Symbiosis in Ponte Vedra Beach

Gyo Greens employs aquaponics to cultivate sustainable microgreens for local chefs

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What started as Helga Tan Fellows’ crazy idea has bloomed into a welcome addition to the community. Gyo Greens is an aquaponics farm nestled amongst single family homes along Canal Boulevard that provides sustainably produced lettuces and microgreens to the area’s premier kitchens. Local chefs pledged to support the farm at its inception because Fellows was willing to grow the items needed to satisfy demands of Ponte Vedra and Palm Valley foodies.

Aquaponics combines aquaculture, raising aquatic animals, with hydroponics, which is cultivating plants in water. Gyo Greens farm raises koi fish in tanks and uses the nutrient-rich waste to grow plants in the recirculating water. It’s a symbiotic relationship that is sustainable, pesticide free and organic. The live plants are delivered weekly to restaurant kitchens in custom-built racks. The living plants provide fresh greens for garnishing and plating. At the end of the week, the Gyo Greens driver picks up the racks and returns them to the farm to be sanitized and used again. It’s part of the farm’s commitment to reducing waste.

From the outset, Fellows intended to focus on community education. The farm is only open to the public through scheduled tours in the fall and spring. Fellows is especially happy when school groups tour the farm.

“If I build a farm here, there are seven schools around,” Fellows said, hoping to attract students for educational field trips. “I was proven right. The kids come here.”

In addition to finding Gyo Farms greens at restaurants, look for seasonal offerings at the Palm Valley Farmers Market on Tuesday afternoons and selected Saturday mornings at the Palm Valley Community Center, 148 Canal Blvd. in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Farm tours are scheduled for Nov. 9 and Dec. 7. For more information, visit gyogreens.com, email info@gyogreens.com or call (904) 334-1181.