Slate Belt veteran opens hydroponics farm with focus on microgreens
Things that come in small packages can deliver a big nutritional punch. That’s the philosophy of David Derkits, the owner of Bangor-based nuHydro Farms.
Derkits installed a hydroponics farm in his home that grows microgreens, other vegetables and fruits.
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil. Derkits installed water pumps, a carbon-fibered filtering system and a unit that provides a continuous airflow over plants that helps induce them to grow faster.
Microgreens are young seedlings of edible vegetables and herbs harvested soon after leaf-like structures have begun to grow, somewhere between the sprout and baby green stages.
Published reports say microgreens contain considerably more beneficial nutrients than their full-grown counterparts.
Derkits said people would have to spend over $20 to buy enough full-grown vegetables to create a salad with the same nutritional value that one of his microgreen salad blends can deliver for $4 to $5.
The indoor farm produces a variety of microgreens, including arugula, basil, cabbage, kohlrabi, broccoli, kale and other vegetables that can be used for garnishes, salads or snacks.
Derkits retired from the Marine Corps in 2013 and spent time after that working in the U.S. embassy in Iraq.
Creating a farm of his own has been a dream for years, he said.
“We were working through nutrient water mixes and pH balances to get everything right,” Derkits said. “We grew for a year and a half without sales to make sure we had it right.”
Now, the company is ready to sell it products. Derkits said he has begun supplying microgreens and other products to the Local Mama Catering Company and the produce is available for others.
People, catering companies or restaurants who want to purchase the microgreens or the company’s prepared salad blends can reach out to nuHydro Farms on Facebook.
Derkits said freshness is a key to nutritional quality. His products are cut to order and harvested 12 to 24 hours before they are delivered. He said he hopes local restaurants and caterers appreciate fresh microgreens available on demand.
The company wants to get an enclosed trailer for mobile deliveries. Derkits eventually plans a storefront to sell the nutritional goods.
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