Hosting the Aquaponics Association: Exploring Different Paths to Better Food
Just at the start of the fall season at Area 2 Farms, we welcomed the Aquaponics Association for a tour. Farmers, researchers, and home growers from across the U.S. (and beyond) came to see how we grow indoors; it was just one stop on their trip to the University of Maryland for an international conference.
Area 2 Farms welcomes meeting other growers who are working to make food and farming more accessible. Different farms take different paths toward this goal. Here’s how the most common indoor farming methods stack up, and why Area 2 Farms chose soil.
Hydroponics Explained
Hydroponics is one of the most common indoor farming methods. At its simplest, it means growing plants in water (hydro = water). Instead of soil, crops are rooted in a soilless medium such as rockwool, perlite, or coco coir, and fed through a nutrient-rich water solution.
The benefit? Hydroponic systems can produce high yields year-round and use less space than outdoor fields. For cities, that means fresher produce grown closer to home. The challenge is that nutrients must be supplied from outside inputs, often synthetic, which can limit sustainability.
Aquaponics Explained
Aquaponics takes hydroponics a step further. It combines two practices: aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing crops in water). Fish waste provides nutrients for the plants, and in return, the plants filter and clean the water for the fish.
It’s a creative way to recycle nutrients and mimic natural ecosystems. Aquaponics can cut down on fertilizer use and make food production more circular, addressing one of the biggest problems in agriculture: wasted resources.
Why We Use Soil at Area 2 Farms
Many people assume that all vertical farms use hydroponics, and it’s true, most of them do. But at Area 2 Farms, every crop we grow is rooted in soil that we compost and create right here at the farm.
We believe that soil is the foundation for healthy, resilient crops packed with nutrients. Beyond anchoring root crops, soil is alive with microbial and mycorrhizal communities. These invisible helpers break down organic matter into plant-available nutrients, boost flavor and nutrition, and even help protect crops by outcompeting harmful pathogens.
When you eat food grown in living soil, you’re tasting the richness of that ecosystem. For us, choosing soil means choosing flavor, resilience, and nutrition — the things people deserve from the food on their plates.
Take a Tour of Area 2 Farms
If your interested in seeing how we grow indoors, in nutrient-rich soil, come by for a farm tour. We host tours the first Sunday of each month.
Area 2 Farms for Locals
Your food should be equally accessible and nutritious. Which is where we come in. At Area 2 Farms, we grow fresh organic produce within 10 miles of you.
