The First 120 Days of Leaf Water Farms

When we look back at the first 120 days of Leaf Water Farms, we’re amazed by how much has grown - not just in our hydroponic systems, but in our hearts, our community, and our vision for the future. Mark and I have learned so much in such a short amount of time and we are thrilled to have an opportunity to share it with all of you. What began as a seed of an idea has already bloomed into something bigger than we ever imagined. Here’s a look at how it all began:

The Idea

Like many families, we’ve always cared deeply about what we eat and where our food comes from. The idea was simple but powerful: create a hydroponic farm that grows clean, fresh, organic, pesticide-free food year round, that lasts longer than what we were buying from the grocery, is hyperlocal, healthy and harvested with love. 

Research

We started researching what it would take to start this type of process: hydroponic growing methods, crop varieties, nutrition and local demand. From industry reports to late night YouTube tutorials, to conversations with friends and relatives familiar with the industry, we soaked up everything we could. The more we learned, the more convinced we became that this was not just an idea, but a potential for a real business. 

Experiment

The first experiment happened right in our garage. We bought supplies, built systems, tested different growing mediums, nutrients, seeds and learned from every success and challenge. We learned that every failure is actually an opportunity for redirection, to tweak, adjust and keep moving forward. Some trays thrived, some flopped, but each step taught us how to redirect, build resilience and gain strength.  

Building 

We rolled up our sleeves and built a nursery for our seedlings. Next Mark built an Ebb and Flow system for microgreens and perfect for experimenting with new crops. Then he built our first NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) unit from scratch. Seeing water flow through the system and the buds sprout was the moment our dream became a reality. These systems became our living laboratories, where we refined our recipes for flavor, crunch and nutrition. 

Non GMO and Organic

We are in the process of applying for our Organic and Non-GMO Certifications.

The Name: Leaf Water Farms 

We wanted a name that captured freshness, vitality, and family but explained the two most important elements of hydroponics. The leaf and the water are key to what we are doing and Leaf Water Farms just clicked. It felt natural, nourishing and true to what we are creating.

Today - Day 120: Launching the Website leafwaterfarms.com

We are launching our website TODAY, giving customers a place to learn more, order online and stay connected. Bridging the gap between an old fashioned antique farm and our hydroponic tech-savvy farm, which has really stepped into the digital world, ready to reach more tables, kitchens, chefs and restaurants soon. 

Looking Ahead

In just 120 days, we went from idea to LLC, from first seeds to first sales. This is only the beginning, As we continue to grow we remain committed to nourishing our community with produce that is organic, non-GMO, pesticide free and harvested with love, Thank you for being part of our story-We can’t wait to see what the next 120 days will bring!

Harvested with Love, 

Wendy & Mark Donohue