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

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

#121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

I think if you have $50,000 you probably aren't really worried about what you will be eating in 5 months.

Supply chain and employment aren't guaranteed. Dependents need be fed. For some of us, self-sufficiency is axiomatic and dropping $50k for a starter box might seem sensible.

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

#122
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Non-profit doesn't mean the company can't make a profit on what it sells or even pay employees a fair salary. It does mean that profits go back into the company, rather than having profits siphoned off by investors and shareholders. Non-profit is pro-reinvestment and therefore pro-scaleup.

> It does mean that profits go back into the company, rather than having profits siphoned off by investors and shareholders. Why is money going back into the company "good", but investors get the negative connotation of "siphoning" money? What is with the disdain for the people who own the company making money from it?

I didn't say it was good or bad. Siphoning of money is what happens with investment, that's why people invest -- so they can get some of the profit/growth back for themselves!

Like witty_username pointed out. With a non-profit there are no investors or shareholders. Not only that they will not want to, but investors are not allowed. It doesn't mean the company can't make profits, it just means no one will be taking profits from investment.

It's not good or bad, but it does mean that most of the profit goes back into the company, which is good for growth. It also means there aren't investors which are the primary source of growth for most startups. Non-profits that make profit have to do so directly though sales or donations. And profit made is mostly reinvested.

There was no good or bad judgement there, it is just a different model and some aspects of that model mean more growth and some mean less.

It also means the founders likely won't become billionaires (because the founders don't own a stake), but the company could still be worth billions -- in terms of how much money they have on hand or take in. That profit is supposed to be locked into the company for the purpose of performing the mission of the company. Which can include paying salaries to further the mission.

These are the reasons most "benefit companies" are non-profit. Trying to do good in the world so all donation (rather than investment) and profit goes toward the goal rather than investors and why I was surprised that this company is not.

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

#123

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…

where are you getting WWT containers for $2k? Last one I was involved in was about $8k for WWT + shipping and picking, which was about another $2k with some minimal site prep (pea gravel and railroad ties). Prices were slightly lower to buy them in Seattle instead of the closest port, but the lower purchase price was offset by the much larger shipping costs

I imagine theyre cheaper away from the coasts. Here in Memphis, TN you can get CWO for cheaper than that, including delivery https://westerncontainersales.com/shipping-container-prices/...

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

#124

> 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…

If your village received one of these it seems to me the smart thing to do would be to sell it immediately and use the cash to invest in cattle, tools, better huts, and things like that.

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

#125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think if you have $50,000 you probably aren't really worried about what you will be eating in 5 months.

Supply chain and employment aren't guaranteed. Dependents need be fed. For some of us, self-sufficiency is axiomatic and dropping $50k for a starter box might seem sensible.

So the trucks will reliably deliver the $50,000 of valuable agricultural equipment but not $5000 of pasta?

I understand the idea of becoming self sufficient. It's the idea of spending $50,000 to make it happen because it suddenly became urgent that I think is not very realistic.

(of course 10 man-years of pasta is not an exciting nutritional adventure. I'd argue it's far more pragmatic than hoping you figure out how to farm in 8 weeks...)

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

#126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think if you have $50,000 you probably aren't really worried about what you will be eating in 5 months.

Supply chain and employment aren't guaranteed. Dependents need be fed. For some of us, self-sufficiency is axiomatic and dropping $50k for a starter box might seem sensible.

A 50K box isn't going to make you self sufficient, especially without a supply chain for the farming supplies. If you want to be self sufficient, you're going to end up being a farmer first, and whatever else you are later.

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

#127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The kit is for 2 acres. Probably no brush hog, log splitter, hay equipment or tractor.

I have 2 acres, crops, fowl, livestock. No log splitter. I borrow the hay equipment. The tractor is practically a must. It's easy to own 2 acres. Making it useful requires equipment or many persons of manual labor. a 25-30 hp tractor is very reasonable.

Yeah, I've hand tilled a tiny patch of ground. It's a lot of work. I think my next step would have been begging one of the neighbors to come in with their hobby tractor though.

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

#128

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.

Or this one for $139: http://www.costco.com/AcuRite-Pro-5-in-1-Weather-Station-wit...

Actually, they do mention "sensors" - I wonder if that includes anything beyond the weather station?

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

#129
post #102
post #34

Does it pack a tractor in? Who's gonna till the soil? Very click-baity. I can pack in all the required farming equipment needed for a 2 acre land in under $20,000 in India (including a good tractor!). And I get to chose what I want. $50,000-$60,000 is a STEEP price tag to suggest to African farmers I assume! And then there would be a maintenance costs. These are just two of the field tested equipments that work (with…

Also farms usually have a store room attached to keep the equipment. It's also cool in there cause it's made in a traditional way - thatched roof, wood, mud, thick walls etc. So it makes for a nice resting place when it's hot. Why would anyone want to lose a piece of their farm land to keep a container and also pay for it!

One reason why you may want a container is because it is a movable structure. That means that you do not need a building permit. Acquiring a building permit requires at least a class 5 road. This is the case for New Hampshire. I don't know how representative it is though. Also this not uncommon when for larger lots, but I'm not really sure if there are differences from lots as small as 2 acres.

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

#130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

where are you getting WWT containers for $2k? Last one I was involved in was about $8k for WWT + shipping and picking, which was about another $2k with some minimal site prep (pea gravel and railroad ties). Prices were slightly lower to buy them in Seattle instead of the closest port, but the lower purchase price was offset by the much larger shipping costs

I imagine theyre cheaper away from the coasts. Here in Memphis, TN you can get CWO for cheaper than that, including delivery https://westerncontainersales.com/shipping-container-prices/...

Interesting. An 8x45 WWT is indeed ~$2k on that site, and CWO is only marginally more. Thanks. Guess I should have looked for prices in SLC - $6k would pay for a lot of shipping
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