Senior-living community wins award for hydroponic gardens

Commonwealth Senior Living based in Charlottesville, Va., has won a 2020 Best of the Best Award from senior-living association Argentum for its hydroponic farming program. 

The program began last year when Commonwealth partnered with a local hydroponics company to install microfarms inside its dining rooms. The farms allow residents to enjoy over 45 varieties of leafy greens, herbs and microgreens in meals. Commonwealth says that residents' consumption of nutrient-rich greens has increased by 35% since installing the gardens. 

The microfarms are a part of the Commonwealth’s farm-to-table program, which began in 2015. Over the past five years, the community has grown the program so that 85% of the produce served to residents is sourced locally from farmers around the state. Commonwealth also works with independent fishers to source local seafood from the Chesapeake Bay.