Deep Pool Floating Raft

Sounds like a higher consciousness, martial arts film — but no, Grasshopper — it is the technical name of one of the methods for the commercial growing of hydroponic crops like lettuce.

Starting in the Germination Zone, lettuce seeds (previously coated in clay which holds in moisture to nourish the seed then breaks apart easily to let the seed sprout), are poured into a steel tray connected to a vacuum hose. The tray has 276 holes, the vacuum sucks a seed into each hole. Next they take a foam block, called “an oasis”, which has corresponding holes, (each in the center of a break-away section), positioning it upside down on top of the tray so that a quick flip deposits a seed into each hole of the oasis. The oasis is set on a conveyor belt where the seeds get their first watering on the way to the pool.

The oasis is set afloat in a pool of water (more…)