HOAP Farm LLC

Jim Ashley

• 931-622-5823
• HOAPFarm@gmail.com

Region: West - Benton County

Method of Sale: On Farm Sale, Retail

Additional Information: HOAP Farm has grown out of a far simpler idea. In 2018 we decided it was time to “retire from the highway.” Over the road driving just didn’t leave any time for the family and we had become way too dependent upon commercially produced everything. We have always enjoyed growing some of our own foods (on a small scale) and so we decided it was time to get back to doing so. Through the years we had become aware of the fact that many commercial food providers were using processes we weren’t exactly fond of. We were concerned with providing ourselves with Healthy Options in our food and decided to grow with as little man made chemical help as possible. Researching options for organic growing led us to aquaponics. After considerable study we decided we would begin growing Aquaponic Produce to help feed ourselves and, perhaps, a few close friends. As such, we began with a small tabletop system with less than 15 square feet of grow space on floating rafts. The next step involved building a rolling chicken coop, known as a chicken tractor, and getting a few chicks to raise so we could have a supply of fresh eggs that we were sure did not have extra chemicals in them. Many baby steps later HOAP Farm has realized that, since other people have the same concerns we have, we should see if we could help them. We can provide Healthy Options in their food through growing Aquaponic Produce for them and their families. We, of course, have had to up size considerably in order to do so. We have had to grow in small increments though due in part to finances, but also to learn what changes will have to be made in our systems as we grow. The first step up was to build a 10 ft. x 10 ft. greenhouse for our aquaponics. This created a system nearly triple the size we had been using and a whole new learning curve. Once that was established and we had learned from those experiences we got “brave” and built a 10 ft. x 20 ft. greenhouse for an even bigger aquaponic system. Part of our learning process has been seeing what grows well in our aquaponic systems. Part of it has been seeing what our potential consumers are interested in, and can we grow that for them. In so doing we have expanded into using a system referred to as an Aquaponic-Hybrid system. Simply explained, we have taken a pasture that has been lying fallow for over 7 years and begun planting in it. That field is fertilized by watering with water from our aquaponic system, not by applying artificial fertilizers. Pest control is either done manually or by the application of the least amount possible of Organically Approved pest control products. Since our base operating system is aquaponics and that system is completely dependent upon the well being of our fish, we CANNOT use standard commercial pesticides, fertilizers and growth hormones. The result is a food product which is actually more organically grown than what is available at many Organically Certified farms. Moving forward HOAP Farm has the desire to become a significant source of healthy food options for our local community. We are, and will always be, a small family run community oriented farm. Our growth will be based on what that community expresses as an interest and desire for their family’s table. Feel free to contact us with questions or product ideas. Just remember, plants take time to grow, just like we do.

Available: Cantaloupes, Honeydew, Watermelons, Arugula, Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Kale, Lettuce, Microgreens, Peppers, Pumpkins, Radishes, Tomatoes, Eggs, Cakes, Cookies, Jams Jellies and Spreads, Candy, Chocolates and Confections