By Pink Diva
This article is for my dad. He loves this attraction and made sure we went on it every time we went to Epcot. He helped teach us gardening and how growing your own food is not only practical, but fun. So, for him, I’m sharing this little attraction gem.
Seedlings
Living with the Land is a boat-ride attraction (think Willy Wonka style) that takes you through the history of farming and what farming could be in the future. The ride is for all ages and heights, but guests must transfer. Various language headphones are available. You can use a FastPass for Living with the Land, but I wouldn’t recommend it. There are several boats that hold a large number of people. The attraction is situated in the back right corner of The Land Pavillion. Soarin’ and Sunshine Dinner are also located on the main floor and The Garden Grill is upstairs.
Hanging fruit
Once you load up for your 14-minute ride you learn where farming started in the United States. It shows the success and failures that we have endured. While educational, this part is not very exciting. The exciting part comes next.
The boat travels through four greenhouses and a fish farm. However, these are not your everyday greenhouses. These are Disney greenhouses. They are forward-thinking and thought-provoking. The scientists of the land are using many different growing methods that could change the way we look at farming. How you may ask? Floating through the greenhouse you will notice something is missing. Most of the crops are grown with minimal impact on the planet, meaning there is minimal soil in the greenhouses. You will see crops grown in water, on poles, rotating planters and on rope.
Hydroponics
The Temperate Greenhouse showcases sustainability farming. Innovative ways to grow crops, decrease pests and sustain the planet. The Production greenhouses is where the bulk of the crops are located. The sheer amount of crops is staggering. The Creative Greenhouse is where the scientist experiment with different ways to grow crops. Lastly, there is the fish farm that houses several varieties of fish and American alligators.
Greenhouse plant
Fish Farm
All of the plants, trees and flowers are real in the greenhouses. Please respect the crops and the signs and do not reach out of the boat to touch anything. These crops are used not only in the restaurants in the Land Pavillion, but all over Epcot.
Notice the soil?
If seeing all the innovative ways to farm has you wanting more there is a Behind the Seeds Tour. The one-hour walking tour goes in-depth of the greenhouses and fish farm. If you are lucky, you can see the fish being fed or release ladybugs into one of the greenhouses. There is a small fee, $20 for adults and $16 for children.
“To all who come to this place of joy, hope of enterprise and concepts of a future that promises new and exciting benefits for all. May EPCOT Center entertain, inform and inspire and above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man’s ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere in the world.”
Biotechnology Lab
Next time you are eating at Epcot, think about where your food could have been grown. Take some of the gardening ideas and concepts home. Try them out in your own backyard and see if you can also produce Mickey shaped pumpkins.
Of course, there would be a Mickey plant
