Well, I think there's a great parallel here with the WISP industry. For the time being, raising food (providing Internet) for the masses is best done by traditional means as they're the only ones with sufficient scale to encompass large quantities. However, just as you can't run a traditional farm in downtown Chicago, you can't run a DSL or cable system effectively in Montana.
----- Mike Hammett Intelligent Computing Solutions http://www.ics-il.com On 4/16/2011 11:10 AM, Brian Webster wrote: > Your definition of small is huge by NY dairy farm standards. Most around > here have between 100 and 300 acres. These small farms could do well by > supplementing their dairy product with some of these produce pods. There is > a decent demand for specialty foods in relatively small quantities as > compared to what you are used to. I do not know how well it would scale for > the volume of what you are describing. I would imagine the biggest challenge > would be the harvesting process and how much labor it would involve as > compared to the mechanized methods in use today. The idea of producing a > significant portion of consumer foods at points near or nearer to the point > of consumption has merit, plus as well all know distributed production does > not leave one as vulnerable to shortages and/or price fixing. > > Thank You, > Brian Webster > 214 Eggleston Hill Rd. > Cooperstown, NY 13326 > (607) 643-4055 Office > (607) 435-3988 Mobile > (208) 692-1898 Fax > Skype: Radiowebst > www.wirelessmapping.com > www.Broadband-Mapping.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Mike Hammett > Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2011 11:21 AM > To: WISPA General List > Subject: Re: [WISPA] Update - what Matt Liotta has been doing... > > *nods* I come from a relatively small farm (2500 acres, 2400 pigs, 2 dozen > cattle). Being a technologist I am always curious as to advancements in > production efficiency. > > I do wonder about the cost effectiveness of this model and how well it can > scale (within a given crop and to other crops). Can we get the almost 500k > bushels of corn and soybeans we get now from 18 containers? > > ----- > Mike Hammett > Intelligent Computing Solutions > http://www.ics-il.com > > > > On 4/16/2011 10:07 AM, Brian Webster wrote: >> I would guess that that level of yield increase is due to things like >> more efficient growing due to accurate nutrient balance, the tiers he >> uses as well as there or no weather elements to deal with which would >> give you a consistent year round growing season. One acre of actual >> land has to deal with mother nature and a shorter growing period. >> These pods can constantly grow plants and stagger the age of the >> seedlings to give a consistent yield on a daily or weekly basis thus >> giving you and constant availability of product and not have to deal >> with the problem of in season or the massive increase in shipping >> costs to bring product that is desired from areas that do have an >> active growing season. I think this is a great concept. This is not >> just for urban environments. Small acreage farmers could do wonders >> with their productivity and be able to have a consistent revenue >> stream if they keep their pods free of contaminants. There would no longer > be bad years because of frost or drought. Kudos to Matt! >> Brian >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] >> On Behalf Of Mike Hammett >> Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2011 9:57 AM >> To: WISPA General List >> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Update - what Matt Liotta has been doing... >> >> Matt, are you around? >> >> This method of farming can certainly grow produce where it would >> otherwise be impossible or impractical. It also is more resource >> efficient. However, I am curious how Matt can get a 136x increase in >> yield vs. conventional farming. >> >> ----- >> Mike Hammett >> Intelligent Computing Solutions >> http://www.ics-il.com >> >> >> >> On 4/16/2011 8:45 AM, Charles Wu wrote: >>>> From WISP to high-tech farmer to being profiled on CNN; gotta give >>>> the >> guy some credit... >>> http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/04/16/podponics/ >>> >>> >>> >>> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> - >>> ---------- >>> WISPA Wants You! 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