farmer's Market and in harvest boxes, which can be ordered weekly by the half bushel for $25 and full bushel for $45. The farm, which has U-pick strawberries, is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, go to sweetgrassfarms.com or call 941-350-3596.

Claire Aronson, University Parkway/Sarasota reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published January 8, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Sweetgrass Farms 'growing into the future' with hydroponics ."