... "Paying it forward ... pays it back" ...
“Growing hope for the homeless”;
Is a ‘self sustaining system’ and method of converting landfill destined garbage into ‘Gourmet Greens’ producing 100% Organic Vegetables all year round. Specifically earmarked to be employing formerly ‘homeless’ or ‘at risk youth’ in a self esteem building, and respect structured, integrated continual learning environm
ent.
*This is a “FOR PROFIT VENTURE” supplying consumers with100% organic produce. [See; Final Summation for explanation of “Paying it Forward”]
It is highly efficient vegetable production system capable of supplying “alive and growing” organic vegetables right to our commercial consumers’ kitchens, all year round’. As well as supply the vegetables for ‘weekly pick up’ or ‘paid delivery’ to subscribers of our 3, 6 or 12 month memberships in “Community Supported Agriculture” (CSA's) which we will set up. We also hope to be offering 3 foot towers for in town delivery weekly for a reasonable fee option’ [available to the elderly, shut-ins and the other mobility challenged at a reduced rate]
As well as also “introduce” and then set up of ‘grow towers’ with clear water circulation in “Living Food Wall” displays where possible at health food stores, specialty stores, and the farmers market, etc. Because with this method of growing the plant stays alive until it is cut off for the consumer to take home. This is a nearly complete cycle of waste recovery, reducing and reusing organic kitchen waste by employing “Black Soldier Fly larvae” to “eat the garbage” as their food and grow to maturity at which time they become food for the captive tilapia fish growing in their tanks. The ‘fish waste laden water’ is circulated through the growing media where bacteria convert it into nutrient plant food which the plants live on, producing lush green organic growth, returning the filtered clean and clear water to the fish; a truly symbiotic relationship. Setting this up for 365 day year round production will require leasing a warehouse space of about 1,000 square feet in the downtown area for easy access to both our workers and customers; which is also capable of maintaining a suitable ‘green house’ atmosphere all year round. Utilizing the most advanced production method and lay out as shown in the drawing [ see the site picture] ... with a grouping of 100 “Zip Grow Towers” and since each provides 10 ‘plant sites’; then with each tower completing ten ‘five week cycles from seedling to harvest’ it will produce 100 plants for every tower in one year. When this is multiplied further by the100 towers, then the 100 plants produced by each now totals an amazing 10,000 plants a year per greenhouse and when further extended; with 2-4 pounds per plant as the average production it would total an incredible 30,000 pounds of FRESH organic vegetables. At a very conservative estimate each pound would sell at a minimum of $4+ [wholesale price] and so each installation would generate an annual cash flow of $120,000+.
$30,000 is the annual budget allowance, including $10,000 allowed for electricity and heating utilities, to lease and run an appropriate 1,000 square foot ware house space capable of a consistent green house atmosphere near or downtown Prince George complete with office space, meeting room and washroom facilities . The remaining roughly $90,000 after government taxes and fees, plus liability insurance and other operating overhead costs, would be moderate but much improved income for 3-4 of the ‘extremely low income people’. But more than that ... allowing them to again become “contributing members to society again free of social assistance but rather becoming more ‘self sufficient’ for life”. In fact the funding for a first installation of "Growing Hope for the Homeless" will gainfully employ (2) people, immediately...
Starting with myself as the manager as well as an assistant manager, paid to build the whole “Aquaponic system” and set it up. This is expected to take about 3 months because so much of it has to be imported from the manufacturer in the USA with the rest found locally and then it all installed. Since it is 100% organic; next will be getting all of the integrated ‘biological cycles’ activated and interacting symbiotically until they become stabilized which experienced professionals in the field say takes six months or more, after ‘flow in the system’ is first started. During which time the necessary knowledge and information compiled to form a basic educational curriculum of instruction will be developed for ‘prospective’ and also ‘paid volunteers’.
