Growing food underground and vertically indoors, is this the future of farming?

Hi everyone,

I watched this. with interest on the BBC about crops being grown underground with artificial lighting and hydroponically.

Here's the article on the BBC about growing underground in an old air raid shelter:

bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_au...

Here's another article about herbs being grown vertically in shipping containers in a New York car park. What I do like is how the herbs are being delivered by bicycle.

bbc.co.uk/news/business-490...

I personally love being outside breathing in fresh air and prefer organic crops traditionally grown outdoors, so even though I see it's merits it all seems very clinical. Never the less I find it very interesting and I'll keep to growing food outside in the fresh air...

[Cooper27 Administrator]

We bought a hydroponic system earlier this year - it's handy for a small flat we grew some salad leaves and herbs, but the basil and mint got a bit out of hand and killed everything else off!

I plan to use the system to start seeds, which I'd then transfer elsewhere (probably next year now). I started some courgette seeds this week, in about 3 days, I've gotten 2 weeks of growth compared to conventional growing.

[learn-2016]

Thank you Jerry for this post, i am trying to grow some hydroponically with scraps of veg. Right now i am growing some raddish Daikon ones in a saucer. The leaves can be used for Shakes and cooking.

They say that later it can be put in soil or pot for the raddish part to be grown.

I read an article where the stores throw away the different looking shapes of veg which do not fall in the category of the way they are supposed to look. So there is alot of waste - i am not sure of the word they use but these veg are at a discounted price.

Thank you for sharing i would love to learn more. thankyou

[Hidden]

Hi Hidden

I've now seen the video and read the second article and my thoughts are.

This would be good for organic food as of course you shouldn't need pesticides but the concern I have is what will happen to the land that is used to grow these crops. My worrying thought is the countryside being churned up for more housing - just a thought.

Therefore, I with you on this one, I'd rather food was grown outdoors.

Thank you for sharing