N.S. groups come together to teach hydroponic farming

A partnership between Akoma Holding and EduHaus aims to employ Black Nova Scotians in hydroponic farming.

Inside a converted shipping container in Westphal, N.S., the Akoma Hydroponic Garden is growing fresh basil and teaching young people about horticulture.

For African Heritage Month, Akoma Holdings and EduHaus partnered together to teach and employ Black Nova Scotians in hydroponic farming.

“We are growing hydroponic basil and teaching the community about growing herbs hydroponically and sustainable farming,” said Dr. Simone Legendre, founder of EduHaus.

Also called vertical gardening, produce is planted in lines stretching from floor to ceiling and fed water containing nutrients. Once each plant has its fill, the water drips into a trough and is filtered and recycled.

The program manager of Akoma Holdings says the container was purchased a few years ago and is located on historic lands in an effort to continuing building the history of gardening and farming in the area.

“The current partnership with EduHaus is to continue growing crops on this historic land,” said Dr. Nutifafa Geh.

Legendre says participants in the initiative are youth within the Preston, Cherry Brook and Dartmouth communities.

“We are growing a premium basil, which is a restaurant quality, highly aromatic leaf. It is suitable for pesto and restaurant applications,” she said.

“Our ideal clients would include restaurants that use full leaf basil in their presentations. Restaurants that make pesto, small batch pesto makers, as well as folks who use basil micro greens.”

The groups also plan to donate some of the basil to distribution centres.

With files from CTV’s Jim Kvammen

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