Post & Courier, "To Meet Local Demand, St. Helena-Based Hydroponic Farm Grows Vertically,” February 27, 2025

Photo Credit: Jessica Wade, Staff Reporter for the Post & Courier

ST. HELENA ISLAND — A wall of lettuce was rolled aside to make way for rows of colorful edible flowers as Selma Davis looked through her hydroponic farm like a librarian confidently sifting through shelves of books. She picked a piece of bright green arugula. "Give that a try. It is the most unbelievable arugula," Davis said. "It's spicy because it's older."

The bushels of arugula are among dozens of greens grown vertically within a large shipping container dropped by a crane on St. Helena Island farmland. On the inside, the 320-square-foot structure is high tech, using water to produce large yields of pesticide free greens and vegetables through a method called hydroponics. Hydroponic farms grow plants within a controlled, indoor environment without the use of soil. Instead, plants’ roots are submerged in nutrient-rich water and grown beneath LED lights.

The container would be easy to miss while driving along the rural roads of St. Helena Island. Farmland plowed, planted and harvested for generations surrounds the 10 acre property. There are no permanent buildings on Davis' land, only a shed, an RV and the white container with the farm's logo painted on the side: New Leaf Produce.

New Leaf Produce began as a passion project for Davis whose venture into hydroponic farming came at a time of transition in her life. She left a 25-year career in education during the uncertainty and stress of COVID-19, but was unsure of her next steps. Scrolling through TikTok one day, Davis came across a 30-second video from a company called Freight Farms that offered a glimpse at hydroponic farming. The Boston-based business specializes in agriculture technology and as of November 2022, had over 600 Freight Farm containers operating around the globe.

Davis paid $135,000 her own high-tech container, sold her home in town, bought farmland, dug a well and got to work. In March of 2023, she planted her first seed. In the beginning, the container checked a lot of boxes for the mother of four. It offered a career change, helped Davis grow her hobby of backyard gardening, and helped her to develop food sovereignty during a time of supply chain uncertainty.

"My reasoning has really changed over time," Davis said. "Now I'm leaning in because of the community it brings. I've met so many incredible people through this process. I've made lifelong friendships. That pivot was important for me to grow. "New Leaf Produce has grown an estimated 14,000 pounds of vegetable over the past two years. Davis sells directly from her farm at 119 Scott Hill Road and wholesale to local restaurants like Beaufort based Locals Raw Bar.

She has big plans for the future. In September 2024 New Leaf Produce was approved for a solar panel grant. Davis recently bought a barn that will be shipped in pieces to her farm in coming months. She also plans to host educational youth sessions at the farm. "It's really all about community," Davis said. "I can't wait to see who else this brings into my life."

Jessica Wade covers Hilton Head Island through The Post and Courier’s Beaufort County Bureau. A native of eastern Nebraska, she previously reported on development and local government with the The Omaha World-Herald. [email protected]; 843-998-3879 // Full article.