Visiting H. St. Farms by Cultivate the City

This weekend, I attended a basic hydroponic agriculture class at a rooftop garden center here in DC to better understand the science behind what we’re doing in Gaza. Everyone at Cultivate the City was so nice and the energy was very warm and welcoming. Like our greenhouses in Gaza, their hydroponic systems were set up on a rooftop.

There, I learned about vertical gardening and the benefits of hydroponics. I learned that hydroponic gardening systems are beneficial because they are low-tech and sustainable. Rooftop gardens, like ours in Gaza and the one here on H St., are often vertical systems because there isn’t a lot of space to work with and rooftops can’t support weight as the ground can. Vertical systems are a great option for rooftop gardening because they’re so much lighter.

Another benefit of hydroponics I learned has to do with pest control. Pests are often found in soil and in the soil they lay their eggs. With hydroponics, because it’s a water-based system, pest control is much easier as there aren’t as many places for pests to hide their eggs.

I hope to eventually visit our gardens in Gaza equipped with what I learned here. I’ll definitely come and visit again!

Thanks so much to Cultivate the City. Click here to visit their website. They teach all sorts of classes and take volunteers every week.