Marando Farms is dedicated to saving Florida’s farms and ranch land, promoting healthy farming practices and supporting farms and farmers. As the vital link among farmers, conservationists and policy-makers, we’re focused on ensuring the availability of fresh food, a healthy environment and strong local economies across the state. The year ahead promises exciting new directions and opportunities for Marando Farms. As we move forward the organization will continue to lead the way in creating new opportunities for farmers and ranchers to help combat climate change, grow healthy local foods, produce renewable energy and continue to keep our air and waterways clean. 

Hydroponics (From the Greek words hydro, water and ponos, labor) is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, mineral wool, or coconut husk. This is one of the ways Marando farms grows vegetables on our farm.
Researchers discovered in the 19th century that plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plant's water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive. Almost any terrestrial plant will grow with hydroponics. Hydroponics is also a standard technique in biology research and teaching.

Waste Vegetable Oil -(WVO)
Vegetable oil is an alternative fuel for diesel engines and for heating oil burners. For engines designed to burn diesel fuel, the viscosity of vegetable oil must be lowered to allow for proper atomization of the fuel, otherwise incomplete combustion and carbon build up will ultimately damage the engine. Many enthusiasts refer to vegetable oil used as fuel as waste vegetable oil (WVO) if it is oil that was discarded from a restaurant or straight vegetable oil (SVO) or pure plant oil (PPO) to distinguish it from biodiesel.

As of 2000, the United States was producing in excess of 11 billion liters (2.9 billion U.S. gallons) of waste vegetable oil annually, mainly from industrial deep fryers in potato processing plants, snack food factories and fast food restaurants. If all those 11 billion liters could be collected and used to replace the energetically equivalent amount of petroleum (an ideal case), almost 1% of US oil consumption could be offset.Use of waste vegetable oil as a fuel competes with some other uses of the commodity, which has effects on its price as a fuel and increases its cost as an input to the other uses as well.

 Pure plant oil (Straight vegetable oil)
Pure plant oil (PPO) (or Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO)), in contrast to waste vegetable oil, is not a byproduct of other industries, and thus its prospects for use as fuel are not limited by the capacities of other industries. Production of vegetable oils for use as fuels is theoretically limited only by the agricultural capacity of a given economy. However, doing so detracts from the supply of other uses of pure vegetable oil.
Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl (methyl, propyl or ethyl) esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids (e.g., vegetable oil, animal fat (tallow)) with an alcohol.
Biodiesel is meant to be used in standard diesel engines and is thus distinct from the vegetable and waste oils used to fuel converted diesel engines. Biodiesel can be used alone, or blended with petrodiesel. Biodiesel can also be used as a low carbon alternative to heating oil.

 

Legal implications

Taxation of fuel

Taxation on SVO/PPO as a road fuel varies from country to country, and it is possible the revenue departments in many countries are even unaware of its use, or feel it insufficiently significant to legislate. Germany used to have 0% taxation, resulting in it being a leader in most developments of the fuel use. However SVO/PPO as a road fuel began to be taxed at 0,09 €/liter from 1 January 2008 in Germany, with incremental rises up to 0,45 €/liter by 2012. However, in Australia it has become illegal to produce any fuel if it is to be sold unless a license to do so is granted by the Federal Government. This is a chargeable offense with a fine of up to 20,000 dollars but this bracket may alter circumstantially. Also a jail term may result if offenders are aware of the illegality of selling the fuel.

USA

The legality of burning SVO in the United States of America is debated by many. Though vehicle conversions are available both as do it yourself kits or professionally installed in virtually every metropolitan area, the EPA clearly states vegetable oil (raw or recycled) is not registered for use as a vehicle fuel. Further, vehicles converted to use vegetable oil as fuel would "likely need to be certified by the EPA," and no such certifications have been done to date.
There seems to be no clear federal taxation system in the USA. Production of biodiesel in some US regions may require motor fuel taxes to be paid.

Aquaponics is a system of agriculture involving the simultaneous cultivation of plants and aquatic animals such as fish in a symbiotic environment. In a traditional aquaculture, animal effluents accumulate in the water, increasing toxicity for the fish. This water is then led to a hydroponic system where the by-products from the aquaculture are filtered out by the plants as vital nutrients, after which the clean water is recirculated back to the animals. The term aquaponics is a portmanteau of the terms aquaculture and hydroponic.
Aquaponic systems vary in size from small indoor or outdoor units to large commercial units. The systems usually contain fresh water, but salt water systems are plausible depending on the type of aquatic animal and vegetation.

 



Chelsea and Fred Marando. Chelsea and Fred opened Marando Farms with a dream to do what they love and to become a staple of the Fort Lauderdale community. When you buy food locally you reduce energy consumption. Local food doesn't have to travel far! Not only do we help reduce pollutants, but you get a higher quality of food!


     

As we begin our third planting season, we are excited to add these special features and programs:

Community Garden: We've installed 16 raised bed garden plots (10 x 10 and 5 x 10) to begin the Eat Real Food Community Garden. This pilot project will enable area families and businesses to grow fresh organic produce for either their own use, or for donation to community food banks and other non-profit organizations in need. It's a great way to get children involved in agriculture and healthy eating. Watch for more news on this exciting new venture.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): Our first CSA is up and running. In addition to receiving fresh baskets of local produce, our members enjoy tours of the farms growing this food, honey shares, fresh eggs, and other benefits.

Field Trip Tours: Marando Farms is passionate about sharing our knowledge and facilities with others. Various ands-on, interactive programs are available for pre-schoolers though adults. Schools, scout troops and other groups welcome. For more information click here.

Farm animal section: All of our animals were previously abandoned.
We rescue and work closely with the Wildlife Care Center to provide them with a clean, healthy environment. Newly constructed is a special fenced-in area where our goats, pigs, geese, ducks, etc. live safely and can be enjoyed by others.