Urban Tower Farming Australia
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100 Tower Hydroponic Farming System
Description
Mr. Stacky is the leader in Vertical Gardening in Australia since 2017. This Tower Farm Package leverages all of our experience to date to bring you the most cost efficient and optimal set-up available in the world today.
Huge Yield p/sqm | No Electricity Needed (Just Water Pressure) | Automated Watering | Off Grid Capable | Smart Tech Capable | Space Saving | Modular | Set-up Anywhere | Durable & Built to Last with direct UV exposure.
We’ll get you growing quickly with fast delivery from Gold Coast, QLD Australia
$13,500 $12,900
Overview
This Automated Tower Gardening System can be set-up on any flat or sloping area outdoors in full sun or within a greenhouse. All you need is water pressure (water mains, bore or tank water) with no electricity needed. Every drop of water is conserved with no recirculation needed. The simplicity of this method means anyone can grow commercial quality produce with minimal gardening experience!
We’ve meticulously created this package with busy entrepreneur types in mind. Anyone with a small plot of land, can create a semi-automated agriculture business from their backyard in their spare time.
In our experience, this method is by far the easiest and most scalable/cost effective way to grow a variety of vegetables in any small space.
Optional extras include greenhouse solutions, outdoor netting solutions, in-line EC and/or PH monitoring options and nutrient supplement options.
How Does It Work?
This is the simplest and most forgiving method of hydroponic gardening. No water recirculation needed….
- The secret to success is the growing medium and fertilizer injector technology.
- Coco/perlite is the perfect growing medium. Light, fluffy, moist & you can’t over water it!
- This medium ensures the plant roots are supported and buffered against temperature and environmental stress
- The simple drip system provides just the right amount of moisture without any significant run-off.
- Automated watering & fresh nutrient is supplied at every feed (no recirculation needed)
- Elevated gardens naturally defend against pests & disease
- 2 x Fertilizer Injectors ensure optimal 2 part nutrient stability (no chemical lockout)
- Battery powered irrigation allows you to set-up and maintain anywhere
How To Set-Up
- Drive galvanized metal poles into the ground at 1.2m apart
- Fill stacking planters & 40L grow bag with our premium organic coco / perlite growing medium
- Place grow bag on the ground, then stack 5 planters high to 2m with top of the tower at 2.3m
- Fasten an overhead wire to a tether point at either end of each zone.
- String the irrigation lines and connect zones to the the battery powered tap timer via fertilizer injector kit
- Dissolve the 2 part premium powdered hydroponic nutrient solution and adjust the EC (nutrient level)
- Configure the timer to run 3 times p/day in short bursts per zone.
- Use the adjustable drippers to increase/decrease water flow per tower as required
*Note: Detailed set-up and growing instructions are included with each system
Tower Configuration & Dimensions
What's Included?
This kit is completely stacked with everything you need! (except poles, plants and overhead line. Available in add-on’s)
- Inclusions: See the below image, every small detail is taken care of in this kit which comes complete with detailed instructions.
- Exclusions (available in add-on’s below)
1) Poles: 30 x 2.4m galvanized metal poles (19mm OD)
2) Overhead wiring : 3.2mm stainless steel wire, galvanized turnbuckles and fittings
What's the Nutrient?
- ‘Superior Blend‘ is our amazing 2 part full spectrum powdered hydroponic nutrient. Used commercially in Australia for over 35 years, this nutrient is the best value out there
- This package includes a 4kg bulk pack (approx 2-3 months supply).
- Additional 4kg bulk packs are $79 or 10KG bulk packs are $140
- The reviews on this nutrient speak for themselves
Specifications
- Total Area: Approx 40 sqm
- Total Plant Sites: Approx 720 large plant sites (well over 1400 plant sites with this method)
- Tower Width: Each tower 500mm wide
- Tower Height: 2m high (5 large planters raised 750mm off ground + 40L grow bag at the base of each tower)
- Zone Height: Overhead line 2.3m (Requires 2.5m structure at either end of each zone)
- Tower Configuration: 24 Large Plant Sites p/tower – 115L of root capacity (40L grow bag + 5 x large planters)
- Water Requirements:
a) Water Mains – No power required (AA battery powered timer included)
b) Bore / Tank – Electric Pump required (+ AA battery powered timer included) - Fertigation Configuration:
– Fertilizer Injectors | Commercial grade, 1-10% proportional dosage, UV & corrosion resistant, 1 year warranty
– Blueline Heavy Duty Fittings | Commercial grade, 25mm high pressure Philmac easy assemble (no plumber required) - Irrigation Components: All 19mm poly hosing for main line, 4mm micro-dripper hosing per tower
- Drip Components: Fully adjustable drippers + 8mm pressure compensated drippers included with all kits
- Powdered Hydroponic Nutrient: Premium grade 2 part Full Spectrum 10KG bulk Hydroponic Nutrient included
- Poles (Optional add-on): Galvanized metal 19mm OD pipe
- Overhead line (Optional add-on): 3.2mm stainless steel wire, swag braces, turnbuckles, fasteners
Example Business Case
- Rough Business Case (Strawberry Farm):
Upfront costs – $5000 + labour
Production – 1200 to 2400 kg strawberries p/year (40-80kg p/tower)
Revenue – $24,000 to $48,000 p/year (Selling retail at $18 p/kg)
Ongoings – $3000 + labour p/year (eg. Water, nutrient, growing medium)
Profit Y1 – $16,000 – $40,000 (2x, 3x, 10x with every 30 Towers!)
Description
Why Choose a Tower Farm?
Amazing Value
Start up cost @ $118 p/tower with 28 plant sites p/sqm. Scale up to 60 plant sites p/sqm (Ask us how).
Amazing results
Expect robust, healty growth & commercial quality produce. See below video for what crops grow best in tower farms.
Hydroponic or Organic Nutrients
With hydroponic fertigation we inject superior blend nutrient into the water flow. With Organic, we add pelletized nutrient to the medium then add normal water.
Smart Technology capable
Choose the 'commercial fittings' option above for Wifi controlled irrigation from your phone. In-line EC/PH/Temp metering solutions also available etc.
Outdoor or Greenhouse
The Coco/perlite medium is an effective buffer against temperature variance enabling successful growth in various climates. See our outdoor overhead netting solutions or greenhouse & poly tunnel packages
Water Efficient
Tower farms can use up to 98% less water than traditional farming methods. Every drop of water is delivered directly where it is needed.
Energy Efficient & Off Grid capable
Each tower requires only a small flush of water 3 times p/day. Compare that to aeroponics or NFT where constant recirculation is needed and the energy saving is massive! Solar options also available.
Quality Service
Dedicated Australian office with phone support and expert assistance. Detailed installation instructions included or we can set-up the whole farm for you.
Best Crops for Tower Farms
General Info
A Conservative Business Case
100 Tower Parsely, Basil, Coriander, Mint Farm
- 100 meter area (10 x 10)
- 4 plant sites p/stack, 7 stacks p/tower = 2800 total plant sites
- 2 bunches p/plant site p/month = 5600 bunches
- 5600 bunches @$1.50 p/bunch = $8,400 gross sales p/month
- $8,400 p/month x 12 = $100,800 p/year
- Upfront investment $10500
- On-going costs approx $7000 p/year
(nutrient + water + coco coir + packaging) - Net income p/year $80,600
Note: Yield increases exponentially as you stack higher!
Commercial Farming FAQ
We recommend min 1 to 1.2 meters apart to ensure adequate sun to all sections of the farm.
This is an excellent method to increase sunlight to the lower parts of the tower. In fact out latest recommended design for commercial set-ups is 3 meter poles that are secured overhead with simple wiring. Then a planter at the base of the tower, then first tier 500mm above the ground, then 5 medium stacks, then 25mm spacer, than 5 medium stacks. See this picture for an example
- Commercial quality yields (vertical growing methods)
- No waste product or flushing of system required
- Low operational costs
- Plant constantly receives fresh nutrient instead of reconstituted/depleted nutrient
- Easier to maintain a consistent PH level
- Nutrient water is less prone to pathogen attack
- Significantly less logistical and maintenance issues compared to re-circulation
- Effective insulation of roots from extreme heat (using coco/perlite medium)
- Strong buffers against any prolonged moisture loss
- Almost no electricity usage as there is no water pump required
- Highly cost effective with reusable medium
This depends on a range of factors including sunlight, temperture, plant types and phases etc, but as a rule, we recommend budgeting for 1 litre per tower per day.
Vertical farming with hydroponic technologies are expanding rapidly all across the world due to increased urban farming demands and production needs.
Most hydroponic facilties carry a substantial infrastructure outlay with the need for greenhousing, water re-circulate, water, temperature and pest management, reservoirs, pumping etc etc.
The infrastructure cost of a Mr Stacky tower farm are significantly less other systems with arguably an even better yield per square meter. With our latest farming methods, we have simple and scalable solutions for pest management, crop rotation, sunlight optimization, wind management and even an innovative per tower mini greenhouse solutions.
With a recirculating farm (eg. NFT), you run the risk of water born diseases being carried through to the entire farm. Our tower farms use a fertigation method which ensures fresh clean nutrient every feed with almost no water management overheads or expensive monitorring systems.
Our injectors are high quality with 1 year warranty and come with replacement parts to maintain optimal useage over time. They are used in commercial fertigation set-ups all over the world. They work like a venturi. As water is pushed through (from water pressure), a suction action is created inside the device, which extracts liquid fertilizer from a reservoir below and injects this into the flow of water which goes out to the garden. It is adjustable so you can varry the output from 0.4% – 4.0%
Fertilizer Injector FAQ's
No, it’s actually very easy. Just install it against a wall between the garden and your water mains or water tank. The hardest bit is ensuring the right EC to your garden. We show you exactly how to do this. See this video
These devices have been used in large scale agriculture & farming practices for decades. They are powered by water pressure. As water enters through the inlet, it drives an internal suction action just like a toilet plunger. This creates a vaccuum within the device which draws nutrient upwards from a tank below and injects this into the water flow at quantities between 0.4% to 4% of the total flow.
- No electricity needed
- No pumps needed (if using water mains)
- No reservoirs needed
- Injects fresh nutrient every feed
- No recirculation needed
- Long lasting, commercial quality
- Allows precise nutrient measurement
- Automated & easy to maintain
This set-up is best used for larger scale operations which are cycling through more than 100 litres of water per week. It means you spend less time managing your reservoir. Because they rely on water pressure, they’re much more scalable then a water pump. 2 injectors are sufficient to power an entire 100 tower farm. (Part A & Part B nutrient)
They come with a 1 year warranty on malfunction or parts replacement. They also come with replacement seals which can be used after 1 year or so to extend the life of the device well past 2-5 years.
Basically, this is a high quality venturi. You can pickup small venturi devices for $20 but in our experience they don’t work! It’s very hard to regulate the amount of suction and you end up wasting heaps of nutrient. Also, the venturi’s we’ve tested are very tepremental. It might work ok for a day, and then it stops sucking properly and your constantly second guessing if it’s working! These injectors are made for commericial growers who need consistency and longevitiy. Yes, the cost more, but they’re worth it.
Typically, the main issue is build up of mineral salt in the 6mm hose which extends into your nutrient solution. This can be easily resolved cleaning the hose fortnightly with a wire or simply running clean water through it.
For commercial farms, we recommend 2 x injectors. 1 for Part A & 1 for Part B. However for smaller residential set-ups, simply use 1 injector and combing the Part A & B nutrient in one reservoir at an EC of 15. This ensures no significant nutrient ‘lock-out’ or detrimental results. See these results. (All based on 1 injector and combined Part A &B at EC15)
Hydroponic Nutrient FAQ's
There is much conjecture about the nature of hydroponic nutrients and their safety in comparison to ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ soil. See this article for detailed info.
The artical concludes that:
a) Hydroponic nutrients are derived from the same base materials that conventional soil based nutrients are made
b) There is no evidence to support that plants grown with hydroponic mineral salts are detrimental to human health in any way. This evidence is based on multi-decades of analysis and use worldwide.
All plants need fertilizer to grow. In traditional gardening plants receive nutrient from the soil which is enriched with minerals and organic additives which may include manure & compost. These soil additives can be very effective, but as with many ‘organic’ products, there is the potential for large disparity in the actual contents.
Nutients can be categorized as follows:
1) Macronutrients. Plants need these in large amounts. This includes: Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oyxgen, Phosphorus, Calcium.
2) Micronutrinets. Plats need these in small amounts>
This includes: Zinc, copper, iron, manganese, boron, cholorine, nickel, molybdenum, nickel.
Standard hydroponic nutrients are derived from mineral salts. Hydroponic nutrients are simply plant nutrients that are designed for use in a hydroponic system. Plants require 16 elements to grow. Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen are already available in the air and water that they are receiving.
Mr Stacky Australia
Varsity Lakes, QLD 4227
ABN 802 266 459 01
I just wanted to give you an update on our strawberry patch.
Everything is running smoothly and growing perfectly.
I have attached a couple of pictures.
Thanks again,
Kasie
Some project ideas we had: purchase a freeze dryer so there is no food wastage, distribution models to sell the food, community project focussing on food security solutions for the Gold Coast, sponsoring Mr Stacky vertical farms to be set up in other suburbs, building a community of volunteers, study herbalism, grow the plants and create tinctures to be used as natural medicines and teach others, cooking classes to make jams, preserves, recipes from the food we grow, healthy eating and gardening school programs.
Update 2022: After success inititally we decided to switch from the organic nutrient to the hydroponic nutrient as we had a very wet season and found the nutrient was being washed away faster than the plants could absorb it. Since we’ve switched to the hydroponic nutrient, the plants have made a massive improvement and we’re looking forward to the next picking season!
As we get alot of wind on the island, we’ve used wind netting around the garden. This also creates a physical barrier for wildlife and a gating structure for customers. We’ve also constructed meshing above the towers to stop birds as well. In addition to strawberries we’ve succesfully grown various crop types including snowpeas, beetroot, brocoli, radish, cabbage etc. We’re targeting an open date prior to Christmas (depending on the COVID19 restrictions)…