By Jamie Martin
Bill Ferguson, a former poultry farmer in southeast Alabama, has transformed his old chicken barn into a modern hydroponic vegetable farm.
Once used to raise chickens under a contract system, the barn now grows fresh romaine and butter lettuce through an indoor hydroponic setup.
After losing his poultry contract, Ferguson faced financial hardship. With help from the nonprofit Animal Outlook’s farm transitions program and support from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, he rebuilt his farm operations.
The hydroponic greens grown at Ferguson’s Riley Creek Farms are sold in local grocery stores and farmers markets, offering a healthier, local alternative to trucked-in produce. Each plant is sold with its roots still attached, helping it stays fresh for up to three weeks.
Soon, Ferguson will install Dutch buckets to grow tomatoes and cucumbers. He also plans to welcome visitors in the fall to a new pick-your-own pumpkin patch.
“My farm is open to anyone who would like to visit and see for themselves the hydroponic growing system that is producing fresh and flavorful food for our local community here in southeast Alabama,” says farmer Bill Ferguson.
The Physicians Committee’s Convert to Crops grant also supports a refrigerated trailer for deliveries and the expansion of fruit production with peach trees. Recently, his peaches sold out in just 20 minutes at a local market.
Ferguson hopes to join Alabama’s Farm-to-School program to provide same-day-harvested produce to school kitchens. His journey from poultry to produce is part of a growing trend across the U.S., where former livestock farmers are now growing crops like mushrooms, berries, and chickpeas.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-branex
Categories: National