PHOOD FARM

― Aquaponics

↑ Phood Farm ― Courtesy of Phood Farm

Phood Farm is a social enterprise that operates at the intersection of innovative farming techniques and social development, managing a blend of interior growing systems and traditional soil-based food gardens. Phood Farm’s production connects food service to an aquaponic system, where herbs, leafy greens, and fish coexist in a symbiotic environment.

The organisation’s philosophy focuses on restoring connections between the city, nature and people. They aim to transform food production from a service offer to a platform for personal engagement. Their work focuses on community education and the shift in perspective gained by the experience of working with nature. By removing the risks associated with this lifestyle, Phood makes community participation in food production accessible and manageable through a self-defined Community Participatory Agriculture (CPA) system.

SYSTEM DESIGN

Around ninety per cent of costs are associated with electricity for LED lighting. However, Phood is establishing a new growing site that supplies electricity with sunlight, wind power and solar cells. As production remains in the city, customers can pick the produce up at the production site or use micro-mobility couriers to retrieve CSA boxes.

Plants and fish grown in the aquaponic system are sold directly through Phood’s restaurant as salads or to customers through a subscription program. Surplus food is given to staff. This allows the growing cycle to be tuned according to customer tastes and that the restaurant menu is matched to production, mitigating waste. Any trimmings are fed to worms that become fish food once again.

Phood view their urban aquaponic production as a gateway for people in the city to experience food growing and develop a greater desire to connect with their food and learn about the complexities of biodynamic food growing. They have developed a participatory permaculture-based operational model called Community Participatory Agriculture (CPA). This leverages the popular CSA but differs in that it addresses people’s desire to actively participate in growing as a restorative activity while requiring the lifestyle flexibility afforded Phood as a third-party manager and educator.