INDOOR FARMS

Northern Food Security
and a New Way of Indoor Farming.

The current mainstream approach to indoor farming in remote communities involves the installation of high-tech hydroponic seatainer farms. These farms cost upwards of $200,000, have steep learning curves and are generally limited to growing leafy greens and herbs. As Andrew Spring, Canada Research Chair in Northern Sustainable Food Systems, says, “salad greens are not the answer to food insecurity. What’s needed from a food security standpoint are things that go in a stew” — hearty produce such as root crops and fruiting vegetables.

Repairs to high-tech hydroponic farms are also challenging when parts and technicians need to travel to isolated areas. Finally, consider that the synthetic fertilizers used in these farms lack trace elements, such as silica, which leads to produce becoming extremely limp after harvest.

SEA TO SKY BOTANICS solves all of these problems with its sub-irrigated, soil-based approach to indoor farming.

Our farms are a fraction of the price of hydroponic farms, are lower maintenance, easy to repair, have extremely shallow learning curves and can grow root crops plus large vining fruit crops. In addition, we ensure a growing protocol that uses organic matter, beneficial microbiology and slow-release organic fertilizers. This means healthier plants that rarely get nutrient deficiencies. Finally, the skills learned and technologies used with our indoor farms are entirely transferable to the outdoor environment.

Sea to Sky Botanics is currently working towards combining this technology with underground geothermally heated greenhouses that also grow perennial fruits.

Please contact us to learn more.