Aquaponics farm planned as part of Calumet Country Club redevelopment

Community developers have big plans for the former Calumet Country Club property, including adding an aquaponics farm to the property.

The redevelopment plans would create jobs for local residents, as well as helping to serve local community grocery stores with fresh produce.

“To be involved with a hydroponics company, that can bring fruits, vegetables and food to the south suburban community as well as the local grocery stores is an exciting opportunity for us,” Walt Brown Jr., the CEO of Diversified Partners said.

Kevin Morrison

Aquaponics is a growing industry and is a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics, allowing fish and plants to grow together in one integrated, soil-less system

Kevin Morrison with Morrison Group LLC is the founder of the project. He said he will work to establish an aquaponics farm to serve the community and local businesses.

“We are moving forward by establishing our joint venture company and completing our plan to break ground in May of 2021,” Morrison said.

Morrison said they felt it was an ideal way to repurpose the land.

“Aquaponics farming is a leading eco-friendly urban farming technique,” Morrison said.

Morrison said there are many benefits to aquaponics, including the production of safe, fresh, “organic” fish and vegetables and that they can be grown year-round. He said the amount of resources needed to produce equal amounts of food with aquaponics and hydroponics methods is less when compared to conventional field agriculture. 

“Aquaponics farming is sustainable, efficient and requires no pesticides,” Morrison said. “Additionally, hydroponic produce is picked ripe, and is thus fresher and tastier than conventionally farmed produce, which is typically picked prematurely, transported hundreds or thousands of miles, and then ‘gas blasted’ with ethylene hormone to ripen artificially.”

Morrison said the project meets some of the national and local goals that focus on education, economics and security.

“Farming is at its core science so we will train staff on the science of farming and incorporate local schools into the scientific education component of our operations,” Morrison said. “This supports local and national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education goals.”

Morrison said the project will employ people and provide a tax base for the municipality.

“Our business will also have a multiplier effect as we will buy from other local businesses for our supplies & equipment,” Morrison said.

Morrison also said the project will also help with food security.

“Food security has creeped into the American lexicon as of late due to natural disasters and or trade wars,” Morrison said. “Our local farm will address that issue providing local production of food ensuring a consistent supply chain of food for residents and businesses.”

The next Homewood Village Board meeting regarding Calumet Country Club redevelopment will be held on March 3.