What is your opinion on horticulture as a career choice?

[kage69]

I know people who make some pretty good money selling vegetables straight to restaurants. If you can deliver quality, you don't have to worry about demand and will accumulate customer loyalty so fast heads are spun. The seasonal nature of it means an indoor scheme is required for year round income obviously. A friend of a friend showed me pictures of a very impressive facility that only grows micro greens, he runs it year round along with a few other operations. Essentially a rectangular building with 3 walkways lengthwise, running down rows of grow trays on 5 levels of shelves, each with CFL light fixtures above it. 6 different cultivars of super nutritious microgreens, I think he said he harvests every 12 days. Never has overstock. It's on family property so he pays like nothing for it. Didn't go LED as he said the low heat of shop lights actually added up to keep the whole room just right. It's insulated but a no frills grow set up for sure. He pays for electricity and 2 employees.

Same guy is currently a partner to a big mmj grow thing in Western Maine. Don't know the specifics but I've driven by the place and it's huge. Yep, plenty of money in horticulture these days I'd say, if you're willing to get your hands dirty and put hours in.

 

[Mayne]

Are these places within the city or is it out of town?

 

[kage69]

Global warming/climate change is also making traditional farming too risky so I can definitely see more vertical farming happening in the future, it will be in a more controlled environment where you don't have to worry about climate. Can probably get away without using harsh pesticides like DDT etc as well since don't really have to worry about pests.

DDT was banned years ago, but that's not to say there still aren't harsh pesticides out there. Pests can and do come indoors to wreck havoc, just ask any mmj care taker for their personal opinion on spider mites. Risk of attracting critters is greatly reduced if you go with hydroponics though, regardless of crop.

 

[kage69]

Are these places within the city or is it out of town?

Rural.

 

[Thebobo]

I know people who make some pretty good money selling vegetables straight to restaurants. If you can deliver quality, you don't have to worry about demand and will accumulate customer loyalty so fast heads are spun. The seasonal nature of it means an indoor scheme is required for year round income obviously. A friend of a friend showed me pictures of a very impressive facility that only grows micro greens, he runs it year round along with a few other operations. Essentially a rectangular building with 3 walkways lengthwise, running down rows of grow trays on 5 levels of shelves, each with CFL light fixtures above it. 6 different cultivars of super nutritious microgreens, I think he said he harvests every 12 days. Never has overstock. It's on family property so he pays like nothing for it. Didn't go LED as he said the low heat of shop lights actually added up to keep the whole room just right. It's insulated but a no frills grow set up for sure. He pays for electricity and 2 employees.

Same guy is currently a partner to a big mmj grow thing in Western Maine. Don't know the specifics but I've driven by the place and it's huge. Yep, plenty of money in horticulture these days I'd say, if you're willing to get your hands dirty and put hours in.

Yes for low growing plants CFLs will work well. But for taller plants they currently don't have the wattage. I've had some good grows with CFL bulbs with Y adapters and reflector made out of a vent material.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Heard T8 bulbs can work well too. The best thing is probably red/blue LED strips though as it targets the spectrum plants need. Though CFLs also generate heat, which you need. When I can clear my garage of crap and build it into a shop one thing I want to build is a grow box and it will probably use a combination of CFLs and red/blue LED strips. I will try to keep the temp around 25C, or whatever the particular type of plant I'm growing wants. Might even need a couple incadescent bulbs in there but a bunch of CFLs are T8 bulbs might work too. Probably want a smoke detector in there too, CFLs, LEDs or any bulb that has a PSU have tendency of failing catastrophicly.

 

[Darwin333]

I doubt the regulations will allow for that. Personal use, sure. Commercial, no, you will need specific zoning and facility requirements that a basement can't provide.

Plenty of people have made good money renting houses and turning them into grows. Right now, at least in the states, it's possible for a relatively little guy to make decent money if they know what they are doing. If/when the Feds finally change the laws I'd wager that big business will swoop in and take most of the market share just like everything else. Currently big business isn't much of a factor because of the federal legality and IRS bullshit.

Not sure how it works in Canada.

 

[pete6032]

I don't know, just seems like a fun job where you take pride in what you are doing. be it, carrots or kush.

I really doubt you would be growing carrots.

 

[kage69]

Yes for low growing plants CFLs will work well. But for taller plants they currently don't have the wattage. I've had some good grows with CFL bulbs with Y adapters and reflector made out of a vent material.

Yeah, micro greens aren't known for their height, definitely a calculated move on his part. That's how he has so much capacity, sq ft of grow area x 5. Don't need a lot of light for these guys either. He was just using decent quality shop light fixtures, bought the bulbs in bulk online I think. Dude is definitely all about keeping his costs as low as possible, he's admitted he'll be going LED at some point. I heard some proud math just don't remember what it was. I shall assume cha ching.

 

[Darwin333]

Well you don't have to let anyone know, of course it's very risky. Remember the Tennessee pot cave? Guy built a huge growing complex under his property attached to his house in a natural cave. Of course electricity consumption can be an issue and thats how he got busted according to the article. Place was a tourist place until it burnt down.

Lot more pictures https://www.420magazine.com/forums/...0071-great-tennessee-pot-cave-pics-video.html

As I recall he was actually stealing electricity from the pole but yeah, even if he was getting it legit he definitely should have at the very least supplemented a very large portion of his electricity with solar, wind or even a friggen generator.

 

[Mayne]

I want a legit job with a legit company. I guess I'll have to do my homework and find out what needs to be done. I'd gladly give up doing hvac for something in the horticulture business.

 

[Mayne]

I would never sell weed. Give it away to friends and family when the new law comes out in July.

 

[KMFJD]

Here you go Mayne...

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/gyjxw4/this-michigan-college-is-offering-a-degree-in-weed-vgtrn

 

[ctbaars]

Ask Saltynuts.
I don't know, I have nothing to add ...

 

[Mayne]

thanks lol

 

[KMFJD]

Canada averaging 40 new cannabis job listings each week

https://news.lift.co/cannabis-careers-november-2017-digest/

Follow your dreams Mayne!

 

[squirrel dog]

Watch out for the wood shampoo , Mayne .