Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit the home of HydroFresh in Elkins, Arkansas. This is a farm, but it is also a place of agricultural innovation. Danielle Dozier developed a vertical hydroponic system that is both efficient and effective in growing crops.
The nutrient-dense large kale she is growing in this photo was vibrant in its appearance and deliciously tender to eat. The secrets to this success are not squandered behind competitive obfuscation. GSS (Grow Supply Sustain) Group, makes their knowledge and innovations available to others through their website https://www.gssgroupllc.org/.
This visit reminded me of the constant sharing and support that I have found in the farming community of Northwest Arkansas. Every small and micro-scale farmer I have met has been open to answering questions with a tone of cooperation and collaboration. In this cultural moment of excessive division and competition, it is refreshing to be reminded that I am part of a community that is very collaborative.
Time and time again, I meet farmers who are eager to talk about their processes and curious to hear about mine. I usually get the sense that we are on the same team competing against the challenges of farming itself but not each other. Despite living in a cultural moment that seems determined to keep us all in constant competition with each other, the farming community of Northwest Arkansas continuously reaffirms my belief that we can all work together for the common good, and farming seems to be a great way to do that.
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