Hydroponic container farms are like high-tech plant condos, giving agriculture a modern makeover. Forget soil – these farms grow crops using a special nutrient-rich water mix that’s pumped directly to the roots. Picture a shipping container filled with plants, and you’ve got the idea.

Shipping containers can be used in a variety of ways, including hydroponic farming. A number of companies are growing vegetables, herbs and other greens in a modified shipping container. They are outfitted with hydroponic systems that produce tremendous results while protecting the environment.

According to the National Park Service, a shipping container farm with hydroponic grow systems uses up to 10 times less water than a traditional farm with field crops. There are clear rewards to growing your own crops in a shipping container farm — and getting started is easier than you might think.