About Us
Why Are We Different:
Our sales assistance program assists you in the following ways:
• Identifies potential buyers• Makes Contact• Finalizes sales of the produce
• Assists in setting up packaging, storage and delivery systems to the buyer/client
• We design our systems for each of the different varieties of greens herbs and vegetables.
• We use multi- cropping, interactive aeroponics, NFT, ebb and flo, fogponic and deepwater culture, which allows us to maximize the greenhouse space.
• We have also developed our own nutrients for specific growth cycles of the plants to promote the healthiest plant and the highest nutritional value and taste.
Why us?
We have designed our own systems for each type of plant to give full flavor and the highest production per harvest. We incorporate multi layering & multi crops with our own proprietary nutrients.
We offer a complete management package, it is the information source for you to successfully run your greenhouse and systems. We guide you from germination to harvest and packaging and everything in between.
Why Hydroponics:
In the most detailed study to date on the nutritional value of hydroponic produce, Plant Research Technologies Inc., an independent analytical laboratory in San Jose, California, reports dramatic increases in both the vitamin and mineral content compared to field grown produce.
Tomatoes (Patio Pride) demonstrated a mean increase of 50 percent in vitamin and mineral content. Of the 14 values tested, the hydroponics tomatoes showed increases in five and modest decreases of 25 to 30 percent in three.
Sweet peppers (Gypsy) showed a mean increase of 150 percent – increases in nine of the 14 values tested and equal to soil-grown in the remaining five.
The sweet peppers tested up to 300 percent higher in vitamins B2 and B3. A literature search including USDA, EPA and FDA publications, plus reports from university and private industry sources on the nutritional content of soil-grown crops was used in the study of nutritional analysis, which included vitamins A, B1 (thiamin), B2
• Pesticide free products through biological pest control.
• Nutrient solutions may be re-used in other areas such as potted plants and turf management.
• Growing mediums can be re-used and recycled.
• Hydroponic systems use little or no growing medium.
• More intense cropping technique requires less space.
• Non-arable land may easily be facilitated.
• Year round crop production in Canada reduces transportation of imports and therefore associated solution e.g.fossil fuels.
• Promotes an overall awareness of our environment.
• Closed re-circulating systems allow the grower control of the nutrient solution and therefore exactly what nutrients the plants receive.
• Varying nutrient formulas to suit different plants at different stages.
• Regular nutrient testing ensures all elements are present in their desired concentrations.
• Unwanted build ups of undesirable nutrient concentrations, such as nitrites, can be avoided.
• Hydroponic plants are more pest resistant.
• Control over environmental factors translates to a nutritionally superior, vegetable product.
• Vine ripened produce eliminates consumption of artificial ripening agents and pesticides used on imported produce.
• Vine ripened produce tastes superior and is nutritionally sound
• Hydroponic business stimulates economy for growers, manufacturers of their supplies, as well as distribution, wholesale and retail outlets.
• Opens up positions for job training and employment.
• Satisfies consumer demand.
Being environmentally friendly is now socially and politically demanded!
Nevada Naturals Consulting designs, manufactures and supplies Hydroponic and Aquaponic growing systems. Most of our food crops are indoor or Greenhouse operations. Our outdoor systems are used for growing chicken feed or cattle fodder and we also have an outdoor fish hatchery system. We have our own line of nutrients and represent manufacturers of Greenhouse construction materials, atmospheric water generators (extracting water from thin air that control humidity and generate pure drinking water) and air foggers that deliver nutrient rich water mist directly to plant root systems.
Our systems are custom designed around the product you want to grow and what the climate is in your area. Each plant species has different needs to achieve optimum production and we address these through various nutrient delivery techniques and climate control. We look at costs from germination to delivery and help to guarantee the fastest return on investment possible for whatever crop you want to produce.
We can design a simple system for greens and herbs or a multiple layered system. In the multilayer system, we use the floor, a level at 4 feet and another at the 8 ft level. Multiple tier farming allows you to grow crops from micro greens, lettuce and herbs to tomatoes, vine crops (like cucumbers) and strawberries. This multi crop technique gets the most out of the entire greenhouse space and we can combine specific plants that are compatible and encourage the growth of others such as pairing tomatoes and basil.
The systems we employ are Deep Water Culture, NFT, Aeroponic and Fog techniques. We at NNC have spent a year experimenting with over 50 varieties of produce in all different systems to determine which give the best yield as well as which are most compatible. We have participated in or will be participating in nutrition studies with the University of Nevada at Reno, Oregon State Fresno State and Arizona State University.
We use gravity where ever possible for nutrient delivery to save on power consumption. In temperate climates electrical use is only 30 to 40 amps per 30’ x 72’ enclosure. We control the water temperature because we have discovered that regulating the water temperature specific to the species gives better production and less chance for bolting (plants, mostly vegetable or herbs, are said to bolt when their growth goes rapidly from being mostly leaf based to being mostly flower and seed based). Nutrients are one of the most important parts of the process and this combined with water quality and chemistry will yield the best results. Our nutrients are developed for each crop and growing system and are used in all stages from germination, root growth, foliage flower to fruiting. Plants respond well when their needs are met with the proper nutrient combinations and ours are the highest grade on the market and this translates into the highest quality nutritional value and flavor.
For humidity control we use water extractors (atmospheric water generators). This is a dehumidifying system that converts the water (humidity) from the air to give the plants the humidity levels they require. The extracted water is clean to the point of snow melt and can be fed back into the hydroponic systems. Water walls can be used to cool a greenhouse in hotter climates and also work to control humidity when used in conjunction with an extractor. We can reclaim 5 liters to 1000 liters per day depending on the temperature and humidity level outside. We also have an LED lighting system option which uses 75% less electricity than traditional systems where supplemental lighting is required. Tests have shown this can give more production and better flavor than the HID HPS and when coupled with our systems efficiencies leaves less of a carbon footprint.
We look at harvesting and post harvest production as well as packaging and market strategies. Having been in the restaurant industry for 25 years I have the understanding of what your clients needs are. For instance Basil on the market averages around $5.50 per lb. but if you package basil in a 3/4 oz pack you will get around $18 per pound. A little more in labor and packaging can help to increase your margin. Post harvest production is another vital area. Tomatoes which we sell as fresh locally will lose flavor if they are refrigerated at 45 degrees or less because the sugar turns to starch.
Hydroponics is still a niche market producing less than 2% of our nation’s crops. However, at Nevada Naturals Consulting we look for every advantage hydroponics has to offer. We grow multi crops using the greenhouse space wisely, the green aspect of non polluting production, a minimal foot print and year round production of crops with high nutritional value and fewer food safety issues. Using hydroponics we are able to provide fresh, flavorful product locally every day. On a world wide scale I feel that our approach is a solution to famine. With less power requirements and the adaptation to growing traditional and local food, this can be accomplished anywhere and in any climate.
PROJECTS
Logar Province Afghanistan
We are currently working with the US military in Afghanistan. We have trained the military on the construction of our greenhouse and systems. They will be using our nutrients as well. Their objective is to set up small greenhouses in villages to supply the local people with a food supply and teach them how the process works. It is part of their food for bullets program
Portland Oregon
We are setting up hydroponic systems in a large warehouse, using our state of the art LED’S. This project will be in coordination with the Oregon State University as a third party. We will be using them for documentation of nutritional values and blind taste testing. The produce will be sold to Whole Foods, which will also be documenting the project.
Phoenix Arizona (December)
This will be Nevada Natural’s new research center. We will be setting up 4,000 sq ft of greenhouse space that will be used for growing and training. We will also set up a full time monitoring webcam. This will be a major source of communication and demonstration for our clients and schools that we work with. The products will be sold to CSA’s and local farmers’ markets.
Fiji (February 2011)
We will design and construct 3 greenhouses for a private partnership. The Fijian government will also be involved personally in this process as their food and water problems can be mitigated with the use of our systems and techniques. Our water extraction system will recover 1000 liters of pure water per day to sell this to the public. The government will also be using us as consultants on their greenhouse projects using our designs.
Haiti (May 2011)
We will design and construction 2 greenhouses and an Aquaponic system. One greenhouse will be used for cattle fodder for their cattle and chicken feed for 25,000 hens. The other greenhouse will be utilized to feed the area orphanage school and hospital. There is no power to the 80 acre property.
Vancouver B.C. (July 2011)
We will be setting up 4 greenhouses. 2 will be for cut flower production the other 2 will be growing medicinal herbs such as ginseng, burdock and others.
CONSULTING PROJECTS
We are the consultant for a sustainable project at Fresno State. This will entail hydroponic access between the university and the USDA. This project will start the first of the year.