Case Study: Thy Neighbor’s Farm - Sustainable Farming and Community Impact
Client: Steven Thompson, Thy Neighbor’s Farm
Location: Torrington, Connecticut
Industry: Sustainable Agriculture and Community Farming
Testimonial
“When we were evaluating our options and the associated costs of these hydroponics growing containers, we knew the most responsible and sensible way to spend these funds was by purchasing a used unit. The very high costs of a new unit just didn’t make sense to us. By purchasing a used unit at a fraction of the price, we can use the rest of the funding to finance a complimentary solar system, which we believe is an even greater way to stretch this money for more of a climate-smart solution. When looking at options for used shipping container farms, iGrow Pre-Owned was the obvious choice and industry leader. This is a lot of money we are talking about, and we needed to use a vendor we could trust. iGrow Pre-Owned fit the bill, and we have appreciated all their help and knowledge.”
The Challenge
Thy Neighbor’s Farm, led by Steven Thompson, was founded with a mission to address food insecurity in Torrington, Connecticut. After serving in the U.S. Marines for over a decade, Steven redirected his life toward sustaining and supporting his community through regenerative farming. As part of this effort, Steven sought to increase the farm’s production capacity to provide nutritious, locally-grown food to at-risk children and families in the area. Thy Neighbor’s Farm faced the challenge of expanding its operations sustainably without compromising its commitment to ethical farming practices or straining its budget.
The Solution
To help achieve these goals, Thy Neighbor’s Farm applied for and was awarded a CT Grown for CT Kids Grant from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. Using the funds, Steven sought to incorporate a hydroponic shipping container farm into his operations. Rather than purchasing a costly brand-new container farm, Steven found a high-quality pre-owned Freight Farms unit through Secondhand Farms, which lists available container farms for sale. This decision allowed Steven to maximize the grant funds, saving capital to invest in a solar system that would power the container, reducing long-term operating costs.
The Secondhand Farms team worked closely with Steven to facilitate the purchase, even coordinating an in-person tour of the container farm with its previous owners. Throughout the process, Secondhand Farms provided critical guidance, ensuring that Steven understood the unique aspects of the unit and the differences between model years.
The Results
Increased Food Production: By integrating the hydroponic container farm, Thy Neighbor’s Farm now has the capacity to grow fresh produce year-round, overcoming Connecticut’s harsh winters and short growing seasons.
Sustainability with Solar Energy: Thanks to the cost savings from purchasing a pre-owned container, Steven was able to allocate the remaining funds to develop a solar energy system. This solar setup will fully meet the power needs of the farm in the summer and significantly offset energy costs during the winter.
Community Impact: Thy Neighbor’s Farm continues to collaborate with local organizations such as The Community Kitchen of Torrington, Friendly Hands Food Bank, and FISH: NWCT Food Pantry. Through these partnerships, the farm provides fresh, locally grown produce to food-insecure families and students in the community.
Conclusion
By choosing to purchase a used hydroponic container farm from Secondhand Farms, Thy Neighbor’s Farm was able to stretch their grant funds further, making it possible to implement climate-smart solutions like solar energy while significantly increasing food production. The decision to work with Secondhand Farms was driven by their industry expertise, transparent sales process, and commitment to sustainability—values that align perfectly with Thy Neighbor’s Farm’s mission of serving the community.
