Container Farming 101: Getting Started

Watch highlights from the Container Farming 101: Getting Started webinar.

This webinar focuses on the key aspects you’ll need to consider before getting started.

By watching the webinar, you will learn the different stages that occur at the beginning of a Growcer project such as:

  • consulting with your future customers,
  • evaluating the project’s feasibility,
  • securing funding,
  • preparing the site location, and;
  • hiring the best people to manage the farm.

In 2020, Gitmaxmak'ay Nisga'a Society (GNS) launched a year-round container farming project in the rainiest and cloudiest city in Canada. Their hydroponic container farm allows them to grow food efficiently in a small space no matter the weather.

Blair Mirau, CEO of Gitmaxmak'ay Nisga'a Society, and Branavan Tharmarajah, head project consultant with Growcer, shared what the process looked like for GNS.

Watch the webinar recording below and hear about:

  • 5:30 - How the idea to launch a container farm got started
  • 7:44 - How was the idea’s feasibility evaluated
  • 9:05 - How the project was funded
  • 10:25 - The factors that contributed to the project’s success
  • 15:50 - How the site preparation process looked like
  • 19:12 - What support was received from the Growcer team
  • 20:44 - What is the distribution model and how was it decided?
  • 25:30 - Who operates the farm and how did you find an operator?
  • 28:56 - What has the impact of the project been?
  • 31:10 - What are the long-term plans for the project?
  • 34:00 - What advice would you give others about container farming?
  • 36:40 - Audience Q&A (Topics: Pricing produce, community engagement, climate resilience of the technology, produce packaging, alternative options explored, working with your board of directors, learned lessons from customer feedback)

Container Farming 101

Even with turn-key container farms, there are still many questions left unanswered for those interested in getting started.

This guide summarizes what you need to know to get started through the journey of a someone who’s been there.

Stephanie Gordon