VRT Farms - Hydroponic Towers

VRT Farms

Hydroponic Towers

My name is Connor Harbison and I’m an MBA Candidate at Babson College in the 2 year program. Before coming to Babson, I worked as a startup coach for three years in Bozeman, Montana, where I also had a software startup. I’m interested in startups that build community in novel ways, and that’s what first attracted me to urban agriculture and hydroponics.

During the spring semester, I’ve built two hydroponic rain towers in the Weissman Foundry, with materials for eight more. These towers are prototypes that I plan to use in launching my urban agriculture venture, VRT farms (IG: @vrtfarms). The idea is to use these towers to create pop-up gardens in urban spaces, selling an experience that just so happens to produce food.

My great-great grandfather was a farmer in New Jersey, but I grew up in the middle of a city. It wasn’t until I was living out west and saw Vertical Harvest in Jackson, Wyoming, that I started learning about vertical farming. When I arrived at Babson, I began exploring the idea, and quickly figured out that I’d have to make my money on events and services, rather than selling the produce itself. I needed a compact, mobile, and aesthetically pleasing system, and YouTube helped me find a design that fit the bill. Unfortunately, I live in a small apartment, and my early efforts at building the prototype actually left scratch marks on my floor (don’t tell my landlord). A friend recommended the Weissman Foundry to me, and after meeting Jonathan and the Scouts, it was clear that I needed to shift my production from my apartment and garage into a real workspace.

I’ve used the resources from the Foundry as much as possible. It started with working in the wood shop, using the compound mitre saw to reduce the time it took for me to make certain cuts from about ten minutes to thirty seconds. I was also able to take advantage of the Personal Project Grant. My towers are mainly built out of PVC, which isn’t expensive, but every little bit helps, and the grant from the Foundry helped get things started. Since the early days, I’ve used just about every tool at the Foundry, from power tools in the wood shop to the laser cutter to iron-on vinyl stencils. I’ve also gotten to know the student staff, known as Scouts, who are always helpful and friendly, and often have advice on how you can accomplish your goals a little more efficiently.

I’ve just finished the second tower, and I plan to build many more. Back in January, I didn’t have any plans to build more than one, but after enjoying the build process so much, I want to design more. Just going from the first tower to the second, I’ve streamlined the process, which wouldn’t have been possible without the learning I did at the Foundry. In future iterations, I might add more bells and whistles, like sensors inside to track the water quality or film the plant growth. Luckily, I know I’ll have a partner in the Weissman Foundry, and a great place to build my hydroponic systems.

Check out VRT Farms on Instagram to find their latest work.

_________

**This post is made in conjunction with the Foundry’s Personal Project Grants. They received a grant that enabled this project to move forward. If you’d like to learn more about the program, please visit our info-page here.