The greenhouse on Richard and Sharon Hastings property in rural East Texas looks like a typical greenhouse any gardening enthusiast might own.

But a closer look reveals the channels of water where red and green butter lettuce plants are floating on foam pads. This is not a typical greenhouse after all.

The Hastings endured the hustle and bustle of Austin for over 28 years. They raised their children while working in the tech industry. They survived the big city traffic and hour-long commutes to work.

Now theyre managing partners in their own business, East Texas Aquaponics.

We were looking for the next phase of our lives, Mrs. Hasting said. We are passionate about food and food quality. We are part of that community and wanted to find a way to make it into a business.

The Hastings greenhouse boasts a deep-water culture system where Tilapia and channel catfish make their home in 2,000 gallon water tanks. A pump system moves the water through a filtration system. That water goes into the channels, where lettuce plants are floating on foam rafts on the surface of the water. The plant roots hang into the water and absorb the nutrients that the fish put into the water.

This form of farming uses one-tenth of the water to grow good, clean food, Hasting said. Tons and tons of water resources are used to grow vegetables to make a salad. We have the opportunity to reduce that and to reduce the transportation costs.

The water shortage crises that can occur throughout Texas make this type of farming ideal in areas where drought and people lack access to water.

We wanted to help support food shortages in underserved areas, Mrs. Hasting said. Trying to get processed food out and something green and healthy in is important to us.

It takes butter lettuce six weeks to mature in the winter months and four weeks during the summer. This makes it an ideal crop for aquaponics.

Food that is organically grown, using reduced amounts of water, fertilizers and pesticides is a trend that many people support and the type of food many people want on their tables.

Weve partnered with Mudhen Meat and Greens in Dallas, Mrs. Hastings said. Its a farm to table restaurant in Dallas. We also sell at farmers markets in Winnsboro, Mineola, Dallas and Rockwall.

Hastings is working to expand their farming operation beyond lettuce and herbs. Next year, they hope to be growing tomatoes and fruit bushes and trees.

When Hasting lifts the granite rock gravel in one of his beds, he exposes the worms. He said the book Worms Eat my Garbage turned him into a sort of eco hippie type.

I bought a pound of the worms to get started, Hasting said. Worms eat 30 percent of their body weight each day.

Hasting uses the worms in the granite gravel bed and the bed of expanded clay pellets where strawberries and fig trees are starting to grow.

The worms feed on the decayed roots of the plants. Theyre a tool to ward off plant disease and manage insects.

This keeps the tanks clean, Hasting said. Selling the worms can be another source of income.

East Texas Aquaponics is partnering with Genuine Provisions to sell and promote their products. They hope to establish a partnership with the East Texas Food Bank to have their food distributed to hunger relief programs in East Texas.

This gets our product to another demographic that wouldnt have access to this type of food, Mrs. Hasting said. Were also interested in educating the community and helping them learn to grow their own food in this way, with minimal investment.

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East Texas Aquaponics grows organic produce using non-traditional growing practices - Tyler Morning Telegraph