Posting on this a bit late, but wanted to flag that Noel was recently published in Marijuana Business Daily magazine, topic: Cultivation Conundrum: Expanding Grow Facilities Sustainably and Cost-Effectively. For the full text, visit the site here.
Growers – Check Out Just in Time Supply Chain Ideas
Short post to let all know I’ve been working with Green Thumb Logistics on a couple of projects and I’m impressed with their vision for how to keep Tier 2 and Tier 3 producers well stocked with a “just in time” (JIT) model for supplies like soil, pots, hoses, packaging systems, etc. JIT literally means you don’t have to deal with those supplies until you need them – you don’t have to store them somewhere, keep track of them, etc. When you run low, a special supply cabinet (like the electronic refrigerators in hotel rooms) can automatically flag the shortage for Green Thumb and they’ll come right out and replenish.
A few other things about their operation impress (such as that they’ve got a long-time grower on staff) – see if you agree: http://greenthumbind.com/.
Cheers and happy growing!
Design & Layout of Your First Big Grow Operation
I’ve now designed 3 major grow facilities and 2 retail outlets for our brand new Cannabis industry here in WA State. Dealing with the LCB is challenging, that’s for sure, but at the end of the day what I’ve found is that the LCB’s rules for security cameras, track and trace, quarantine, etc. are actually just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what growers need to think about to actually get their facility up and running. If you’re converting or updating a commercial space, for example, you have to think about Americans with Disabilities (ADA) guidelines. If you’re planning to water your plants with a simple hose setup, you need to think about a closed-loop system to avoid cross-contamination. If you’re going to be handling and trimming many pounds of product, you need to think about non-porous surfaces such as steel to ensure no bacteria take hold.
I’m learning more every day, and will do my best to post what I learn here.
Cheers and happy growing!
Noel Remigio Design 