What We've Been Up To at 3 Corners Farm: Hydroponic Farming in the Columbia River Gorge
Greetings!
It has been a full two years since I last focused on writing a blog. I originally intended to step away only briefly, but life on the farm became wonderfully busy. Over the past couple of years, our farm has continued to grow, and keeping up with both supply and demand has required our full attention.
Rather than blogging, we spent our time refining our skills, improving our hydroponic systems, and learning how to produce the best quality greens possible. Now that things have settled into a steadier rhythm, I’m excited to return and share more about our hydroponic farm and the lifestyle that comes with it.
For those who are new here, welcome! I’d love to give you a glimpse into who we are, where we live, and what makes our small farm unique.
Hydroponic Farming at 3 Corners Farm
Our hydroponic farm is thriving! One of the most fun additions to the farm recently is the large mural painted across the front of our shipping container grow unit. The mural features Bigfoot enjoying a bowl of our salad greens, surrounded by scenes of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.
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| Bigfoot Eating Lettuce |
Local artist Denae Manion created this wonderful piece of art, which also includes views of Mount Adams, vineyards, running horses, forests, and a doe with her fawn. These images represent the natural beauty of the area we call home.
During spring and summer, we often see cyclists traveling through the area stop to admire the mural. It’s always fun watching people discover it as they pass by the farm.
Inside the shipping container, our hydroponic growing system produces approximately 160 pounds of fresh salad greens each week. After several years of growing this way, we’ve found a steady rhythm that works well for us. Like any type of farming, however, hydroponic growing comes with its own challenges.
Challenges of Hydroponic Farming
Farming is never perfect, and every season brings new lessons. Here are a few of the challenges we face on our hydroponic farm.
1. Fungus Gnats
Even though our system is indoors, pests can still find their way inside. Fungus gnats are tiny but can multiply quickly and cause problems for young plants.
To manage them, we regularly replace the black foam and cotton strips used in the panels and add food-grade hydrogen peroxide to the water tanks to eliminate gnat eggs. Travis is also exploring a new panel insert system that holds plants in small individual cups during growth.
This setup could reduce pest issues and improve water control. Once we have better photos and results from testing, I’ll share more details.
2. Cotton Strips and Foam Panel Issues
The cotton strips that wick water to the plants and the foam that holds them in place have begun to saturate more easily over time. This makes it difficult to regulate how much water each plant receives.
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| FAL Insert |
Unfortunately, sourcing replacement materials has become increasingly difficult and expensive. The cup system we’re experimenting with might provide a better long-term solution, but as with many farm improvements, it comes with a high cost.
Farming often requires balancing investment, risk, and potential outcomes, which can sometimes feel stressful. Still, experimentation is part of innovation.
3. Supply Delays and Maintenance
Like many farms today, we occasionally deal with shipping delays for nutrients and specialized supplies needed for our hydroponic setup. Rising costs also add another layer of challenge.
We also keep a close eye on water emitters, which can sometimes become clogged. Monitoring and replacing them is tedious but necessary to keep the system running smoothly.
Travis reminds me often that challenges are simply part of farming—whether indoors or outdoors—and he is much better at rolling with those bumps in the road than I am!
My Role on the Farm
While Travis is truly the hydroponic grower extraordinaire, my strengths on the farm tend to shine behind the scenes and with caring for our animals.
I also love sharing our farming journey with others, because we learn so much from fellow farmers and homesteaders. Beyond growing greens for customers, we use them to feed our own family alongside produce from our home garden, filled with root vegetables and seasonal crops.
Cooking from scratch is something I deeply enjoy. I regularly make our own breads, pastries, peanut butter, jams, broths, soups, pasta, and more using ingredients grown right here on the farm.
Expanding Our Egg Production
Another exciting focus this year has been expanding our flock of chickens so we can sell farm-fresh eggs.
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| Chicken Eggs |
Last summer we completed the certification process to sell eggs through stores, farmers' markets, and the Gorge Farmers' Collective. The hens are free-range during the day and safely housed at night.
For the first time in many years of raising chickens, we also have a friendly rooster, which means we can incubate eggs and hatch chicks naturally if we choose. Watching mother hens raise their chicks in a natural environment is always a joy.
Learning New Skills and Sharing the Farm Online
Recently, I’ve also begun returning to video creation. In the past, I found the process overwhelming, but after sitting down to try again, I realized much of what I learned before had stayed with me.
Taking time away from media allowed me to fully focus on farm life, settle into my role as a farmer’s wife, and simply catch my breath. Now I’m excited to begin sharing more videos about our hydroponic systems, farm animals, and daily life here at 3 Corners Farm.
Looking Ahead
There is so much more I look forward to sharing in future posts, including:
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The arrival of our honey bees
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Stories about our farm animals
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More details about growing hydroponic salad greens
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Expanding both indoor and outdoor growing
It feels wonderful to be back to blogging. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me, and I’m grateful for readers like you who enjoy following along on this journey.
Until next time, may we all move into spring with gratitude and positivity.
Warmly,
Amy E. Darr
3 Corners Farm
Mosier, Oregon, USA
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