By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Horticulturists at The Ohio State University extension at South Centers in Piketon have devised a way of turning a vacant downtown alley into a source of fresh fruits and vegetables.

The new invention, called a compost sock, is being compared to the performance of in-ground high tunnel strawberries. Researchers hope the performance and yield become comparable to that of tunnel production.

“If we find the compost sock system comparable to in-soil production, this would mean we could farm anywhere with high tunnels using this system as the growing medium, and you wouldn’t need soil,” said extension horticulturist Brad Bergefurd. “These things could flourish in some alleyway in a major city.”

The compost socks are made of mesh materials and filled with compost. The plants are grown in the socks, with irrigation and fertility management when necessary.

“These socks come in various sizes, from three feet to 100 feet,” Bergefurd said. “They can be cut to length and diameters range from eight to 12 inches. These work well for the larger farmer or small producer.”

Bergefurd said the compost socks could make high tunnel production even more relevant. High tunnels are popular because they allow growers to expand their growing and marketing season, they support plenty of crops on a smaller amount of land and they need less expensive equipment compared to large-scale, open-field farming methods.

With compost socks, farming could be expanded to areas that generally aren’t considered ag-friendly or where fresh fruits and vegetables are not easily accessible.

“The sock adapts well to the urban setting,” Bergefurd said. “For example, a barren lot where a factory once stood in the middle of a city would be perfect for the socks as long as there is a good, readily available water source.

“The socks can be brought in, irrigation hooked up and crops planted within hours of laying out the socks. One can then throw a greenhouse or high tunnel over them and you have an extended season urban ag production system.

“Imagine putting one of these compost socks on a barren lot in downtown Dayton or Cincinnati and growing fruits and vegetables,” he said. “With these socks it’s possible. Since you don’t need soil, you don’t need a field or farmland; an old parking lot or vacant lot would work.”

Although researchers are only in their first year of evaluating the compost sock system on strawberry production, they are seeing promising results. Researchers believe the socks can support a whole host of vegetables, from tomatoes to peppers to lettuce.
“The technology completely supports a multiple cropping system,” Bergefurd said. “We are testing to see whether one compost sock can support three years’ worth of crop production.”

If successful, the technology could be a way for communities to promote urban gardening, support local foods and encourage healthier eating.

“High tunnel production with compost socks would be one answer to the food desert dilemma,” Bergefurd said. “Residents would have access to fresh fruits and vegetables right their in their community. You could literally grow food anywhere.”

According to Bergefurd, the compost in the sock is good for three years.