Hey Mum, we are eating our greens!
We are eating our greens, Mum. Fresh greens! Down south we still have access to greens, fresh greens, thanks to our hydroponics facility and the team of green thumbs that keep the plants growing healthy.
The hydroponics (aka hydro) facility is basically summer all year round, so think of all your summer crops - tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, silver beet, pakchoi, basil, chillies - we grow it all. As well as Nick's favourite herbs - coriander, parsley, sage, and dill. Hydro is like your garden at home but better. The weather is always a constant 24 degrees, and there are no rabbits or moths to eat your crops. There are no diseases or bugs, so all our produce is spray-free and ready for the kitchen. However, there are also no bees, which means no pollination, so the team pollinate the cucumbers by hand with a paint brush.
Hydro is great. It gives expeditioners a place to hang out and enjoy the warmth, the greenery and the smell, scents and aromas of the fresh sage and basil growing in the corner. At lunch it brings a smile to everyone’s faces when there is fresh cos salad on the table. Nick, our chef, is always excited when we bring fresh herbs into the kitchen. So much more tasty then the boring dried out herbs from a jar. At dinner time it is always fun watching the brave try a few too many hydro chillies and then race for a glass of milk. The hydro chillies are quiet a mixed bag, some are warm and some are really hot. You never quite know what you are getting!
Hydro takes a dedicated team and quite a bit of work to look after it. There is water to top up, nutrients to check and top up, plants to be pruned, and produce to be harvested. The plants also need a good selection of tunes to help them grow. However it's not all smooth sailing and sometimes there is a call over the radio, due to water leaks out of hydro, maybe due to someone leaving the tap on, a pipe being full or roots, or a wilted plant due to lack of water.
We are so lucky to have hyrdo in Antarctica; a warm building, green plants, gardening as another recreationional activity, and importantly, fresh produce on the table. Hydro is also great for station energy and morale. How good are plants!
Scott Newman
Electrician (and hydroponics green thumb)
Casey station
