U.S. Marine Corps veteran Mike Compton is trading his combat boots for farm boots as he prepares to launch Vet Grown Greens, a new aquaponics farm based in Paxton, with the goal of providing Central Illinois chefs with a reliable, year-round source of fresh herbs and leafy greens harvested less than 24 hours before delivery.
Compton said he is building a controlled environment aquaponics facility in Paxton from the ground up. Aquaponics is a sustainable farming method that combines aquaculture (raising fish) with hydroponics (growing plants in water). The fish provide natural, organic fertilizer for the plants, which in turn clean the water for the fish, creating a closed-loop system that uses up to 90% less water than traditional agriculture.
"My time in the Marines taught me about mission and commitment," said Compton, owner of Vet Grown Greens. "My new mission is to serve my community by building a resilient local food source. We're starting small, but we're focused on providing the highest quality product possible for our local chefs and community."
The bootstrapped venture will initially focus on growing high-demand culinary herbs like basil and dill, along with romaine lettuce, in a system of custom-built vertical aeroponic towers and ebb-and-flow trays. Looking ahead, Compton plans to expand the farm's offerings by processing the system's nutrient rich water into a line of premium, organic liquid fertilizers for sale to the local community, creating a zero-waste operation.
Read more at Ford County Chronicle
