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http://www.ethicurean.com/2010/09/01/big-green-boxe/
Too cool.
What is Big Green Boxes, exactly?
It's a new business that will transform unused warehouse space into year-round indoor growing centers. We'll use hydroponics and aquaponics, along with advanced low-energy lighting techniques and vertical growing methods, to produce the very freshest leafy greens for local consumption regardless of climate.
...
Fans of the show Weeds know that hydroponics is growing plants in water instead of soil, and that certain cash crops do very well in it. But what's "aquaponics," exactly?
Aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics and aquaculture, which is the raising of fish. The fish provide the rich nutrients to grow the plants, and the plants clean the water for the fish. It's a closed-loop system that uses 90% less water than growing the same greens in soil and can yield 10 times more crops than land-based growing systems.
...
And you'll grow what, exactly?
Fresh greens and herbs, particularly ones that command a premium and that people want all year round. Take basil, for example; it's a seasonal crop with a short shelf life. Trader Joe's is selling organic basil from Mexico right now at $2.79 for 4 ounces. That's $11.16 per pound! And it's coming from Mexico. We'll also grow fancy red and green lettuces, arugula, radicchio, sprouts, baby and micro greens, and several kinds of herbs, which sell for even higher prices. We'll change the crops based on time of year, local tastes, and customer preferences.
...
Why not just take over a defunct mall and grow enough crops for the whole West Coast?
I don't want to feed more than a certain area because I want the greens to be harvested and eaten the same day within a community. And as we're seeing with the eggs, concentration can be a bad idea. I'd rather build BGB on the hub-and-spoke model in lots of communities.
Too cool.
What is Big Green Boxes, exactly?
It's a new business that will transform unused warehouse space into year-round indoor growing centers. We'll use hydroponics and aquaponics, along with advanced low-energy lighting techniques and vertical growing methods, to produce the very freshest leafy greens for local consumption regardless of climate.
...
Fans of the show Weeds know that hydroponics is growing plants in water instead of soil, and that certain cash crops do very well in it. But what's "aquaponics," exactly?
Aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics and aquaculture, which is the raising of fish. The fish provide the rich nutrients to grow the plants, and the plants clean the water for the fish. It's a closed-loop system that uses 90% less water than growing the same greens in soil and can yield 10 times more crops than land-based growing systems.
...
And you'll grow what, exactly?
Fresh greens and herbs, particularly ones that command a premium and that people want all year round. Take basil, for example; it's a seasonal crop with a short shelf life. Trader Joe's is selling organic basil from Mexico right now at $2.79 for 4 ounces. That's $11.16 per pound! And it's coming from Mexico. We'll also grow fancy red and green lettuces, arugula, radicchio, sprouts, baby and micro greens, and several kinds of herbs, which sell for even higher prices. We'll change the crops based on time of year, local tastes, and customer preferences.
...
Why not just take over a defunct mall and grow enough crops for the whole West Coast?
I don't want to feed more than a certain area because I want the greens to be harvested and eaten the same day within a community. And as we're seeing with the eggs, concentration can be a bad idea. I'd rather build BGB on the hub-and-spoke model in lots of communities.
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Date: Sep. 1st, 2010 09:25 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: Sep. 15th, 2010 04:18 pm (UTC)From: