Hydroponics, Giving & Growing Peace with Steven Hoffen

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with New York teen Steven Hoffen, founder of Growing Peace Inc. The organization installs hydroponic systems in communities in need, so that they can grow their own fresh produce.    “Growing Peace is really about trying to give back to the world, to my community, and trying to help it out and make the world a better place,” he says. “Whatever little I can do is going to be helpful.”   Hydroponics produces food efficiently and sustainably; plants receive nutrients through nutrient rich water, rather than through soil. It uses 80 to 90 percent less water, uses up less space and doesn't use pesticides or chemicals.   The wheels were set in motion in the summer of 2019. On a trip to Israel, Hoffen visited a non-profit organization, called Sindyanna of Galilee, where Arab and Jewish women work together to try to create peace within their communities through engaging activities. The following summer, Hoffen learned about Sindyanna’s hydroponics project and created a film, called “Growing Peace in the Middle East.” This led to him creating Growing Peace Inc.   “Learning about the way that Sindyanna was using hydroponics and growing produce to help people [is] what inspired me to think I could potentially do the same in my own community,” he says.    Hoffen has since installed seven hydroponic systems: one at a food pantry in Tel Aviv and the rest in the New York City area, including systems at Hope House in the Bronx, Edgecombe Residential Treatment Facility, and Queensboro Correctional Facility. Each tower yields a bounty of five to ten pounds of nutritious, organic produce every month. Hoffen volunteers each week at one or two of these communities.    “I do love getting on the ground and helping out to maintain the hydroponic systems, because getting that hands-on experience is what's really fun to me,” he says.   Hoffen shares what led to the launch of Growing Peace, his interest in sustainability, agriculture and food insecurity, and plans for the future. He also talks about his favorite Jewish foods, tips for giving or starting a philanthropy, and more.    “If you're not interested in pursuing something that's super large … try and help out other people who do have their own initiatives,” he says. “Or you can just do something more local, donate to your food pantry, give to charity, tzedakah, that sort of thing.”   He adds, “Whatever you can do and whatever you're capable of, if it seems like it's the right thing to do, it probably is.”   Learn more at GrowingPeaceInc.org and JewishJournal.com/podcasts. For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.