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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

#71

Post by kelvin0 »

There really are different 'cliques' on HN, depending on which subject is posted. And this one seems to be the 'not so positive' clique.

If framework is bench marked, or if people create a great CSS suite and animations, you get (mostly) constructive criticism.

A company is actually doing something about bigger issues which could positively affect the lives of many people in a sustainable way ... and we get this.

I'm not saying to turn off our skepticism and critical thinking, but at least recognize the effort and the potential of such an idea. It might introduce people who never though of farming to a whole new way of life.

It's not VR, or a new JS framework, but it has a lot of potential.(BTW I am a developer, and am not affiliated in any way with them).

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

#72

Post by tjic »

sqeaky wrote: post #70
ctdonath wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a lot more like putting an iPad and MacBook pre-loaded with Xcode, git, other handy software, iTunes U courses, and a list of primary research & resource URLs with step-by-step directions for signing up to free & prepaid services. While such "in-a-box" products are obviously limited & biased, they are a tremendously useful starting point for people who want to begin an endeavor but don't know where to start, don…

$50,000 is pretty expensive for "a start". That is the price of a decent farmhand in the Midwest (for a year, maybe two if you don't like him so much) and probably a huge plot of land and a few employees in poor countries.

I probably spent $50k in my first two years on my farm.

* 30 HP tractor - $14k

* brushhog, back blade, cone spreader, log splitter - $3k

* 1,000 ft^2 greenhouse - $5k

* water to greenhouse - $5k

* haying equipment (baler, tedder, disk mower, rake) - $5.5k

* buckets, pails, tubs, lights, etc for livestock - $1k

* hoses, hand tools, etc. - $1k

* drip irrigation, raised beds, soil tests, etc. - $1k

* fencing materials - $5k

I could keep going down the list, but even just barely starting, I'm sure that the $50k number is correct.

Obviously, this package doesn't include haying equipment or chicken egg incubators or chicken feather removal machine, but I can easily imagine how you could spend $50k.

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

#73

Post by jaclaz »

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…

>That still only puts us at $28,000, so either there's something I'm totally missing here, or this is total BS.

Excellent, I roughly computed 26,000 US$ (actually 25,000 Euros), I was lower on the connectivity and on the solar plant and missed the water tank, but I will gladly accept a 10% increase, let's call it rounding.

Still we are around 100% margin, which should mean that the "manual" and "lessons" must be overpriced.

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

#74

Post by tjic »

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…

As I've said in other threads re high-tech farming ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13063841 ), most of these websites and startups and schemes are completely inane.

I'd bet that this one is in that category too.

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

#75

Post by extrapickles »

NetMonkey wrote: post #58
mkaziz wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 g…

There is also the well meaning scam where they try to do something good, but have very little ability to actually execute and/or are trying to solve a problem without running the numbers (eg: gravity lights). They can end up going full scam when they refuse to pivot to techniques that would work better when the numbers come in and say their idea doesn't work.

These guys don't seem to qualify for this and fall into standard NGO scam, as the wifi/computers/etc in a farm that is destined for the 3rd world just seems to be there to generate buzz and justify their outrageous price tag. It seems like another box of stuff that will break in a year that gets dumped on the third world.

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

#76

Post by yardie »

koolba wrote: post #47
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.

> Most likely this is a routine NGO/EDU/Gov scam backed by an aggressive and shiny sales approach. And this is why I don't like those Gov (capital G intentional) programs. The scamsters are the best at exploiting them. That's how you end up with things like this: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/free-golf-cart-but-call-it-a-low...

This reminds of the massive deductions the govt have for commercial trucks. They weren't very specific about what the usage was so everyone bought an expensive H2 Hummer and slapped a business sticker on the back gate. Usually realtors, appraisers, or some mobile DJs.

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

#77

Post by [deleted] »

NetMonkey wrote: post #58
mkaziz wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 g…

[deleted]

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

#78

Post by ctdonath »

tjic wrote: post #72
sqeaky wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

$50,000 is pretty expensive for "a start". That is the price of a decent farmhand in the Midwest (for a year, maybe two if you don't like him so much) and probably a huge plot of land and a few employees in poor countries.

I probably spent $50k in my first two years on my farm. * 30 HP tractor - $14k * brushhog, back blade, cone spreader, log splitter - $3k * 1,000 ft^2 greenhouse - $5k * water to greenhouse - $5k * haying equipment (baler, tedder, disk mower, rake) - $5.5k * buckets, pails, tubs, lights, etc for livestock - $1k * hoses, hand tools, etc. - $1k * drip irrigation, raised beds, soil tests, etc. - $1k * fencing materials -…

(You're hard to find. Contact this old fan if you're inclined.)

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

#79

Post by appleiigs »

chrissnell wrote: post #53
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…

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

I have 4 acres. The last thing I need to grow vegetables is a weather station, wifi and a storage container. For $50K I'd want a backhoe/tractor - that would allow me to do some real work.

Also, where'd would I get the water for that water tank?

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

#80

Post by extrapickles »

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…

Don't forget the refrigeration system, which can easily cost $10-20k if they are getting a walk in one like the ones used by restaurants.

And they are doing this in San Francisco, which would greatly up the costs of everything vs doing it pretty much anywhere else. If they aren't careful with shipping everything to them that can easily eat $5k or more (a shipping container can cost more to move than the cost of the container itself).

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