Episode 7: Harvested by Hand, Crafted by Culture with CULTA

Key Takeaways

00:31 – Michael introduces today’s guest, Jay Bouton, who shares the inspiration behind the name Culta, what it means to say that Maryland is a ‘limited license state,’ and the concept behind vertical integration

06:57 – Jay paints a picture of the history behind the building infrastructure that Culta currently uses

10:18 – An indoor, outdoor and greenhouse grower

14:03 – The Cravo system explained

20:04 – Jay speaks to the Indoor growing they are doing at Culta

22:01 – Flowering rooms and average maturation time

31:04 – Grower of the Year, Product of the Year, & Workplace of the Year

36:33 – A collaboration with Dartmouth

37:57 – Genetics and Pheno-hunting, explained

42:36 – Traits Jay looks for in a cultivar

52:28 – Selecting an equipment vendor

55:54 – Partnering with Pip Horticulture

58:51 – What the future holds for Culta

1:03:51 – Michael thanks Jay for joining the show and sharing his story

1:04:45 – Advice Jay would give to those looking to enter the cannabis industry

Shareable Quotes

“We’re the second largest employer in town now. And, as we keep on growing, I know we’ll become number one. There’s more opportunity that Culta can offer a lot of the people from Cambridge than The Hyatt or these other companies. There’s much more room for growth. You’re being educated everyday at work. We’re growing the people just as much as we’re growing the plants.” (09:51)

“With outdoor, we’ve gone through two hurricanes. We’ve gone through a drought. We’ve gone through five straight days of rain. So, we have an idea of where everything’s gonna go, but you honestly have to see how that season treats you before you can really decide if this is an extraction year or a flower year.” (16:53)

“It’s kind of humbling to know that, no matter how good or big we think we are, in the grand scheme we’re a smaller, middle ground company. But that also allows us to really focus on what matters.” (31:48)

“What we’re most proud about is The Workplace of the Year in the cannabis industry. Being Grower of the Year is awesome. Being Product of the Year is awesome. But being recognized as the employer where employees would much rather be, that makes us prouder than anything.” (33:15)

“We won’t put anything out there that we wouldn’t smoke ourselves.” (1:03:22)

Resources

CULTA – https://www.culta.io/

CULTA Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cultamaryland

CULTA Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/cultaig/?hl=en

CULTA YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/CULTAMaryland/videos

Jay’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-bouton-v-b592691a2/

Video

Get a FREE Grow Consultation

The Pros and Cons of Vertical Farming

Creating a Future with Vertical Farming

The cannabis cultivation world is changing every day. According to the World Health Organization, about 147 million people consume cannabis; we’re talking about a massive marketplace for your business, wherever you’re based. With this rising demand, growers must think creatively to stay ahead and adopt future-proofed strategies to achieve their goals.

Vertical farming allows growers to meet these market needs while leaving a smaller footprint and creating a more efficient workflow.

Facilities benefit from increased square footage for plants and the ability to cultivate more than one strain. Nevertheless, funding the initial costs for equipment and installation can be difficult, especially for new businesses.

As with any cultivation method, understanding the advantages and disadvantages of vertical farming is the key to success.

What Is Vertical Farming?

In the agricultural world, vertical farming is a technique that allows growers to cultivate crops upward with Vertical Grow Racks. Traditionally, cannabis growers have operated using single-tiered growing media.

However, this layout limited their ability to expand their inventory and production line. In response, cultivators developed the concept of vertical farming to boost yield while remaining in the same footprint.

The Benefits of Vertical Farming

There are numerous advantages to vertical farming. Not only can cannabis cultivators increase yield, but they can also reduce water waste and grow year-round. Vertical farming facilities efficiently utilize space, enabling businesses to optimize operations and effectively meet market demands.

1. Maximized Grow Space

Instead of relying on single-tier grow tables, cultivators can now take advantage of the tall ceilings in commercial warehouses. Adding multiple growing spaces can significantly increase production capacity to generate revenue.

The right grow racks are vital to any successful vertical farming operation. Furthermore, mobile carriages allow for easy movement to create high-density grow rooms. These products can be used through multiple stages in the plant life cycle to increase operational efficiency.

2. Increased Genetic Offerings

Another advantage of vertical farming is the ability to cultivate multiple cannabis strains. These designs allow you to house a wider variety of genetics to rotate into a production schedule without sacrificing yields or needing a bigger building. An extensive genetic library means you can better meet the demands of this constantly evolving market.

3. Reduced Environmental Impact

Vertical farming doesn’t just save space–growing upward also reduces water waste. For example, hydroponic systems commonly found in vertical farming facilities use 95% less water than traditional irrigation methods. This difference is astronomical in the agricultural industry, as growers can help combat the effects of water scarcity.

4. Year-round Growing Capabilities

Every farmer knows the importance of maintaining operations, regardless of the season. You can’t sustain a business if you cannot turn a profit.

The controlled environment offered by vertical farming techniques means cultivators can continue growing cannabis year-round. Growers can easily incorporate equipment that continually monitors humidity levels, light exposure, and temperature so plants stay happy and healthy, no matter the time of year. This capability is paramount to success, longevity, and profitability.

5. Protection Against Pests and Diseases

Once disease, mold, or mildew infiltrate crops, restoring plant health can be incredibly difficult, sometimes impossible. Because vertical farming typically involves hydroponic or aeroponic methods, cultivators greatly reduce the risk of such problems commonly associated with soil-based substrates.

Pest control is an additional well-known benefit of vertical farming for a few reasons. For starters, growing cannabis indoors and off the ground limits exposure to bugs and other critters (e.g., birds, rats, aphids, etc.) that can often be found in outdoor settings.

Secondly, soil is more likely to contain dormant pests or potentially harmful contaminants not present in cleaner substrates utilized in vertical farming. These two factors can be the difference between a quality or unsuccessful yield.

The Disadvantages of Vertical Farming

The benefits of vertical farming cannot be overstated. Of course, no growing method or environment is perfect. You will always encounter some kind of issue as a cannabis cultivator. For some, financial investment can be a barrier to implementing equipment. Change can also be scary for business owners. In the end, your team can weigh the pros and cons to determine if vertical farming suits your needs.

1. High Initial Costs

Spending substantial money upfront can leave you feeling unsure of the future benefits. Converting to vertical farming is costly, and investing in quality equipment, climate control systems, and grow racks can add up quickly. Ongoing maintenance can be another financial hurdle, too. Ultimately, sticker shock can be a major deterrent for many cultivators.

2. Adjusting to Change

Converting to vertical farming brings substantial change, including the addition of climate conditions on each tier, grow lights, and HVAC systems. Your current team must also adapt to these updates and procedures.

Similarly, going from single-tier to multi-tier cultivation requires a shift in mindset. Growers must completely rewire how they have always viewed cannabis cultivation, and that alone can be incredibly intimidating.

3. Regulatory Challenges

With any new industry, regulatory limitations always exist. Each state has specific cannabis policies, such as production capacity limits or building codes. Understanding these laws can be difficult while trying to convert to vertical farming with new operations and equipment to learn.

Leverage Vertical Farming to Your Advantage

As we just covered, vertical farming can bring high costs, new process changes, and new regulations. These specific downfalls can be overwhelming but significantly increase growth potential. Every challenge brings new opportunities. Pipp Horticulture’s team can help during the vertical farming converting process. We understand the nuances and can share our experiences from the field. Pipp and its divisions (GGS Structures, Vertical Air Solutions, and Greenhaus Industries) offer all the products necessary to create the ultimate vertical grow system! From Vertical Grow Racks and Mobile Carriages to trays, carts, and other essential accessories. We even have a team of in-house professional engineers, CAD designers, sales support, and experienced cannabis operators to provide support before and after equipment installation to ensure operational success. Ready to convert to Vertical Farming? Check out this blog to learn five things you must know before converting to vertical farming.

Get a FREE Grow Consultation

Episode 6: Blue Collar Craft Cannabis with Freedom Green Farms

Summary:

Drew Nowak is an Alumni of Western Michigan University with a degree in Engineering Management Technology. He is also a former NFL offensive/defensive lineman for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, and Kansas City Chiefs. He is currently the Founder/CEO of an Adult Use cannabis grow facility in Northern Michigan, Freedom Green Farms LLC. Today, Drew joins the show to discuss process flow, design and the importance of attention to detail. Drew expounds on the origins of the name ‘Freedom Green,’ the value he places on efficiency and sustainability, and how Drew has cultivated an incredibly trusting culture within his organization.