David Adams – A Natural at Growing Nature’s Best

BY JACLYN ROSE –

David Adams spent most of his life in Houston, Texas where he worked in construction and electrical work before he completed an Associate’s Degree in Computer Hardware and went to work as a System Software Engineer for Hewitt Packard (HP) for 15 years.

Adams met his wife, Terry, almost 40 years ago and they have three children: April, David and Emily, and five grandbabies with one more on the way. “Terry and I get along really well. We just love each other,” said Adams. After spending their lives in the city, they knew they wanted to get away and transition to small town life. Through Terry’s brother, who travels to Mena to enjoy the beautiful ATV trails at Wolf Pen Gap, they learned of Polk County. They found a realtor and property in Opal and fell in love with the area. In 2011, Adams retired from H.P. and they moved to Arkansas.

Before leaving Texas, Adams created a test farm for what is now, Farming Innovations, LLC. An Aquaponics Farm, which is in-ground farming, using natural techniques and no chemical pesticides. “Aquaponics uses a symbiotic system for plants and fish so that fish, with their waste and natural bacteria, provide fertilizer for plants and then plants use the fertilizer and clean the water for the fish. The fish are raised in tanks and the water is circulated to the plants and then back to the fish tanks and plants are grown in flood and drain beds with gravel or some other media to support the roots, or in floating rafts in channels of circulating water. So, the water stays clean and the plants grow and the fish grow, as long as you have a balance, everything works well,” explained Adams.

Through Farming Innovations, the Adams grow fish and also all kinds of green vegetables including beans, okra, broccoli, cauliflower and many others. The Adams sold their vegetables at the Hot Springs Farmer’s Market until recently and they now offer them to locals. If interested in their vegetables or their fresh farm eggs, you can email Adams from his website, www.farminginnovations.com. From their website you can also find detailed descriptions of Aquaponics and how it works. The Adams and Farming Innovations are always continuing to develop their system.

Adams is also certified in Permaculture Design. “Permaculture design is science that works with nature to design land, home, and energy systems that are most beneficial to nature and people. I can teach others Aquaponics, we have kits and do installation, training and consulting,” said Adams. They also do permaculture consulting and design.

“I love the beauty of the natural environment of Polk County. We love our church family at The Crossing,” said Adams.

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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