Marc Walraven is an urban farming innovator and the founder of UrbanRooted Innovations, based in Fort Worth, Texas. After working in mechanical engineering, designing cooling systems for data centres, Marc decided to walk away from corporate life in 2017. He wanted to do something more meaningful—something that helped everyday people, not just large companies.
Using his engineering skills and a lot of trial and error, he began building vertical aeroponic systems in his backyard. These systems use no soil and very little water. Instead, they grow plants with nutrient-rich mist in stacked towers powered by solar energy. He called the design “SkyGrow.”
Marc’s mission was simple: make it easier for people in cities and underserved neighbourhoods to grow their own food. His systems are now used in schools, community centres, and local businesses across Fort Worth. He teaches free workshops and helps veterans, students, and families build their own towers.
What sets Marc Walraven apart is his belief in keeping things simple. He avoids complicated tech and expensive tools. His goal is to create farming systems that are easy to build, fix, and use—without needing apps or Wi-Fi.
Marc is not in this for fame or scale. He’s a quiet leader, focused on practical solutions and community empowerment. His work addresses local problems, like food deserts, with tools that are rooted in real-world needs. He believes that growing food should be something anyone can do—and he’s building the systems to make that possible.
Q&A with Marc Walraven: Growing Food, Building Trust, and Keeping it Simple
Marc, how did your journey into vertical farming begin?
Honestly, it started with frustration. I was working in mechanical engineering, designing cooling systems for big data centres. It paid well, but it felt like I was solving problems for companies that already had everything. Around 2017, I decided I wanted to work on something that mattered closer to home. I was looking around my neighbourhood in Fort Worth and realised there were areas where people had no access to fresh food—just fast food and petrol station snacks.
And that led to farming?
Yes, but not in the traditional sense. I didn’t have land or farming experience. What I had was a toolbox, some free time, and a problem I wanted to solve. I started researching aeroponics, which is a way to grow plants in the air using nutrient-rich mist. It uses very little water and doesn’t need soil. I began building prototypes with buckets and PVC in my backyard. I killed a lot of lettuce in those first few months.
When did it shift from a hobby to a business?
It was never meant to be a business, really. Friends started asking if I could build systems for their homes or schools. One teacher asked me to help set something up for her classroom garden. That’s when I realised this could actually help people on a wider scale. I formed UrbanRooted Innovations to keep things organised and started working with more schools and community groups.
Tell us more about your SkyGrow system.
SkyGrow is a vertical aeroponic system powered by solar energy. It’s designed to be low-tech, affordable, and easy to maintain. You don’t need Wi-Fi, you don’t need a subscription, and you don’t need to call tech support if something breaks. I built it for people who just want to grow food without dealing with apps and overcomplicated gear. The whole thing runs on a timer, and if something goes wrong, a screwdriver usually solves it.
You’ve spoken before about working with underserved communities—why is that important to you?
Because I grew up around people who didn’t always have access to fresh food. I know what it’s like to eat cheap because it’s the only option. A lot of food deserts are overlooked. People talk about nutrition, but they don’t talk about access. I wanted to build something that makes it easier for people to grow their own food, no matter where they live. That’s why I teach free workshops and work with veterans, teens, and local schools.
Has your background in engineering helped you?
Definitely. Engineering taught me how to solve problems systematically. But it also taught me that simplicity is harder than it looks. It’s easy to throw technology at a problem. It’s harder to strip it down to what actually works for the end user. I design every system with that in mind—if it can’t be fixed by someone with basic tools, it’s not ready.
What’s one example of your work that stands out?
There was a middle school that didn’t have space for a garden. I helped them install six towers behind their cafeteria. Within a month, students were harvesting their own greens. For some of those kids, it was the first time they’d ever tasted fresh basil. That project turned into a science lesson, a food lesson, and something they were genuinely proud of. That’s what sticks with me.
What’s next for you and UrbanRooted Innovations?
I don’t want to scale up in the way most people mean. I want to deepen the impact. Make the systems cheaper, more accessible, and easier to replicate. Maybe work with more schools. But I don’t want to lose that hands-on connection with the people using the systems. That’s what keeps the work meaningful.
Any advice for someone starting out in this space?
Start small. Build something that solves a real problem. Don’t wait for perfect. Learn by doing, and don’t be afraid to mess it up the first time. That’s how you grow—literally and figuratively.
