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The Full Story

About

NoTerra Farms was created with a simple belief: Las Vegas deserves fresh, sustainable, locally grown produce year-round. Built on advanced hydroponic and aquaculture systems, we combine cutting-edge technology with responsible farming to deliver cleaner, higher-quality food to our community. What began as a vision to grow smarter in the desert has evolved into a modern farming model rooted in efficiency, stewardship, and innovation.

No Terra = No Soil. Perfect. 

Lettuce

And then there was light

As longtime residents of the great city of Las Vegas with deep roots in the food-service industry, our founders became increasingly frustrated by the quality of “fresh” produce available locally. Whether bought at a grocery store or sourced wholesale, the produce was almost always at the very end of its lifecycle—wilting, flavorless, and often unusable within a day or two.

What made it worse were the higher prices compared to other parts of the country. It became clear that the supply chain was to blame. By the time harvested produce finally reached Las Vegas shelves, more than a week had passed—driving up costs, accelerating waste, and leaving consumers with minimal shelf life.

This realization sparked a mission: to grow high-quality, nutrient-rich produce right here in the desert, using innovative methods that require little water and, quite literally, no terra.

NoTerra Farms was born from that pursuit—local, sustainable, and engineered for freshness.

Hydroponic

Since we wanted to offer a broad variety of products—leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and chili peppers—we chose an unorthodox approach: utilizing two complementary hydroponic systems.
Our Deep Water Culture (DWC) setup is ideal for larger, fruiting plants that need strong root support and consistent hydration, while our Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) system is designed for fast-growing greens and herbs that thrive in a continuous flow of nutrient-rich water.

By combining DWC and NFT, we’re able to maximize efficiency, maintain exceptional quality, and deliver a diverse selection of fresh, locally grown produce year-round.

Fish on Ice

Aquaponics

Since we wanted to offer a broad variety of products—leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and chili peppers—we chose an unorthodox approach: utilizing two complementary hydroponic systems.

Our Deep Water Culture (DWC) setup is ideal for larger, fruiting plants that need strong root support and consistent hydration, while our Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) system is designed for fast-growing greens and herbs that thrive in a continuous flow of nutrient-rich water.

By combining DWC and NFT, we’re able to maximize efficiency, maintain exceptional quality, and deliver a diverse selection of fresh, locally grown produce year-round.

The Ecosystem of Hydroponics + Aquaponics

 

Hydroponics and aquaponics share the same foundation—plants growing without soil—but they function differently and, when combined, create a powerful, self-supporting ecosystem.

Hydroponics uses a precisely blended nutrient solution to feed plants directly through water. This allows for controlled nutrition, rapid growth, and extremely efficient water use.

Aquaponics, on the other hand, introduces fish into the system. The fish produce natural waste, which beneficial bacteria convert into nutrients that plants can absorb. In return, the plants clean and filter the water before it circulates back to the fish.

When hydroponics and aquaponics operate side-by-side, they create a balanced, closed-loop cycle:

  1. Fish create natural nutrients.

  2. Bacteria convert waste into plant-ready food.

  3. Plants absorb those nutrients, growing cleaner and faster.

  4. The water is purified and returned to the fish.

This integrated approach dramatically reduces water consumption, cuts fertilizer costs, minimizes waste, and produces healthier, more nutrient-dense crops. It’s a sustainable, desert-friendly model—and the foundation of NoTerra Farms’ commitment to growing smarter in Las Vegas.

Fish and Herbs Knolling
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