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

Post by maxerickson » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 6:25 PM UTC

ctdonath wrote: post #69

chrissnell wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Not everyone has the luxury or desire for a "gradual process", but may have at least a sensible starting fund and the motivation to make it work. Sometimes the window of opportunity is small, and diving in fast is important (say, realize you have to grow your own food and spring is progressing - if you don't plant ASAP you're not getting to harvest). I've long considered a similar "in a [shipping container] box" for…

Post by cobbzilla » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 6:27 PM UTC

Post by jaclaz » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 6:28 PM UTC

extrapickles wrote: post #80

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…

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 c…

Post by maxerickson » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 6:30 PM UTC

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 -…

Post by smacktoward » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 6:32 PM UTC

eddieroger wrote: post #46

dghughes wrote: post #15

>...and even individuals who want to start a farm. As a person who lives in a farming area this seems like putting a computer and a box of red bull in a box and labeling it "computer programmer kit". I'm not a farmer but things like crop rotation, regulations, WHIMIS (pesticides/herbicides), dangers such as the PTO on the tractor and other farm dangers all needed training. You see at least once per year some farm han…

That was my read on this, so thanks for confirming it. It seems like the most valuable part of this kit won't be in the box, and that's access to someone who knows the basics (and not so basics) of farming to guide the new box owners. I suppose there's the argument of "no one taught our ancestors to farm and they figured it out," but then how effective is this kit at all if you're winging it?