How to start vertical farming at home?
Vertical farming is not only a safe way to grow herbs and vegetables, but it is also a great space-saving technique, especially if you live in a bustling city. Vertical farming can be done in the kitchen, in the basement, on the patio, in a greenhouse, or for the entrepreneur, in a warehouse.
Not only is DIY vertical farming at home in your kitchen economical, it is also an easy way to grow your own herbs and vegetables. You can purchase a kit from the store or even use plastic cups or containers that you already have.
The Advantages of Vertical Tower Farming
1. Safety is of concern of course. Insecticides, animal droppings, and air pollutants are at the top of the list of safety concerns when growing healthy food.
2. You can enjoy growing fresh produce all year long. When planting a garden outdoors, many of us only have one growing season. Inclement weather is a deterrent. Most vegetables need the warmth of the sun in order to grow, not the snow and freezing rain.
3. Vertical farming is a space saver. You don’t need a small garden plot or a couple of acres of land to grow your herbs and vegetables. Whether it’s a hobby or a valuable necessity, diy vertical farming at home in your kitchen will give you fresh produce all year long. If you live in an apartment building in a bustling city and have rooftop access, you may want to consider learning how to make a hydroponic tower garden.
4. You will spend less money if you are interested in vertical farming at home. After tediously planting your outside garden, the deer, rabbits, and other wild animals may have a readily available feast. You may enjoy sharing your vegetables with your friends and family, but not with a forest full of wild animals.
Farm at Home
There is no limit to what we can do when we put our minds to it. With the use of a normal everyday light bulb, a small indoor vertical garden will give you a variety of herbs and vegetables. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination while building a vertical garden. Use what you have available at home.
Learn how to make a hydroponic garden by researching different methods, whether it be online, in your favorite gardening magazine, or at your local library. You may want to share your ideas with your friends and neighbors and start a small co-op for those who have limited access to fresh produce, but if you are thinking of becoming a small business owner, be sure to check regulations for the growing and distribution of your produce.
Read More: How to build a grow box?
Vertical Farming for the Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs, both small and large scale, may not know where to begin when they are learning how to build a hydroponic tower garden. When you are learning how to build a hydroponic tower garden to earn money, what do you do first? Do you have a business plan, a way to fund your business, a clear picture of when, how, and where your business will be? You will want to check into building regulations and permits, budgeting and funding, the easiest types of herbs and vegetables to plant, and types of lighting, watering methods, and the number of employees you will need to make it work.
You may want to consult the Urban Farming Business Plan Handbook for guidance.
Large Scale Vertical Tower Farming
Large Scale Vertical Tower Farming
The serious large-scale vertical gardener is one who has become certified in food safety and distribution, and they have learned what to plant and not to plant.
Is there a need for the types of food you are going to grow? They have done their research in regards to what type of hydroponic tower system is most economical and effective.
By following guidance provided to you in the Urban Farming Business Plan Handbook, the road suddenly opens to move forward. Your dreams have become a reality.
Zip Grow Towers
A zip grows tower is used in both large and small indoor vertical farming systems. It can be used to grow enough produce to distribute to supermarkets and restaurants, to sell to the local co-op, or to feed your family.
Distribution costs are lower for nearby markets and restaurants. This saves on expensive shipping fees. The zip grows system can be purchased from a company that serves vertical farmers in an economical way.
Read More: Best Grow Tent setup
The Prepping Stage is Important
With a hydroponic zip grow system ordered and ready to set up, assembly begins.
. A workbench is a must-have, preferably one that is the right height for you.
. With the tower laying horizontally on the workbench and the media in place, lay a piece of felt over the media, insert your plant plugs and fold the media over.
. Lay the media in the PVC tower and be sure one end is tightly closed.
. To save time, an assembly line method is employed in the video.
Assembling Your Farm Wall
. The zip tower kit you have purchased has everything needed to build the zip tower and the farm wall.
. To build the farm wall attach the enclosed clips to the headers and gutters, use your bow ties to correctly insert the PVC pipe keeping it flush with the closed end. Zip ties are used to keep the PVC pipe in place within the farm wall.
Mounting the System to the Wall
. Mounting the zip tower system to a wall that is strong enough to hold it vertically is important.
. Use a level to attach the mounts to the wood or brick wall. You may want to ask for help so that it is level.
. A rubber bumper is screwed into the wall to hold the bottom mount in place to keep it from wobbling.
Topping off the Tank and Cleaning the System
. How much water you will need to top off the tank depends on the air temperature and the size of the tank.
. You should keep at least a half-inch of water over the tubing.
. While most hydroponic vertical farming systems are low maintenance, they may get occasionally get clogged up.
. Pull off the pvc tubing plugs and clean them out.
. Replace the pump filter periodically.
Packaging and Distribution
Packaging and distribution of your vegetables and herbs is done as a one-person job or many employees. The larger the business, the more help you will need.
. Handling and distributing food to meet federal guidelines may require a food safety certification. Check out the above link to learn about important safety measures for business owners.
Lighting for the Hydroponic Garden
Outside you have sunlight to grow herbs and vegetables; inside you will need to use some other type of lighting. T5 lights are recommended for zip tower growers, with one bulb needed for each tower; a regular light bulb can be used inside your house.
Read More: Best Full-Spectrum LED Grow Lights
Buy Organic
Mention organic and heads will turn. Consumers are buying organic for a healthier diet, and fruits and vegetables are at the top of their list. While organic foods are a little more expensive, their vitamin contents are valuable. Organic fruit and vegetable farmers don’t use unsafe insecticides on their products so don’t be afraid to buy organic.
From the smallest to the largest, vertical towers are becoming well-known worldwide. They save on growing space for both city and country dwellers. Seeing is believing, and that is what you will enjoy if you choose to plant an indoor vertical tower garden. Your produce production will triple compared to planting an outdoor garden. From strawberries to herbs and vegetables, an organic vertical garden will save you not only on space but on money as well.
Going to the Store Can be a Pain
Planting a vertical tower garden from the comfort of your home is a project the whole family can enjoy. If you have an interest in vertical farming at home, there is so much information on the internet, in-home and gardening magazines, and at the library. Kits are available at your local farm supply store and the neighborhood hardware store. With the avid interest in online shopping, a multitude of plant towers are available to the consumer, for both in-store pickups and for home delivery. Check out the various ways to plant using seeds, plant plugs, and even plants that are already grown.
So, why not learn a new hobby? Why not try your hand at vertical farming? Why not choose reality rather than living on a dream? We have said goodbye to spring and hello to summer, so it is time to get serious about planting a vertical garden. You may live in an area that stays cold well into the summer, or an area that gets a frost year-round. It may be an excellent time to learn how to plant an indoor vertical garden.
There’s the greenhouse gardener, the kitchen window gardener, and the backyard gardener, and there’s also the large-scale business owner, the entrepreneur who can’t sit back and think about growing a vertical farming business any longer. Maybe the time is ripe to turn his dream into a reality.
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Grow Hydroponic Herbs
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Hydroponics Garden Diseases
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Hydroponic Nutrients
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Water Filters
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Air stones
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Table of Contents
Can vertical farming be organic?
Its development will not only reduce the use of land and water, but also help solve problems like food shortage, lack of green areas, as well as drive forward ecological civilization construction. With great potential and huge market prospects, vertical farming has been widely recognized by the public with great curiosity since its inception. However, just like any other new technology, it also faces some challenges from within and outside the industry. While many people believe that vertical farming should be environmentally friendly and organic given that it uses renewable energy sources such as sunlight to grow crops without using pesticides or chemical fertilizers which have adverse effects that hinder the growth of living creatures, there are still voices against it or concerns about its safety. Why? The reason for this is that some insects, fish and birds, aquatic animals and even human beings (particularly those who have diet restrictions) may be allergic to vertical farming produce.
Can vertical farming feed the world?
It’s already proven in Japan where over 30 square miles of land is currently being used for growing crops in steel skyscrapers. These hydroponic towers are built vertically to save space, water and energy. Some production facilities even use lamps with UV lights to speed up the growth process…