Producer

In 2014, a Vermont farm-based couple had a dream of creating a year-round sustainable environment in which plants and fish could be raised in their own unique symbiotic ecosystem. From that dream was born the Eco Ark, a commercial 6,000SF controlled environment agriculture building, which is a combination of hybrid, solar-style greenhouse and subterranean, insulated fish house. Today, Finn & Roots is a sustainable, auaponic farm. 

The Eco Ark is the name of the specialty-built structure where Finn & Roots grows its crops and cares for its fish. The Ark was specially designed and built to maximize the efficiencies of raising warm water fish and year-round, uncompromised production of leafy green vegetables, vine crops, herbs, and microgreens as well as other specialty plants. This was achieved using a combination of materials, techniques, and technologies such as earth sheltering, thick insulation, special solar collecting glazing, solar design and architecture, automated environmental control systems, and high efficiency equipment such as supplemental LED lighting. Most of the Ark’s heating comes from the sun, and when there’s less sunlight, heat from above is generated by an impressive Holland heater, and below from radiant heated concrete floors. We use a wood boiler to power the heated floors, and the wood burned is selectively harvested from the farms’ forestland. The Eco Ark maintains an average temperature throughout the year of 72 degrees and supplements light on cloudy winter days with full LED grow lighting to maintain consistent production regardless of weather or season.