Voices of Arizona, a segment by KJZZ, highlights individuals contributing to the vibrant community life in the state.
The City of Tempe is providing free educational classes on food production through its innovative Food Forest program, which recently introduced a technology once limited to NASA.
“How many of you have been able to germinate a tomato by seed in the soil? Nobody, right? It’s very difficult to do, you usually go buy a plant,” said Kelly Hedberg.
Kelly Hedberg conducted a session on hydroponic farming, a method that allows for soil-free indoor cultivation of crops such as lettuce, strawberries, herbs, and tomatoes.
“So the roots are suspended in water and you’re feeding nutrients directly into the water either in a liquid form or a powder form, and then there’s a motor that sits at the bottom that is circulating and oxygenating the water,” Hedberg explained.
Moreover, these hydroponic systems are designed to be space-efficient.
“When it’s 115 outside you can still be germinating things, in your kitchen, in your laundry room, in your bedroom. Wherever you want to put these, these units, there’s always a space for them,” Hedberg said.
Helene Tack, representing the city, noted that the hydroponic class is a component of a broader food education initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“People wanted to learn how to cook, they wanted to learn how to grow food, they wanted to learn how to harvest food,” Tack mentioned.
Hedberg and Tack both emphasize that these compact hydroponic units provide Arizonans with an accessible and cost-effective way to engage in gardening.
