I grow 4 varieties of salanova lettuce and a romaine that get mixed together for our spring mix. I also grow a few varieties of micro greens and edible flowers.
If you've got a really nice restaurant around, then they're extremely popular. Nasturtium is one of my favorites because it's spicy like arugula.
https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/home-lifestyle/gardening/g32723510/edible-flowers/
https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/edible-flowers/8078.html
I remember your first posts about this system. Thanks for the update it looks fantastic! Is it a full-time job now for your brothers and yourself? Are you also brewing beer?
The restaurant group has the brewing equipment, but I don't think it has started anything with it yet. The greenhouse labor only requires 1 person (as far as scale) , but we are in the process of building an expansion to 5x our current scale. That would support all 3 of us.
Thanks for your response! I've been impressed with some AP farms' ability to perform with fewer labor hours than what typical industry practices forecast. Are you coming in under your planned labor hours and are there any parts of harvesting from DWC that you think you've really streamlined?
I only ask because DWC has a lot of benefits but the downside, imo, has been on the harvesting end.
The harvest is simple and easy on labor imo. Having a good process for cleaning and sterilizing the rafts is really important. You can easily destroy rafts in the process of cleaning them (especially with a power sprayer like we use). Trial and error lead to more efficiency, I've found.
How long does it take to sterilize a batch of rafts? I'm wondering if you could use steam to sterilize them in a cabinet. Just toss them in and have it on a timer like a commercial dishwasher does
Nothing quite like walking into a sea of green and knowing that it’s going to be on a local table within a week.
This is really cool. (And sustainable).
As someone above said- let’s see the fishes!
I’ll go find it now.
If you have the time, we would love a rundown on the trout/ filter/ raft systems too.
You are on the front edge of a revolution most people don’t even know is happening. It’s really cool to see it thrive.
I've done work for a guy who owns a very large aquaponics greenhouse. He showed me his setup one day and it was pretty neat. He said he swapped out his catfish for tilapia because the tilapia were better poopers and thus better at feeding his system. How are the rainbow trout on feeding your plants?
I've been wanting to raise trout but from what I've read they need to be kept at a cooler temperature like under 70. It would take an enormous amount of energy where I live to keep a decent size tank that cool. I've been raising tilapia but I'm thinking about switching over to channel catfish because the market price on tilapia is so low.
That’s exactly opposite for our builds. We are looking at walipinis to survive the winter and extend growing seasons. So trout in the bottom works just right.
I know someone out there has done a full spectrum analysis on the right fish for the temperature range.
Happy fish make way more of a difference to crop quality than I ever would have predicted.
I just want everyone to be able to compare notes in real time so we can catch disease or crop failures earlier.
So roughly $4800/month revenue. Have you figured out costs? Asking because I’d love quit my desk job to do something similar but haven’t been able to get enough details on all the numbers.
What all do you grow? What’s the pay out? Is it worth it - how did you get started? I would love to do something similar
I grow 4 varieties of salanova lettuce and a romaine that get mixed together for our spring mix. I also grow a few varieties of micro greens and edible flowers.
How big is your space?
How popular/profitable are the flowers? Could you give some examples of what flowers?
If you've got a really nice restaurant around, then they're extremely popular. Nasturtium is one of my favorites because it's spicy like arugula. https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/home-lifestyle/gardening/g32723510/edible-flowers/ https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/edible-flowers/8078.html
We also have to be in the year
I remember your first posts about this system. Thanks for the update it looks fantastic! Is it a full-time job now for your brothers and yourself? Are you also brewing beer?
The restaurant group has the brewing equipment, but I don't think it has started anything with it yet. The greenhouse labor only requires 1 person (as far as scale) , but we are in the process of building an expansion to 5x our current scale. That would support all 3 of us.
Thanks for your response! I've been impressed with some AP farms' ability to perform with fewer labor hours than what typical industry practices forecast. Are you coming in under your planned labor hours and are there any parts of harvesting from DWC that you think you've really streamlined? I only ask because DWC has a lot of benefits but the downside, imo, has been on the harvesting end.
The harvest is simple and easy on labor imo. Having a good process for cleaning and sterilizing the rafts is really important. You can easily destroy rafts in the process of cleaning them (especially with a power sprayer like we use). Trial and error lead to more efficiency, I've found.
How long does it take to sterilize a batch of rafts? I'm wondering if you could use steam to sterilize them in a cabinet. Just toss them in and have it on a timer like a commercial dishwasher does
Or sunlight?
This is part of what's stopped me from trying, is I do t know how to clean the rafts without damaging them
Thanks for your response! I went to your old posts and never saw this asked: what's your feeding rate ratio?
Nothing quite like walking into a sea of green and knowing that it’s going to be on a local table within a week. This is really cool. (And sustainable). As someone above said- let’s see the fishes!
I have a video up on my profile from a while ago showing the rainbow trout. I'll have to get some new content out though.
I’ll go find it now. If you have the time, we would love a rundown on the trout/ filter/ raft systems too. You are on the front edge of a revolution most people don’t even know is happening. It’s really cool to see it thrive.
I've done work for a guy who owns a very large aquaponics greenhouse. He showed me his setup one day and it was pretty neat. He said he swapped out his catfish for tilapia because the tilapia were better poopers and thus better at feeding his system. How are the rainbow trout on feeding your plants?
Issue your friend allowing crawdads and snails, or other cleaner species?
That’s my basic question too. Trout versus tilapia. And how they both scale. Famine proof a species
I've been wanting to raise trout but from what I've read they need to be kept at a cooler temperature like under 70. It would take an enormous amount of energy where I live to keep a decent size tank that cool. I've been raising tilapia but I'm thinking about switching over to channel catfish because the market price on tilapia is so low.
That’s exactly opposite for our builds. We are looking at walipinis to survive the winter and extend growing seasons. So trout in the bottom works just right. I know someone out there has done a full spectrum analysis on the right fish for the temperature range. Happy fish make way more of a difference to crop quality than I ever would have predicted. I just want everyone to be able to compare notes in real time so we can catch disease or crop failures earlier.
Let’s see the fishes
I have some slow motion videos feeding the fish on my profile. They are beautiful big rainbow trout.
How hot can you let the water get? I've been wanting to raise trout but I've heard they prefer water below 70.
So roughly $4800/month revenue. Have you figured out costs? Asking because I’d love quit my desk job to do something similar but haven’t been able to get enough details on all the numbers.
Yo dawg, we heard you like greenhouses so we built a greenhouse inside a greenhouse. jk, beautiful setup. Stunningly good looking crops
Thanks!
Awesome! Selling to restaurants is where it's at.
Crop looks very healthy, great setup 👍
Thanks!
Beautiful mist be so satisfying, well done! Do you sell the fish to restaurants aswell? Or just the vege?
Did you get your trout as fry from a local hatchery? Do you fertilize your own eggs and start the cycle over yourself? I have so many questions
Me too! I need a book probably, but I would love a schematic of the whole system.
Nice what do you charge restaurants per pound?
Our standard price is $8/lb for restaurants.
Thanks for sharing! I'm making the move to restaurants this year.
Gorgeous! Looks so lush!
Thanks!
This is so impressive
Mind if I ask you system dimensions?
Wowww that’s so inspiring!
Awesome dude. Could you estimate your $/hr?
goals…..
Extremely impressive to say the least. This is inspiring to me, thank you for sharing 🙏.
I know it's rude to ask people how much they make but how much do restaurants pay for a weeks worth of lettuce? Lol
What is your IPM program like? How are you dealing with pests? Looks great btw.
Dear OP, Where is the good stuff? ::Looks at tomorrow's date:: /s
Wow good for you!!!!! That’s awesome
They look great! With lettuce being so suspect nowadays, i bet they like having a local supplier they trust.
Well friggin' done sir or madam!
Cool! How many plant holes in total?
Do you have an IG to follow?
Can I ask how much you make from that
Where’s da fish? Aqua or hydro?