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Startup Puts Everything You Need for a Two-Acre Farm in a Shipping Container

smithsonianmag.com

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Re: Startup Puts Everything You Need for a Two-Acre Farm in a Shipping Container

#51

Post by shanemhansen »

mi100hael wrote: post #8

> All of those things affect the ultimate price of the box, and that’s why we have a range from about $50,000 to $60,000. If you were to a la carte all the different components that we put into this kit, it would end up costing you more than what we’re charging. I seriously doubt that. $50k for what appears to basically be 2 acres of irrigation equipment and a solar-powered raspberry pi is absurd. It also looks like…

> It also looks like they've so far deployed exactly 1 of these setups in the real world and haven't even really started producing units for sale. Right now this venture is a complete pipe dream and feels awfully out of touch.

So what you're saying is they posted it to the right forum? Not making fun of hacker news, but it is literally a forum for not-yet-validated startup ideas.

Re: Startup Puts Everything You Need for a Two-Acre Farm in a Shipping Container

#52

Post by jartelt »

atourgates wrote: post #42
jaclaz wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have troubles in computing the BOM (Bill Of Materials) of such a thing. 1) a container 2) a tin shed leaning on it on one side 3) a small plastic? nursery/seeding house on the other side 4) a 3 Kwh solar plant (including batteries, etc.) 5) a bunch of pumps (and I presume pipes) for drip irrigation 6) web connectivity 7) possibly a bunch of hand farming tools do not sum up to costs that justify the US$ 50,000/60,00…

I was trying to do the math here too. Here's what I came up with. 1) Shipping Container - ~$2,000 2) Tin Shed - Maybe another ~$1,000 3) Hoop Greenhouse - ~$400 [1] 4) 3Kwh Solar Plant with Batteries - ~$8,500 [2] 5) 2 Acre Drip Irrigation System - ~$3,000 [3] 6) WiFi Access - $1,000 (I have no idea what hardware/capabilities they're delivering here, but it seems like that's a safe number) 7) A Bunch of Hand Farming…

It's common to include a profit margin in pricing. Apple makes an iPhone for $600.

Re: Startup Puts Everything You Need for a Two-Acre Farm in a Shipping Container

#53

Post by chrissnell »

atourgates wrote: post #42
jaclaz wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have troubles in computing the BOM (Bill Of Materials) of such a thing. 1) a container 2) a tin shed leaning on it on one side 3) a small plastic? nursery/seeding house on the other side 4) a 3 Kwh solar plant (including batteries, etc.) 5) a bunch of pumps (and I presume pipes) for drip irrigation 6) web connectivity 7) possibly a bunch of hand farming tools do not sum up to costs that justify the US$ 50,000/60,00…

I was trying to do the math here too. Here's what I came up with. 1) Shipping Container - ~$2,000 2) Tin Shed - Maybe another ~$1,000 3) Hoop Greenhouse - ~$400 [1] 4) 3Kwh Solar Plant with Batteries - ~$8,500 [2] 5) 2 Acre Drip Irrigation System - ~$3,000 [3] 6) WiFi Access - $1,000 (I have no idea what hardware/capabilities they're delivering here, but it seems like that's a safe number) 7) A Bunch of Hand Farming…

I see a Davis Instruments weather station there, too. Another $600.

Re: Startup Puts Everything You Need for a Two-Acre Farm in a Shipping Container

#55

Post by pavel_lishin »

chrissnell wrote: post #41
jbob2000 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>We have a three-part training program that comes with the box. One: Covering sustainable farming, making sure everyone knows a little bit in terms of crop rotation, and composting, and intercropping. Two: Covering technology use and maintenance, making sure that the individuals know how to maintain and troubleshoot all of the components of the farm. Three: Farming as an enterprise, making sure that there is a market…

That's a lot of investment for someone getting their feet wet. I've been growing food for my family at home for the last four years and while I don't have two acres to farm, I can tell you that equipment has been the least of my problems. Learning to grow food has been a gradual process for me, learning what works for my soil and my climate. I can't imagine trying to start with a Conex full of equipment and two acres…

This seems like it's aimed at rural farmers in Africa and other developing nations who may have the know-how, but not the equipment or the means to get it. Presumably, the goal is for these things to be subsidized and then shipped out to establish self-sustaining farming.

In other words, it's probably not for when I get pissed off at my job and decide to move into my parents' house and work their two acres in Texas with no idea of what I'm doing.

Re: Startup Puts Everything You Need for a Two-Acre Farm in a Shipping Container

#56

Post by terda12 »

orasis wrote: post #18

I love the idea, but as a fairly well-off hobby farmer myself, there is no way I would spend that much on this product. I bought 1 mile of drip tape for $150 off of https://www.berryhilldrip.com Solar panels are a cheap commodity. There are charge controllers which will only turn on the DC if you're over a certain voltage for the pump. Again, I love the idea, but its way off on execution at this point.

Even if the parts were very optimized price/performance wise, would it still be a good idea? I would imagine that each place has a specific biome that is suitable for specific crops, each person has a different amount of acrerage, etc.

Re: Startup Puts Everything You Need for a Two-Acre Farm in a Shipping Container

#58

Post by NetMonkey »

mkaziz wrote: post #48
cylinder wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My scam senses were tingling before I got to the comments. Most likely this is a routine NGO/EDU/Gov scam backed by an aggressive and shiny sales approach.

What's an NGO/EDU/Gov scam?

It probably takes many different forms, but the ones I know about go something like this:

1) Government identifies some area that needs focus, usually so they can say they're doing something.

2) A fund is created with whatever the government thinks is enough to sound like they're doing something.

3) Request for proposals on how to spend the money within said area is sent out.

4) Interested parties figure out how to get their hands on the money in the fund.

Examples of who will apply:

a) Existing companies who try to spin something they already have into something that can give them free money for whatever they were already doing.

b) Scammers who have no intention of doing anything of value and simply try to do the minimum to say they tried (like some Kickstarter scams).

In best cases the winners are picked based on superficial evaluation of who lives up the criteria and who can bullshit most on paperwork. In worst case winners are picked based on who can provide the best kickbacks, ranging from just professional relations or dinners to actual kickbacks.

Re: Startup Puts Everything You Need for a Two-Acre Farm in a Shipping Container

#59

Post by usrusr »

daveguy wrote: post #7

It seems odd to me that this is a for-profit company.

Well, someone has to profit from the non-profits, right? The "team" page looks very unlike what you would expect from a company that tries to sell to actual end users. Altruism-as-a-service? My impression is that their plan is to sell shippable pumps not to those who will use them but to whoever wants to ship them. First season Claire Underwood would be their perfect customer (and would hold a massive stake).

Or not sell at all: if you draw a line between for-profit and for-investment, they might not even be the former.

Re: Startup Puts Everything You Need for a Two-Acre Farm in a Shipping Container

#60

Post by ascorbic »

jartelt wrote: post #52
atourgates wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was trying to do the math here too. Here's what I came up with. 1) Shipping Container - ~$2,000 2) Tin Shed - Maybe another ~$1,000 3) Hoop Greenhouse - ~$400 [1] 4) 3Kwh Solar Plant with Batteries - ~$8,500 [2] 5) 2 Acre Drip Irrigation System - ~$3,000 [3] 6) WiFi Access - $1,000 (I have no idea what hardware/capabilities they're delivering here, but it seems like that's a safe number) 7) A Bunch of Hand Farming…

It's common to include a profit margin in pricing. Apple makes an iPhone for $600.

They're claiming this saves money over buying the parts separately.
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