Making A Difference: Aquaponics in Corralitos

Travel across the Central Coast and you’re bound to see fields of rich, lush, agriculture. But deep within the town of Corralitos, you’ll see a farm of a different sort. James Borgeman is the co-founder of Green Water Garden, an aquaponics farm that focuses on growing organic goods like alfalfa and lettuce. According to Borgmen, the farm uses 90 percent less water than it would if it grew vegetables in the ground.

“Instead of putting cow manure into the soil, we’re putting fish waste in to the water,”Borgeman said.

Traditionally, local farmers plant using soil. Aquaponics is planting using water instead. But that’s not the only thing that Green Water Garden is doing differently.

Along with aquaponics, the farm employs people with disabilities. Of the 10 employees who work on the farm, seven have developmental disabilities.

“Everybody here has so much intelligence and they work in a different capacity at the farm,” lead staff member Andy Furr said.

According to the 2013 Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about two out of every 10 people with disabilities, are employed. The goal of Green Water Garden is to help people with disabilities get employed and earn minimum wage.

If you’d like to learn more about Green Water Garden, including ways to help the organization, visit their website, https://www.greenwatergarden.com.