#smallfarmers

Ignoring human workflows is never a good idea.⠀ ⠀ Farm environments aren’t just designed for plants. They also need to be designed for people. The problem with shipping containers is that they’re not designed for people and that poses some real issues for farmers.⠀ ⠀ There are two reasons to keep your farm labor-friendly: the first is that labor is money, and the second is that there’s nothing worse than working in a cramped, confined space for dozens of hours each week. It can be enough to drive you insane, or at the very least make you dread coming to work.⠀ ⠀ Ergonomics — or how efficiently your workplace is set up for workers — is also important, yet this isn’t something you really think about when shopping around for a farm. ⠀ ⠀ Our advice? Don’t neglect it!⠀ ⠀ With those two goals in mind, container farmers must ask and answer important questions about how people will interact with the container farm.⠀ ⠀ “Can I see all my crops easily?”⠀ ⠀ “Could I work in here happily for several hours each day?”⠀ ⠀ “Can more than one person work comfortably in this farm?”⠀ ⠀ These are all questions to answer before making such a large investment.⠀ ⠀ The most practical way to feel out the workflow in your future farm is to visit a variety of container farms before buying one and see how they feel.⠀ ⠀ Talk to other farmers who’ve been farming for a while and get their feedback. You won’t regret it!⠀ ⠀ #localfood #localfarmer #smallfarmers #ag #farminglife #farmtotable #farmtoplate #verticalfarm #verticalfarming #agtech #business #marketing #biz #entrepreneur #urbanfarm #urbanfarming #eatlocal #betterfood #greenhouse #containerfarms #containerfarm #containerfarming #agritech

What makes #UpstartFarmers unique? While they share many common characteristics like being innovative, hustling and working hard, or just being able to persevere through the ups and downs of starting a business, there’s another trait that makes this network of modern farmers unique. That differentiating trait is that they all approach #verticalfarming from a pragmatic angle and not as some pie-in-the-sky hypothetical proposition. That’s because they know the technology they choose doesn’t have to be overly complicated and sci-fi.   Their pragmatic approach to #technology means they choose designed simplicity over headline-grabbing gadgetry. In fact, they see “technology” as merely new tools to do things better, not to add more stress to their lives. Upstart Farmers like Localize, are committed to taking a pragmatic approach to feeding their local communities better food with appropriate #ZipGrow technology. #localfood #localfarmer #smallfarmers #ag #farminglife #farmtotable #farmtoplate #verticalfarm #verticalfarming #agtech #business #marketing #biz #entrepreneur #urbanfarm #urbanfarming #eatlocal #betterfood #greenhouse #indoorag #indoorfarms #indoorfarming #farmingindoors #agritech #verticalfarms (at Edina, Minnesota)

One of the biggest potential speed bumps of the #modernfarming movement will be the low number of experienced hydroponic growers ready to go to work in #verticalfarms around the world. ⠀ ⠀ Upstart University is a great way for aspiring growers to learn the basics of hydroponic/aquaponic food production and help move the #betterfood movement forward.⠀ ⠀ Learn more at upstartuniversity.net⠀ ⠀ #localfood #localfarmer #smallfarmers #ag #farminglife #farmtotable #farmtoplate #verticalfarm #verticalfarming #agtech #business #marketing #biz #entrepreneur #urbanfarm #urbanfarming #eatlocal #betterfood #greenhouse

#TBT to 2015 when #ZipGrow vertical farming technology represented American agriculture 2.0 at the World's Fair? ⠀ ⠀ The U.S. Pavilion, designed by @biberarchitects featured a 7,200 square foot (that's over 1/4 acre!) of food-producing, living wall. A first of it's kind that delighted and inspired millions of people from May 1 - October 31 of that year. ⠀ ⠀⠀ Did you know the same living wall technology is helping thousands of modern farmers and gardeners grow #betterfood closer to their homes or #local markets? ⠀ ⠀ Ready to make your farm or garden the most innovative on the block? ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ >> www.farmwall.co ⠀⠀ ⠀ #localfood #localfarmers #smallfarmers #ag #farminglife #farmtotable #farmtoplate #verticalfarm #verticalfarming #agtech #business #biz #entrepreneur #urbanfarm #urbanfarming #eatlocal #betterfood #america #verticalgarden #verticalgardening #verticalfarms #agritech (at Milan, Italy)

Did you know that the same #verticalfarming technology chosen to represent America's agricultural innovations on the world's stage helps hundreds of farmers and gardeners to grow #betterfood closer to home? ⠀ ⠀ #TBT: From May 1 to October 31, 2015 the World’s Fair took place in #Milan, Italy. Following tradition, each country meticulously designed and built a pavilion centered around their interpretation of that year’s theme. 2015’s theme was “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”. ⠀ ⠀ The theme allowed countries around the world to demonstrate their use of #technology, innovation, and creativity for solving the world’s biggest food and #farming challenges. ⠀ ⠀ The U.S. Pavilion, designed by @biberarchitects featured a 7,200 square foot food-producing wall powered by #ZipGrow technology. ⠀ ⠀ Bright Agrotech is proud to have represented American agricultural innovation with our vertical #farming technology.⠀ ⠀ Ready to make your farm or garden the most innovative on the block? ⠀ ⠀ >> www.farmwall.co ⠀ ⠀ #localfood #localfarmers #smallfarmers #ag #farminglife #farmtotable #farmtoplate #verticalfarm #verticalfarming #agtech #business #biz #entrepreneur #urbanfarm #urbanfarming #eatlocal #betterfood #america #verticalgarden #verticalgardening #verticalfarms #agritech (at Milan, Italy)

Thinking about starting an #indoorfarm? One question you'll want to ask yourself when looking for a building is... "Will my building meet my farm’s needs?" ⠀ ⠀ Indoor controlled environment farms often require substantial amounts of power and the fact is not all buildings are equipped with the type of electricity at the capacity these facilities require to operate.⠀ ⠀ When searching for a facility, it helps to know exactly what type of equipment you’re using and the energy requirements of each.⠀ ⠀ Before making a decision on a building, you must know how much power you’ll need to support your growing equipment, lighting, pumps, HVAC, automation equipment, dehumidifiers, fans, computers, etc. Growers serious about scaling up should also consider any increases in power requirements for future expansions.⠀ ⠀ Depending on the equipment you choose, should be paired with a qualified rep that can help you identify not only the best equipment to meet your farming goals, but also work with you to identify your electrical loads.⠀ ⠀ Having these exact numbers will allow you to seek out a building with the proper electrical capacity to make your farm work the way it should.⠀ ⠀ If you're ready to work with a guide, give us a call! We're here to help modern farmers like you start and scale economically viable vertical farms! 307-288-1188⠀ ⠀ #localfood #localfarmer #smallfarmers #ag #farminglife #farmtotable #farmtoplate #verticalfarm #verticalfarming #agtech #business #marketing #biz #entrepreneur #urbanfarm #urbanfarming #eatlocal #betterfood #greenhouse #indoorag #indoorfarms #indoorfarming #farmingindoors #agritech #verticalfarms (at Laramie, Wyoming)

If you're starting an urban farm, chances are you're currently totally immersed in blog posts, #YouTube videos and online courses (like Upstart U!), trying to learn as much as you can. ⠀ ⠀ And rightly so!⠀ ⠀ Starting a #verticalfarm takes a lot of time and financial investment, and you need to know what you're getting yourself into. ⠀ ⠀ But learning through listening or reading only gets you so far! To fully understand the details of running an #urbanfarm, you must have real, hands-on experience.⠀ ⠀ After all, “knowledge without application is like a book that is never read." - Christopher Crawford⠀ ⠀ That's why it's critical you create a pilot (or test) system as soon as you can. ⠀ ⠀ What's a pilot farm?⠀ ⠀ A pilot vertical farm is a small scale version of your future #farm that enables you to apply your research, make small mistakes, and demonstrate the quality of your produce to any future customers during your market research phase.⠀ ⠀ We published a new post yesterday discussing why you should start a test system, what you'll learn in the process, and the best way to get started. ⠀ ⠀ Read it at >> blog.brightagrotech.com⠀ ⠀ #localfood #localfarmer #smallfarmers #ag #farminglife #farmtotable #farmtoplate #verticalfarm #verticalfarming #agtech #business #marketing #biz #entrepreneur #urbanfarm #urbanfarming #eatlocal #betterfood #greenhouse #agtech #agritech

Last weekend 250+ urban farmers, policy makers, industry professionals, and good food advocates gathered in Atlanta, Georgia for the first annual “#Aglanta” conference.⠀ ⠀ A highly promoted and anticipated segment of the event featured a unique panel titled: “An Examination of Shuttered #VerticalFarming Facilities.”⠀ ⠀ During part of the session, a discussion started about the use of scissor lifts in an #indoorfarms and the mere mention of the word sparked a heated conversation ragging on the clunky, expensive, and unclean nature of the machine.⠀ ⠀ “Scissor lifts are not an ideal solution, stated Mike Nasseri, Harvest Supervisor at Local Garden, a mechanically complex Vancouver-based farm that declared bankruptcy back in 2014. “Don’t use scissor lifts. Find another solution, please.”⠀ ⠀ Adding to that, Matt Liotta chimed in: “It’s very telling that Aerofarms, the big farm in the news right now is using scissor lifts,” citing the operational constraints of the world’s largest indoor farm. “Absolutely don’t use scissor lifts,” he said.⠀ ⠀ Of course, if you’ve talked to our team in the last 4 or 5 years, you’ve probably been steered away from these dangerous machines and the inefficient systems that require their use for everyday operations.⠀ ⠀ We’re much more fond of systems that enable growers to spend less time going up and down on a scissor lift, and more time working with their plants or getting more customers.⠀ ⠀ Read this post and others at >> https://medium.com/bright-agrotech/⠀ ⠀ #localfood #localfarmer #smallfarmers #ag #farminglife #farmtotable #farmtoplate #verticalfarm #agtech #agritech #business #marketing #biz #entrepreneur #urbanfarm #urbanfarming #eatlocal #betterfood #verticalfarms #verticalfarm #greenhouse #grow #indoorfarm #indoorfarming #farmingindoors #indoorag