Commercial Hydroponic Farms

Mr. Stacky Vertical Hydroponic Farms

 Low Cost | High Yield Technologies

“Through our vertical growing practices, we are able to grow and harvest thousands of heads of lettuce per week on a substantially smaller footprint. Through technology, today’s growers can produce more by using less.“

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“We have the largest vertical farm in the State of Maryland, where you can pick strawberries in season.  No synthetic pesticides or fertilizers are used.”

Mr Stacky Farms

“About 17,000 strawberry plants have been planted and we are targeting opening for U-pick in early December.   Stay tuned for updates!”

Hydroponic Farm

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“The goal of SERF is to provide free educational programs and to donate food grown on the farm to local food banks and soup kitchens to feed the homeless and less fortunate”

“Delivering an innovative, modern, space efficient and affordable way of farming to encourage more self-sufficient and healthy lifestyles.”

ro farms cost analysis

How do we stack up?
Comparison of Quarter Acre NFT vs Mr Stacky Farm

NFT Farm

Mr. Stacky Farm

Yield

Yield p/sq meter

Yield p/quarter acre

Gross income @ $1.50 p/head

6 - 12 heads p/month

6000 - 12000 heads p/month

$9000 - $18000 p/month

32 - 48 heads p/month

32000 - 48000 heads p/month

$48,000 - $72,000 p/month

Up-front Costs

Channels / Planters

Framing

Irrigation & Plumbing

Growing Medium

Re-circulation Infrastructure

Nutrient (3 mths supply)

Other (misc)

$20,000 - $30,000

$10,000 - $20,000

$2,000 - $3,000

$2,000 - $3,000

$3,000 - $5,000

$1,000

$4,000

$30,000 - $50,000

$10,000 - $15,000

$4,000 - $5,000

$5,000 - $8000

Not Applicable
(No need for pumps, reservoirs or re-circulation!)

$1,000

$4,000

Running Costs

Electricity

Water

Waste Management

circa $3,600 p/month
28,000w p/day @ .12 p/kwh
600w pumps @ 12 hrs on p/day

circa $29 p/month
20,000 litres at $1.45 p/kl

circa $500 p/month

Negligible
(No pumps needed)

circa $43.50 p/month
30,000 litres @ $1.45 p/kl
(1 litre p/tower p/day x 1000 towers)

Negligable
(Almost no waste product)

*Above estimates based on leaf lettuce production & exclude labor, cultivar & optional greenhouse/infrastructure costs.

How do we stack up?
Comparison of Quarter Acre NFT vs Mr Stacky Farm

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Yield

Yield p/sq meter

6 - 12 heads p/month

32 - 48 heads p/month

Yield p/quarter acre

6000 - 12000 heads p/month

32000 - 48000 heads p/month

Gross income @ $1.50 p/head

$9000 - $18000 p/month

$9000 - $18000 p/month

Up-front Costs

Channels / Planters

$20,000 - $30,000

$30,000 - $50,000

Framing

$10,000 - $20,000

$10,000 - $15,000

Irrigation & Plumbing

$2,000 - $3,000

$4,000 - $5,000

Growing Medium

$2,000 - $3,000

$5,000 - $8000

Re-circulation Infrastructure

$3,000 - $5,000

Not Applicable (No need for pumps, reservoirs or re-circulation!)

Nutrient (3 mths supply)

$1,000

$1,000

Other (misc)

$4,000

$4,000

Running Costs

Electricity

circa $3,600 p/month
28,000w p/day @ .12 p/kwh
600w pumps @ 12 hrs on p/day

Negligible
(No pumps needed)

Water

circa $29 p/month
20,000 litres at $1.45 p/kl

circa $43.50 p/month
30,000 litres @ $1.45 p/kl
(1 litre p/tower p/day x 1000 towers)

Waste Management

circa $500 p/month

Negligable
(Almost no waste product)

*Above estimates based on leaf lettuce production & exclude labor, cultivar & optional greenhouse/infrastructure costs.

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The Technology

 Vertical Hydroponic Gardening

It is well documented that hydroponic farming produces a higher yield p/square meter than traditional agricultural techniques. Thus, the hydroponic farming movement is on a strong upwards growth trend which is forecast to proceed well into the future. 

New technology is now available for farmers to utilize hydroponic techniques in smaller spaces using vertical growing systems.  The advantages of vertical hydroponic gardening are profound and include:  

• Significant increase in yield/square meter
• Water consumption efficiency
• Reduction in ground pests and disease
• Ease of harvest and maintenance

‘The old way’
NFT Systems

There are various hydroponic farming methods with different advantages & disadvantages depending on the crop type and other factors.  By far the most prevalent method for growing ‘fast crops’ such as lettuce, chinese vegetables and leafy greens is NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) whereby a steady stream of water is re-circulated past the bare plant roots in a water tight channel.  This method is responsible for most of today’s lettuce production in Western countries. 

While NFT is highly effective, it relies on a reservoir, water pump and re-circulation network to return the water back through the channels on a continual basis.  The maintenance & monitoring of this type of system is significant as a pump failure could result in an entire crop death within 4-8 hours.  There is waste product which must be flushed regularly, and the yield is limited by the size of the horizontal field area.

‘The new way’
Drain to Waste

With drain to waste, there is no need for water re-circulation, costly pumps, reservoir’s and related infrastructure.   You simply hook up the system to the water mains and utilize a simple valve system which controls water to various zones on a timed basis. 

This combined with a fertilizer injector allows you to inject nutrient at very exact quantities which is passed through the system to each tower and fed from above.  You then let gravity do the rest.  

Watering in short bursts of 2-3 minutes every 4-8 hours throughout the day ensures each tower contains optimal hydration.   As you have full control over the zones and duration, you can time each feed so that only a drop or 2 of ‘waste’ is simply absorbed into the ground.   This is the future of hydroponic gardening. 

These hydroponic growing systems utilize an inert medium typically consisting of 70% coco coir 30% perlite.  This medium is an excellent wick which means you only need to supply water to one part of the tower.  The medium will wick the water to all parts of the tower effectively. 

This method ensures almost no hydration variances thereby limiting plant stress so you can optimize each plants yield. 

Advantages of Drain to Waste

• Commercial quality yields
• No waste product or flushing of system required
• Low operational costs
• Plant constantly receives fresh nutrient instead of reconstituted/depleted nutrient
• Easier to maintain a consistent PH level 
• Nutrient water is less prone to pathogen attack
• Significantly less logistical and maintenance issues compared to re-circulation
• Ideal for smaller plants or large plants with large fluid retention rates
• Effective insulation of roots from extreme heat (using coco/perlite medium)
• Strong buffers against any prolonged moisture loss 
• Almost no electricity usage as there is no water pump required
• Highly cost effective with reusable medium 

To speak with a Hydroponic Farm Vertical Gardening Specialist.  Contact us