Our story.
Over the years working as a plumber and irrigation installer I had often been involved in installation of many types of hydroponic systems but generally found them overly complicated and expensive. I worked as a plumber and in the construction industry for many years until I had an industrial accident which resulted in the amputation of my right arm above the elbow. Being right-handed I needed to re-learn how to do most tasks with my left hand, and I was determined to keep doing the things I enjoyed without assistance from others. I’ve been lucky to continue working in businesses, retain my plumbing license and even restore a few cars in my time.
It was many years later that I came across a new system that fascinated me in its simplicity and cost effectiveness. Around this time my wife Faye and I had purchased a small rural property on Phillip Island, and I felt it was time for a new venture.
We have always grown fresh fruit and vegetables, and strawberries were a favourite, so it seemed natural to make this our chosen path.
I spent the next 6 months studying and researching strawberries and the best modern practices in hydroponic growing techniques. We commenced building our boutique farm in November 2019. I designed and constructed the system, complete with a custom irrigation system. The towers are enclosed with netting to keep out possums and birds, however, still allows plenty of bees in.
With the assistance from friends and family, we spent several long days planting over 4000 strawberry plants. We now aim to have our farm store operating by November 2020.
During the construction I trialed other vegetables in our vertical system and found the results incredible. This has resulted in planting three varieties of tomato, snow peas & sugar snap peas, Lebanese cucumbers, carrots, capsicum, radish and broccoli as well as many varieties of flowers to help with pollination. We don’t use harmful pesticides or chemicals, and the plants are grown in coir, a recycled coconut husk.
If the amount of plants were planted in a traditional manner in the ground, this would require more than 3 times the land and water. Whilst the volume of produce is currently small, it will give us the information and confidence to expand in the near future.
Our vertical tower system has certainly been a point of interest with the locals and tourists. We frequently had people stopping at the gate wanting to know what we were building. We even heard of people taking bets on what it could possibly be!
The Smart Farm vertical tower technology is now available for sale in variations from a single stand-alone recirculating unit, perfect for people with limited space, through to design and construction of commercial installations throughout Victoria. The system can also be adapted to growing exceptionally well with regular potting mix and hand watering for the home gardener.
Hydroponic growing is no longer out of reach of the average Australian and it can be customised to suit any property and many different crops. This is a sustainable and affordable way to grow your own fresh fruit and vegetables.
This is the perfect system for older people and people with disability, it can easily be customised to the physical needs of the gardener. The vertical tower system allows easy picking of produce without the strain of getting up and down. In the near future I will be ensuring that the farm area is wheelchair accessible, as I have family members who use a wheelchair, so I am keen to ensure that everyone is able to enjoy the experience of picking fresh strawberries.
Our property is the perfect place to buy farm fresh produce as well as being open for viewing to people wanting to learn more about this revolutionary growing system.
