Recline Ridge is a vertical farm in Vernon, BC. It grows food indoors, in stacked grow modules under LED lights. There is no soil and no outdoor season, so crops grow the same way in January as in July.
How the farm grows
The plants grow in hydroponic and aeroponic systems. In hydroponics, the roots sit in water that carries the nutrients. In aeroponics, the roots hang in the air and get a fine nutrient mist. Either way, each plant gets the feed it needs and little goes to waste.
Sensors track water, nutrients, temperature, humidity, and light, and the system adjusts as conditions change. The lights run on Power over Ethernet (PoE), a low-power setup that can be tuned to suit each crop.
Growing inside keeps out pests, disease, frost, and heat waves. The farm says its systems use up to 95 percent less water than growing in a field.
What they grow
The Vernon farm grows strawberries, tomatoes, and herbs. Recline Ridge wants to turn empty buildings into working farms, so food can grow close to the people who eat it.
We carry three Recline Ridge herbs: rosemary, thyme, and sage. Each comes fresh in a 30 g clamshell.
The people behind it
Greg LaForge leads the farm as director. He has more than 20 years of experience running projects and operations. Greg Darroch handles investor relations and brings decades in banking and real estate, starting at CIBC in 1976. Darren Battersby, a Chartered Professional Accountant, guides the farm's finances and growth.
