A journey from Hawaii to Wisconsin landed horticulturalist Erin Warner a lead role at Warm Belly Farm in Fort Atkinson. Warner oversees the daily operations of a hydroponic strawberry farm. The “you pick” operation has 18,000 plants.
Growing hydroponically means the strawberry plants are growing not in traditional soil, but a substrate. Using modern farming techniques, Warner controls the water and nutrients supplied to the plants on a time schedule each day. And she can do it all from her phone.
“The whole idea of hydroponics stems from the idea that the climate is changing. People are being forced to farm in new and progressive ways, using more science and technology,” Warner says. It’s that blend of science and nature that make her job exciting.
Warner grew up in Sheboygan Falls and learned to garden with her family. Her adventurist spirit took her to Hawaii, where she joined the Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (or WWOOF) program. WWOOF links workers with organic farmers, promotes educational exchange and builds a global community around ecological farming.
Warm Belly Farm is where Warner’s passion took bloom. In addition to the hydroponic strawberries, she oversees nearly 10,000 apple trees that will eventually produce a half a million pounds of Wisconsin apples. Warner says she sees opportunities everywhere on the farm, including a future and a career.
