A pioneering community project aimed at promoting social, nutritional and environmental benefits of growing vegetables hydroponically, has joined forces with Great Stuff Hydroponics, one of the UK's key suppliers of hydroponic equipment. The company has donated the FREdome Project with its very first hydroponic system in a joint effort aimed at communicating the environmental benefits of cultivating vegetation using water rather than soil. Promoting self-sustainability amongst young and disadvantaged, FREdome community project leader, Greg Peachey will be taking the lead to implement the equipment at grass roots level into schools and the wider community.

The plan is to involve as many young and disadvantaged people as possible in the process of growing vegetables hydroponically. The project aims to experiment with different types of fertilisers, in particular sea nutrients, while invigorating a positive community focus that aims to help promote self-sustainability. A key goal is to use sea nutrients to cultivate algal blooms hydroponically on land, providing a route towards tackling climate change and the energy crisis.

The initial stages for implementation will be spear-headed by St Michael's Catholic High School & Humanities College, Watford. About the use of hydroponic equipment at the school, Founder & Chair of FREdome Visionary Trust, Greg Peachey stated, "St Michael's School has had the vision to recognise the vast potential benefits from innovative application of hydroponics, and FREdome is very grateful for the equipment and support that Great Stuff Hydroponics has offered towards turning these into a reality."

The project aims to utilize hydroponic equipment donated by Great Stuff Hydroponics for communicating the multiple benefits of adapting to an alternative means of growing vegetation. By allowing communities to grow their own vegetables, the project will promote self-sustainability amongst young and destitute groups, while it will become a platform to demonstrate the greater nutritional benefits. Managing Director of Great Stuff Hydroponics, Steven Parker decided to donate a hydroponic system upon hearing about the FREdome Project. "It's a very exciting initiative and I felt there could be no better pilot project to put the system to the test than the FREdome Project, mainly because it begins at grassroots level and will illustrate a series of benefits at a level that will be both environmental and social. --- or something like this"

Implementation of the hydroponic system supplied by Great Stuff Hydroponics is at pilot stage only. Following the results of the pilot, the project aims to raise funding from government sources and commercial sponsorship as well as from initiatives such as the Lottery Fund to implement the system on a wider scale.

Great Stuff Hydroponics has been responsible for donating FREdome project leaders with their very first hydroponic system. The next step is to analyse the benefits of its implementation. A progress report and video diary will provide details of techniques as well as document results of this implementation. Further details can be found by visiting: