The greenhouse has been in McMurdo since the late 1980's. All plants are started from seeds and they use a lot of recycled materials to grow the plants. PVC pipe is used to make a holder for each tiny plant. These plugs are placed in holders that reach down to a trough underneath. The trough is on an angle and water is circulated up and down these troughs to give the plants water.
Nutrients are mixed with the water.
The water is pumped up and gravity brings it back down again. This method of growing plants is called the NFT-nutrient film technique. He'll be here for five months total. Later today I was invited to a reception at a place called Hut 10. This little gathering was to meet two of the board members of the National Science Foundation.