On Monday, Mrs Follows and Mr Jones accompanied 24 Year 12 Economics students on a study visit to Growing Underground, which is a carbon neutral vertical farm, situated in an old WWII bomb shelter 33 metres below Clapham High Street.
The farm, which was founded in 2012 and moved to the Clapham Common location in 2016, supplies large companies and the restaurant trade directly.
Benefits of being underground include a consistent temperature they do not need to use as much energy as above ground farms. Vertical farms are also very fresh and sustainable. The plants grow on recycled carpet, which is a replacement for soil. Water is recycled five to ten times so this type of farming uses far less water. In a vertical farm they can harvest 60 times a year – compared to only 24 in greenhouses.
After a talk at ground level about how the business works the group descended into the tunnels and were able to see all the different crops growing under pink lights.
"We tried some freshly picked microgreens, which tasted amazing. It was a fascinating visit and we may well have witnessed the future of farming!" Gillian Fellows, Teacher of Economics
Junior School Open Day
The next Alleyn's Junior School Open Event is from 1.30pm to 3pm on Wednesday 22 May 2024. There will be a Head's Talk at 1.40pm after which you will be offered a tour of the school with a pupil. There is no need to book a place at this Open Event - everyone is welcome.
Last updated on 20 05 24 at 09:12
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