We had the privilege of visiting Cheyney University, where Professor Hughes gave us a tour of both his lab and the Herban Farms production greenhouse on campus. As part of our community project, named Sporhaus, we are exploring using hydroponics in a small community garden as a test project.
Aquaponics and Hydroponics Overview
- Herban Farms Partnership: A locally owned, family-run basil grower operating a greenhouse on the Cheyney University of Pennsylvania campus.
- The Growing Method: Basil plants float on nutrient-rich water pools connected to tanks housing thousands of tilapia, which provide natural nutrients for the plants.
- Commercial Output: The facility produces fresh basil year-round, which it sells to local grocery stores and markets, along with market-weight fish used locally or sold to vendors.
We visited Cheyney University to learn about their hydroponics program. Professor Hughes kindly gave us a tour of both the lab and the production greenhouse for Herban Farms on the campus.
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania features integrated hydroponics and aquaculture—known as aquaponics—primarily through its Aquaculture Research & Education Laboratory (AREL) and an on-campus partnership with Herban Farms.
Research and Education
- AREL Laboratory: Directed by Dt. Steven Hughes, the Aquaculture Research and Education Laboratory (AREL) was founded in 2003 to prepare students for emerging career opportunities and to meet the education, extension, and research needs of our region and its critical waterways.