A greenhouse where rows of leafy lettuce are organized in neat white troughs is where Kevin McDonald of Channahon grows his business.

His company, Rainbow Harvest, is the producer of hydroponically grown lettuce that he sells at local farmer’s markets and wholesales to Chicagoland produce markets and restaurants.

“It’s been good, a lot different than building houses, a little more enjoyable and a lot less stressful,” he said enthusiastically as he worked his produce stand at the Art in the Park festival in Channahon a few weeks ago.

Yesterday, he shipped 1200 heads of his lettuce to a large produce wholesaler in Chicago. Today, along with young daughter, Alette, he meets with high school kids who work for him outside the greenhouse, and she, outside, minds her flock of chickens.

A relative newcomer to the agricultural business, the languishing housing market forced McDonald to look for other career options about three years ago.  A friend invited McDonald to check out the hydroponically grown food he was producing. 

The hydroponic method uses no soil for growing.  The plants’ roots are developed in treated water that carries the nutrients and fertilizer directly to the plant.  The leaves are all that is showing from the channel, like a gutter, where it is seated. 

Greenhouse fans and nets keep insects or any insect-born disease away from the crop.

McDonald’s business has grown in other ways too.  By exchanging with other agricultural producers, such as fruit for lettuce, or cantaloupes for lettuce, he’s able to offers his customers fruit, chicken and beef.   

So in effect, he offers an array of agricultural produce grown by small scale producers to local customers.

“Everybody is looking for locally grown these days” he said.

Growing the food, using mechanized systems takes another set of skills.

“It takes a lot of chemistry, electrical and a lot of plumbing knowledge,” said McDonald, as he walked through the 40 X120 foot greenhouse.  

The sun’s glare cast shadowless brightness through the double pane plastic wall of the greenhouse onto rows of lettuce. McDonald markets as many as 13 varieties.  He pointed out the red-green rhazes lettuce which he said is a very popular variety.

”It’s sweet,” he added. 

The greenhouse technology itself was purchased as a package from a business that builds the systems for hydroponic growers.  McDonald showed how the water treatment, heating, and cooling systems are all electronically controlled. 

Luckily, McDonald’s extended family had been involved in agriculture for years. The property where the greenhouse is was at one time his grandfather’s and great uncle’s land.  

In addition to what he knows about agriculture, McDonald also worked for many years in the financial end of the restaurant business, so he understands some of the needs and demands for how food is marketed to the public.

Some aspects of the operation are in trial.  A recent power outage set back the growth of some new lettuce seedlings because they got too warm.  Last year’s field crop of corn was largely eaten by wild animals.  But McDonald is adamant about learning from mistakes and moving forward.

“I’m trying to establish a good name and a good product.” 

He can be contacted at Kevin@rainbowcrop.com.