Inside a Revolutionary Amenity in San Marcos, CA

In an era where health, affordability, and sustainability shape the built environment as much as they do public discourse, innovation plays an important role in the evolution of community amenities. Our Impact team has collaborated with sustainable technology pioneers, FarmBox Foods, to integrate a forward-thinking amenity at the community level: a Vertical Hydroponic Farm.

Unveiled in 2024 as The Barham Villas Community FarmBox, this on-site, self-sustaining agricultural system offers residents direct access to several harvests each year—providing an evolving selection of fresh produce at no cost. Beyond its immediate impact on food security and well-being, the initiative supports a collective ethos of sustainability. And, any unclaimed yield is donated to a local organization, ensuring that every item harvested goes to good use.

How it Works

A FarmBox Vertical Hydroponic Farm is a 40-foot-long shipping container that grows 80+ types of leafy greens, herbs, peppers, and micro greens from seed to harvest.
Unlike traditional farms, vertical hydroponic farms are protected from the external variables that traditional farmers face, such as drought, hail, pests, heat waves, freezes, flooding, and more.
They’re also insulated, secure and allow people to grow food year-round in places with minimal arable land, unpredictable weather or short growing seasons.
The portable, water-efficient farms enable people to grow sustainably near the consumer, which improves critical access to nutritious food.
This format nearly eliminates supply chain issues and reduces food miles, thereby lowering the carbon footprint associated with transporting harvested goods from point A to point B.
Growing near the consumer also means the nutritional value of the vegetables remains intact, and also results in less food loss because they retain their entire shelf life.

Community Integration

To foster a deeper sense of ownership and engagement among our residents, we created a dedicated identity for this amenity: The Barham Villas Community FarmBox. Today, our community leaders use each harvest as an opportunity to educate and inspire participation, offering branded produce bags and recipe cards that highlight the fresh, seasonal collection.

Learn More

Click here to visit our partners at FarmBox Foods for more on their innovative approach to food sustainability.

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Inside a Revolutionary Amenity in San Marcos, CA

How it Works

A FarmBox Vertical Hydroponic Farm is a 40-foot-long shipping container that grows 80+ types of leafy greens, herbs, peppers, and micro greens from seed to harvest.

Unlike traditional farms, vertical hydroponic farms are protected from the external variables that traditional farmers face, such as drought, hail, pests, heat waves, freezes, flooding, and more.

They’re also insulated, secure and allow people to grow food year-round in places with minimal arable land, unpredictable weather or short growing seasons.

The portable, water-efficient farms enable people to grow sustainably near the consumer, which improves critical access to nutritious food.

This format nearly eliminates supply chain issues and reduces food miles, thereby lowering the carbon footprint associated with transporting harvested goods from point A to point B.

Growing near the consumer also means the nutritional value of the vegetables remains intact, and also results in less food loss because they retain their entire shelf life.

Community Integration

Learn More