The Components of Personal Container Farming
Author: Jonathan Tsai
Author: Jonathan Tsai, from Duramax Trusscore
Indoor agriculture has been gaining popularity as compact and versatile opportunities like container farming is making its way into the market. Container farming allows modern farmers to grow without owning a large amount of land. A school can add a new garden on their asphalt yards or a chef can grow fresh ingredients behind the restaurant. Fresh food can be quickly accessed wherever it is needed due to the mobility of container farming. It is even easier to start now that you can purchase from a manufacturer or make it your own DIY project.
The basic requirements in container farming are the container box, lighting system, water pump system, a water-resistant wall liner, and an HVAC unit. The container box is often inexpensive to obtain. Shipping companies prefer to get rid of their damaged containers because they are more expensive to repair than to replace. You can bid for a 20 ft container online and it can go from $1,000 and up. Some important ones to note are the tunnel containers that are open on both ends, open side containers that open from the side, refrigerated containers that keep temperatures low, and insulated containers meant to keep temperatures high.
LED lighting systems allow access to optimal plant growth any time of the day and in areas of the world with less sunlight. In terms of cost, there are a wide variety of LED light options to choose from in every price range. It ultimately depends on the plant you are trying to grow and its needs. One of the factors of the lighting system is the relation to growth and light intensity. It is known that the brighter the lights are, the faster plants grow; however, this also means more heat is radiated.
If the container does not have the right temperature controls, farmers sacrifice plant growth to keep the lighting at appropriate levels. Depending on the location of the container farm, you may need cooling or heating systems. Plants thrive in a warm and humid environment but it is important to have ventilation to keep temperatures from rising too high. There are many ways to ventilate a container including fans, using underground air through a pipe or a mini-split. For a 20 ft container with an area roughly 150 ft, a 9000 BTU mini-split goes for around $600.
An irrigation drip system is a very efficient way to water crops. This system reduces water usage by 90 percent compared to outdoor farming. The cost is inexpensive ranging as low as $30 for a drip system, and $250 for a water pump. The two main factors when picking a water pump should be the Gallons Per Hour (GPH) and PSI water pressure. These metrics will vary as a number of plants, plant size, plant type, and temperature change. It is important to note that the water pressure is associated with the height of the drip system.
Humidity can cause corrosion and rot to walls that are made of wood or metal. Wall Liner that is water resistant, easy to clean and lightweight is important when it comes to building out a container farm. Duramax Trusscore PVC is a great option to use as it is waterproof and seamless. The installation of these panels require no other materials and interlock with each panel. Material that is lightweight allows for cheaper freight expense. In a 20ft container, with a wall surface area of around 440 sq ft, these panels would be roughly $1000 not including the savings in installation and labor.
Overall, there are many manufacturers that offer a turn-key operation complete with equipment and systems. These prices can range from economical to costly as performance increases and additional attributes are applied. Constructing your own container farm can be a fairly simple and inexpensive. Always consider the location, environment, and plant necessities when comparing which components you need to invest more in.