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About UsThe president and founder of SERF, Dennis M. Grim, a 2012 graduate of Indian River State College (IRSC) horticulture program, is utilizing his knowledge gained through that education to better the community . The goal of SERF is to provide free educational programs and to donate food grown on the farm to local food banks and soup kitchens to feed the homeless and less fortunate, through the generous donations of businesses and corporations. SERF is a 501(c)(3) charity, and is looking for a synergistic relationship with one or more partners, with local businesses and community organizations, to promote backyard gardening and awareness and the benefit of eating local and homegrown foods .
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The Purpose of the Farm
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The purpose of the farm is:
· To educate the general public of all ages on the many ways of growing food utilizing traditional methods as well as new technologies. Growing systems will include hydroponics, aquaponics and raised planters · To perform research on aquaponic and hydroponic systems; different types of media; nutrients, and growing without the use of pesticides are evaluated to determine best practice for efficient plant production. Different types of Irrigation, fertigation (Fertilizer + Irrigation) and planting systems will be explored. · To provide programs to help the veterans, homeless, and less fortunate by training on the farm to gain vocational skills |
The Facility |
The facility will include a teaching area as well as a farm market. Phase one, completed in November, includes 68 hydroponic towers. Phase 2 is under construction: aquaponics (raising fish and plants in the same system) and a fish nursery. Phase 3 will include a greenhouse for housing additional planting systems along with a propagation nursery. Phase 4 will be the installation of a solar power generating system to power the farm.
Along with growing food the farm will include: · Raising chickens for food, · Horses for composting and producing and testing hydroponic feeds. · Composting areas, Worm gardening, · Hands on projects/activities · Water collecting system · Solar collecting system to collect energy to sustain the farm’s energy needs · The addition of other animals in the future |
