Our First Test Crops Have Been Harvested!

We harvested our first test crops this week and looks like the hydroponic system works really well. We planted lettuce and basil to see how well they would grow. There was very little phototropism, which means the plants are receiving ample light. This was a huge concern of ours because we had a couple of experts doubt that it would work because they didn't think the plants would receive enough light. That is one major hurdle out of the way. The roots look great to, there was absolutely no root rot. The plants grew fast as well, we think this is because of the high aeration the plants have because their roots are in the air. We learned a great deal as well. The burlap we used for the growing bags deteriorated way to fast so we are switching to a hdpe netting instead. We found out that the plants can be harvested and planted quicker than in the grown because they are so close to each other and the position to tend the crops is much more ergonomic. We also found hat the drippers are clogged way to easily so we are switching to 1/8" holes in the tubing. Stayed tuned because we are unveiling a revised design later this week!

Rainy days...spent this week inside the container painting because of the rain. Hopefully this will give the metal another protective barrier against the moisture. I'll be insulating the container with supertherm ceramic insulating paint over the next weekend. More exciting things to come...I promise (well, maybe in a week or two).

Its official! The prototype site for the Farmery will be located in Clayton, NC, a small town located 20 minutes southeast of Raleigh. We are partnering with Taylee Organics, who will provide land and equipment for the Farmery prototype. We feel very fortunate to have such a great opportunity.

We are on our way to becoming a new provider of fresh locally grown produce for Raleigh. Our first container was delivered today to the prototype site! In three months we will be producing oyster mushrooms and hydroponic crops from this container. We will keep you updated a this container is developed into our first growing unit.

Here's our plan so far for constructing the prototype of the Farmery. If anyone could help us find a 1/4 of an acre, it would be very much appeciated!

September 2009- December 2009: Construction of the 1st container and the steam container

January 2010- March 2010: Construction of the 2nd container and the inoculation container

April 2010-June 2010: Construction of the 3rd container

July 2010- September 2010: Construction of the 4th container

September 2010: Containers moved offsite into the configuration shown on the website, www.thefarmery.com.

Does anyone have a Spare 1/4 acre lying around?

We could use it! We are needing to sign a 1 year lease for a 1/4 acre of flat land with access to water and electricity. The 4 growing units will be constructed one by one over a period of one year, at the end of the year the growing units will be moved offsite and into the Farmery configuration. The growing units are temporary and will cause minimal disturbance to the land and neither footings or a foundation will be poured under the growing units. Because the units are built from shipping containers and will be moved in a year, they will be categoried as a mobile temporary storage structure, thereby not requiring buildings permits.

The Farmery utilizes shipping container construction because of the low cost, modular construction of the containers. This type of construction allows the Farmery to be manufactured offsite and then put togethor onsite rapidly.