Growing Better with Soil
At Area 2 Farms, we grow indoors, but we grow in soil. That’s rare in the world of indoor farming, where many operations use hydroponic systems and synthetic nutrient solutions. We invest in soil because healthy soil is the foundation of our organic farm, a key to our crop diversity, and the strongest link between food and the health of our community.
Soil builds resilience, supports plant health naturally, and allows us to grow a wide variety of nutrient-dense crops year-round. For you, that means the vegetables in your CSA delivery are more than just fresh: they come from a farm committed to building a resilient food system that supports your nutrition and long-term health.
Soil = Resilience
Organic farming is guided by four core principles: Health, Ecology, Fairness, and Care. These principles come alive in how we build and care for our soil—naturally, with minimal disturbance and rich biodiversity. This approach creates a strong, resilient system.
And resilience matters in farming because farming is unpredictable: equipment breaks, conditions change, pests and diseases appear. Soil gives us the buffer to absorb those shocks and keep moving. It helps us troubleshoot, stay flexible, and still harvest high-quality food for our CSA members and chefs.
Soil Feeds Plants, Naturally
Soil naturally holds and exchanges vital nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and potassium through a process called Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). This means the soil environment does part of the work by storing and gradually releasing nutrients, supporting healthy, steady plant growth.
That slow and steady nutrient delivery not only promotes resilience but also builds richer flavor and nutrients in the crops. Root vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, turnips, onions, and celery especially rely on soil’s physical support to develop properly and reach their full potential.
Soil also enables us to practice low-waste, closed-loop farming. Instead of discarding leftover stems and roots after harvest, we compost them back into the soil. This feeds beneficial microbes, enriches the soil over time, and completes a natural nutrient cycle—nothing goes to waste, and everything supports the next crop.
What’s in Our Soil?
At Area 2 Farms, we use a blend of:
Coconut coir (aka coco coir) – holds moisture and lets roots breath. Learn more about coco coir here.
Composted plant material – from our own harvests
Our transplant potting mix – to support early-stage growth
Beneficial bacteria and fungi – to help our plants thrive
This mix gives us the best balance of drainage, structure, and fertility, and it's how we grow everything from microgreens to tomatoes under one roof. But, it is more than just a growing medium. Our soil is the foundation of everything we stand for. Healthy soil supports diverse crops, boosts nutrition and flavor, and helps us deliver food that truly supports the health of our community.
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.
