This business is for sale 

This is an excerpt from an article by Dianne Mindac in Thousand Business - Where Minds Meet Success, updated Dec. 6, 2020

"Is Hydroponics a Good Business Investment?

Here are the main reasons why you should invest in a hydroponics or any farming business:
1.    Growing population.

As of July 2020 the world population is estimated to be 7.8 billion. And by 2050, it is expected to rise to 9.8 billion. Food is a basic need of every human being. With this expected growth rate you can capitalize on any business that will be consumed daily by people. Hence, hydroponics or any farming business can be a good investment.
2.    Increasing urbanization.

It is undeniable that a lot of people have this urban-mindset. They believe that a greener pasture is within the urban areas. The result is that the younger generations migrate to larger cities. The number of older farmers, who'd sooner or later will have to retire will most likely not be replaced by an equivalent number of new farmers. It is also for this reason, why hydroponics can be an profitable venture since this system is soilless. 
3.    Need to conserve water.

In countries where there is water shortage, hydroponics can be a viable way to produce protein and vegetables while conserving our natural resources. Hydroponics, compared to the traditional way of farming in soil, uses less water. 
4.    Less pesticide.

With hydroponics, you have more control over crop pests. With this system, you can easily identify crop pests and you can easily clean the system to control infestation. You can also use greenhouse which can provide protection from certain predators or pests. With less pests, less pesticides are also used in commercial hydroponics systems.
5.    No soil depletion

Farming in soil may require crop rotation to ensure optimal nutrition for your plants. In hydroponics, you can grow you favorite food again and again since you will be using nutrient solutions (commercial or homemade) to sustain the plants' nutritional needs. These nutrient solutions are mixed in water flowing through the roots of your hydroponics plants.
6.    Less labor is needed.

Although setting up a hydroponics system can take some time, less labor force is needed afterwards. Hydroponics farming eliminates the need to regularly cultivate the soil, remove unwanted weeds, and check for soil-borne disease and pests. 
7.    Greater yields.

Hydroponics plants have the potential to give you greater harvests. This is because your plants' roots are in direct contact with essential nutrients running through the water. 

If you need further information on hydroponics, it would be worthwhile to check Dr. Howard Resh's books about hydroponics."
 

This is an excerpt from Trees.com "Advantages of Hydroponics for Gardeners" by Max - last update Feb 19, 2021

"While it may sound complex, growing plants in a hydroponics system has other benefits. Some of the most notable include:
1. An extended growing season
Cold climates with chilly winter temperatures and shorter day lengths prohibit plant growth. But with a hydroponics system, plants can be grown hydroponically year-round because the grower controls the temperature, light, and nutrient-supply.
2. Improved growth and yield
Hydroponics systems typically result in faster-growing, higher-yielding plants. This is likely due to the increased oxygen levels found in the nutrient solution and the carefully controlled environmental factors. By increasing a plant’s oxygen levels, you stimulate root growth and enhance nutrient uptake. These optimal growing conditions equate to less stress on plants and a more bountiful harvest.
3. Higher plant density
Plants grown in soil have rigid spacing guidelines that must be followed to allow each plant equal access to the soil’s somewhat limited supply of water and nutrients. Because hydroponics systems deliver a more nutrient-charged solution to the root zone, plants can be grown closer together without competing for root space.
4. Plants can grow anywhere
Unlike traditional gardens that require outdoor space for plants, hydroponics systems are easily incorporated into many homes, regardless of their size or location.
5. Less water consumption
Even though hydroponic systems depend primarily on water to grow plants, they use between 80 to 90% less water than plants grown in the ground. In traditional gardening, a large amount of water is applied to the soil to allow adequate moisture to reach the root zone. When moving through the soil, the water evaporates and only a percentage of it reaches the roots.
In hydroponics, the water immediately reaches the roots, with little lost to evaporation. In many systems, the nutrient solution is also recirculated multiple times before becoming unusable and discarded, further improving water efficiency.
6. Fewer pest problems
Because hydroponics systems are indoors, pests aren’t as prevalent and have controlled entrances. Insects find it more challenging to infiltrate the system and attack plants. Plus, fewer pest problems mean little to no need for pesticides.
7. Easier to harvest mature plants
Plants grown in hydroponics systems are typically grown on counters, benches, tables, etc., which puts them at waist height for most growers. At this height, mature plants are easier to harvest since there’s no need to bend down or kneel to reach the plants. This is an important advantage for growers with limited mobility or physical ailments that prevent them from gardening at ground-level."

This is an excerpt from Rosebud Magazine "Hydroponic Grow Room Checklist: 10 Things Every Hydroponics Growers Should Remember" by M.K. © Copyright RosebudMag.com, 2012

"Whether you’re a hobbyist or a high-level commercial grower, no doubt you want the best crop you can get. Well, it may sound cliché, but organization is key. I like to keep a concise checklist taped to the door of my grow room. On it are these ten things to remember every time you or one of your workers enters or leaves the grow area. These are things that will help ensure that everything is in good running order to avoid profit-crushing problems, and instead maximize your yield.. Here they are:

1. Always Enter Your Grow Room with a Positive Attitude
Nothing will put a damper on creative thinking faster than a bad attitude. If you’re having a bad day or are more stressed than usual when entering your grow room, stop to take a deep breath and think about your plants. Imagine them growing big and strong—then make it happen. You need time and care to have a successful crop.
2. Be Ready to Do the Necessary Work
Sometimes a grower enters the room with only half the intention to do what is necessary for success. If you see a problem starting, eradicate it right then and there rather than planning to fix it later. Putting in time before a problem balloons out of control can save you hours of trouble in the future.
3. Do Not Wake Your Plants While They Are in Their Sleep Cycle
More times than I can count, I’ve seen facilities where the grower will turn on the lights during the plants’ dark cycle, thinking that having them on for only a few moments won’t cause adverse effects. Plants can be thrown off their photo period schedule by light poisoning, and in some cases, they can develop troubles such as producing seeds, hermaphrodites, or causing under-formed fruits or flowers that look like they are going back into a veg cycle even though they’re in the final stages of flower.
4. Check Your Atmospheric Levels
What is the temperature in your grow room? The variance between your night and day temperatures should not be more than 10 degrees. The fluctuation should be as minimal as possible. Also, note the humidity in the room. During vegetative growth, humidity can reach 70%, but in the flower cycle you should aim for 40-50% humidity. Some varieties perform better with slightly higher humidity levels during flowering. However, if humidity is too low and there are excessive nitrogen levels in the foliage, plants become more susceptible to diseases like powdery mildew. 

5. Get Up Close and Personal
It never hurts to use a magnifying glass to take a look at the leaves and stalks of your plants. By doing this, you may discover molds, mildews, spider mites or thrips in their earliest stages and be able to tackle them before they get out of control. A thorough inspection of all plants should be done every day or two. Exercise diligence.
6. Take a Close Look at Your Electronics and Environmental Controls
It’s always a good idea to inspect your ballasts, bulbs and connections to make sure they’re operating properly and that nothing has come loose over time that could cause a short or fire. Also, give your air conditioning and ducting the once-over regularly. Make sure there are no tears in the flex ducting or leaks that bring down the efficiency of your cooling system.
7. Dress the Part
At all my facilities, workers must take off their shoes before entering the grow room to prevent contaminating the stable indoor environment with pollutants or insects from outside. You may even want to keep some slippers around. It’s also a good idea to have a chemical suit with a proper respirator if you intend to spray insecticides—whether organic or chemical. Many non-organic pesticides contain carcinogens, so it’s imperative to protect yourself.
8. What Are the Ph and PPM of Your Nutrient Solution?
Always use a pH and ppm pen to determine the level of nutrients your plants need. It still amazes me to see growers not using this sort of basic monitoring. By properly testing your pH and ppm in the nutrient solution, you can deliver the correct nutrients and fertilizer into your plant system and fine-tune adjustments to control your plant’s growth. This is a must-have for any level of grower.
9. Secure the Area When You Enter and Leave
Most growers are creatures of habit, and if one of your habits becomes leaving a door unlocked or a window open while you’re in the grow room, you might end up paying for it. Better safe than sorry. Always lock yourself into your grow room, and lock all windows and doors when you leave. If you have an alarm system, turn it on while you’re in the facility to give you a heads-up if there are intruders. Always keep a cellphone with you in case of emergencies.
10. Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness
Always do a thorough cleanup before you leave the growing environment. This includes double-bagging garbage that could be contaminated with insects or mildews and going around the room with a Shop-Vac that has an onboard HEPA filter to keep any spilled soil or excess water off your floors. This will help prevent infestation by bugs and keep mold at bay. Finally, a solution of one part 32% H2O2 to 10 parts water can go a long way when sanitizing your growing environment.
Following these steps can save you a lot of headaches and help ensure a hearty, top-quality yield. You don’t want to learn the hard way that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so stay focused and have fun, and you can take that to the bank."
 

Not into aquaponics or hydroponics but still want to be your own boss?

Can You Envision Alternative Uses for This Wonderful Space?

Photos of the greenhouse before growbeds were added (which can easily be removed)

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Here are a couple of alternative uses for the property:

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Craft Brewery and Tap Room

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Craft Distillery and Cocktail Room

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Nothing like it between Two Harbors and Grand Marias. Property is in close vicinity of motels, parks, campgrounds, adventure park, mini-golf, Lake Superior and inland lake beaches and many other year-round tourist attractions,

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And there is even a storage bin for brewers grain on the property. Be mindful that permits and licenses would be required for these activities.

SALE DETAILS

Asking Price: $795,000 USD

Included:

Land - 0.97 deeded acres, city water, city sewer (additional adjacent lots for sale by City of Silver Bay for expansion)

Building - 37 ft. x 88 ft. metal clad exterior, 2x6 walls, 10'4" ceiling height, spray foam insulation, drywall interior, commercial systems

Aluminum & Polycarbonate Greenhouse - 4 conjoined for a total area of 60 ft. x 88 ft., 12 ft. sidewalls, with 8mm twin-wall polycarbonate 

Aquaponic/Hydroponic Equipment - too numerous to list here, see Our Facility web page

Turn-Key Business - inventory needed to to start planting and packaging

List of Customers & Vendors

Operating and Maintenance Manuals

Architectural Drawings (structural, mechanical, electrical)

some spare parts

and more.

Negotiable:

Start-Up Consultation

2008 GMC C5500 Refrigerated Truck (former Schwan's truck) 

Upon request and with a signed confidentiality agreement, I will provide my business plan to use as a template for yours if you wish, a financial spreadsheet with production estimates, projected income & expenses & projected cash flow for 2 years.

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This would be an excellent opportunity for an entrepreneur to invest in a rewarding career.

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