Marshall County
Farms and Markets in Marshall County
West KY Aquaponics
Aquaponics is defined as the combination of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (the soil-less growing of plants) that grows fish and plants together in one integrated system.
In our system, fish are raised in 6-500-gallon tanks. The fish waste goes through a series of clarification tanks where “good bacteria” break down the ammonia into nitrite and then into nitrate which is nutrients for plants. This nitrate rich water is then pumped to grow beds where the leafy green vegetables absorb the nutrients. The water is then pumped back into the fish tanks, thus creating the closed loop recirculating system.
Aquaponics allows sustainable production of leafy green vegetables in a controlled climate year-round. There are no herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers used on the plants. Any chemicals added would re-circulate into the water and kill the fish. One quarter acre of aquaponics can produce the equivalent of one acre of traditional agriculture. Traditional agriculture also uses 20 times the amount of water than aquaponics.
Produce grown aquaponically isn’t considered “Organic” because there is no soil involved. It is, however, all natural and can be classified as “Certified Naturally Grown”. Environmental contaminants, such as E-coli, are eliminated in aquaponics because fish are cold blooded and no coliforms are in their waste.
Farm to Fork
Farm to Fork is a locally raised, farm fresh Angus beef market located in western Kentucky. They offer individually packaged cuts of beef, pork and chicken as well as meat bundles, bulk ground beef and half and whole cows. All of their meat is USDA inspected and free of antibiotics, hormones and steroids. Their Angus beef is locally raised in Marshall County, Kentucky. They raise all of our beef right on the farm. The cattle that our beef comes from are allowed to graze freely on grass and are never given antibiotics or hormones.
Fairdealing Farms
Fairdealing Farms, established 2011, is located in Benton, Ky. They raise chickens, ducks, guineas, dwarf Nigerian goats, Jersey cows, African Gray geese, vegetables and flowers.
