Interested in tech-powered micro-farming? Try ‘Farm from a Box’

All you need to run an off-grid, solar-powered farm is packed into a shipping container

All you need to run an off-grid, solar-powered farm is packed into a shipping container

Farm from a Box is a complete, easy-start toolkit for a small farm that enables sustained local food production. Its inventors, Brandi DeCarli and Scott Thompson set out to create a sustainable way of growing food, particularly in areas where natural resources, infrastructure and technology are scarce. After 3 years of design, they founded their California-based company in order to promote this innovative farm, that comes in a 10-, 20- and 40-foot shipping container together with the seeds and farming tools. ‘Farm from a Box is the ‘Swiss-Army knife’ of sustainable farming,’ said Brandi DeCarli. ‘Based on extensive field research, we found that rural communities often lack the resources and infrastructure needed to access nutritious food. We developed a toolkit that contains all of the core components needed to grow your own food, on a two acre plot of land, without the need for an existing grid. Imagine the good it can do by growing local, organic food for a school, or helping jumpstart food production after a disaster. ‘Farm from a Box’ enables and empowers communities to provide for themselves’, she adds. For those interested in investing, a crowdfunding campaign is on the go.

A plug-and-play farming system

The system is designed to feed 150 people per year and is capable of supporting the cultivation of almost one hectare (2.5 acres) of land. Its energy needs are completely covered by renewable sources, which makes it ideal for use at off-grid, remote and rural communities worldwide. The containers have a 3 kW solar PV array (designed by SMA) pre-installed. The farm also features a water-smart irrigation system and precision farming technology, as well as:

• a solar-powered pump and drip irrigation system which delivers small droplets of water and fertilizer to the base of plants
• basic farming tools
• a water purification system
• a Trojan Battery bank for energy storage
• High-efficiency LED lighting
• ICT and data mapping
• Mobile charging area
• Secured storage

Each farming system will cost between $25,000-$45,000 depending on the level of technology inside. In order to help new farmers, a training program that covers ecological farming practices, technology use, maintenance and basic business and entrepreneurship concepts is also provided.