Image Credit: Contributed / Kamloops Food Policy Council

By James Maine, Kamloops Food Policy Council

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Feel good about growing food indoors

May 1, 2024 | 2:30 PM

IT IS EASIER THAN EVER to grow food indoors. Imagine growing tomatoes in the kitchen, strawberries in the living room, bell peppers in the basement, mesclun greens at the office, herbs in the closet, and beets in the classroom year round — all with minimal effort and energy!

Indoor gardening and food production technology has advanced dramatically in recent years. There are options for all kinds of budgets, scenarios, and spaces including hydroponic, aeroponic, or even soil-based systems. Incorporating efficient LED grow lights, along with a light-duty water pump, can create a contained growing system that requires minimal input or maintenance. As long as you have a power supply, water and a little space on a shelf, counter, corner, or table, you will be harvesting delicious fresh food in no time. Many systems have easy to use computer controls that manage light and heat levels and let you know when to add water, plant seeds or perform other maintenance. As these products are targeted to the domestic market, the designs are contemporary and stylish to compliment the home and office.

Similar to houseplants and outdoor gardens, indoor food production isn’t without challenges. Up-front investment for equipment and ongoing expenses for supplies and utility costs, and the ever-present consideration for pest and disease control are things the indoor-gardener must consider. Fortunately, the benefits are vast: fresh, nutritious food year round; the enjoyment of gardening and sharing space with beautiful, verdant and fragrant plants; and cost savings on expensive groceries.

Image Credit: Contributed / Kamloops Food Policy Council

Indoor growing has substantial benefits for the larger food system as well. When we produce, consume and share our harvests with our neighbours, we reclaim food sovereignty. Growing our own food reduces our dependence on the vulnerable and centralized model that is our global food system. Growing our own food also enhances our resilience to climate change, sudden weather events and other disruptors that can impact the supply chain and local food inventory.

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Now, imagine many people and groups growing food indoors — even in small quantities. Imagine if each classroom of the 50 or so schools in the local district had a tower garden or incubator gardens for seedlings, or another task in the production and aggregation of local food production. If each student in the district contributed to the production of a pound of food there would be a return of over 15,000 lbs of nutritious, local produce per harvest.

Harvests of tomatoes, greens, vegetables, berries, beans and legumes could be sorted and divided among families. Surplus harvests could be processed and preserved for future use, or go towards the production of school and community meals. The invaluable learning and experience of growing our own food can contribute towards a food secure future.

The future of food needs to be multifaceted. Indoor domestic and institutional food production and vertical farming won’t replace traditional farming, backyard and community gardens, or grocery stores and imported foods, but it is an important step towards resilience and redundancy in local food production. Look into it today, and encourage your neighbours, friends, and family to begin producing and sharing food.

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The Kamloops Food Policy Council is the longest-standing independent food policycouncil in Canada: pollinating community food projects, developing partnerships, and contributing to public policy since 1995! Visit the council’s website here.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.