FAQs

NACAR is a comprehensive solution that provides everything plants need to thrive. Plants “drink” water and “eat” minerals and trace elements, but traditional farming systems typically fail to deliver the full spectrum of over 90 essential minerals and trace elements. NACAR, however, contains all these nutrients and complexes them with humic substances, amino acids, and adaptogens. This ensures that plants have access to everything they need, regardless of soil pH, sunlight intensity, or weather conditions. Whether it’s a high or low pH environment, full sun, or cloudy skies, NACAR gives plants the freedom to absorb what they require at any given moment, giving them the best possible foundation for growth.

Urban farming offers a sustainable alternative to vertical farming by focusing on localized food production while avoiding the high energy demands of vertical systems. Unlike vertical farming, which primarily grows leafy greens, urban farming supports a diverse range of over 50 crops, including tomatoes, peppers, kale, strawberries, and more. With significantly reduced energy consumption and the use of our proprietary NACAR plant nutrition and biostimulant, urban farming produces higher-nutrient crops with superior taste, aroma, and extended shelf life. This eco-friendly approach minimizes food miles, supports local ecosystems, and delivers healthier, more sustainable produce.

1. Our turnkey solutions are ideal for:

• Gated housing communities
• Corporate restaurants
• Foodservice and catering companies
• Elderly homes
• Schools and educational institutions
• Etcetera…

Yes! Urban Farming is Farm-to-Table Simplified

Urban farming follows the farm-to-table concept, cutting out intermediaries and distributors. Unlike large-scale vertical or traditional soil farming, urban farms focus on smaller-scale, localized production. The goal is clear: produce fresh vegetables for personal use, like in housing communities or corporate restaurants, or dedicate urban farms for direct sales to local restaurants and health-conscious individuals.

Keys to Profitability

• Eliminate middlemen
• Reduce food miles
• Plan production efficiently

1. Savings Model: Grow your own vegetables and save on supermarket or wholesale costs.
2. Earnings Model: Sell your harvest directly to customers and earn income.

Urban farming is about keeping it local, fresh, and profitable!

Example: Small Urban Farm with 100 GrowPODs Producing Leafy Greens and Herbs

Key Variables:

• GrowPOD Capacity: 80 plants per GrowPOD
• Number of GrowPODs: 100 units
• Growing Cycles: 12 per year
• Losses: 5% (e.g., 4,800 plants lost annually)

Calculation of Total Yield:

• Total Plants Grown: 80×100×12=96,000
• Minus 5% Losses: 96,000−4,800=91,200

Earnings Model:

• Cost Price per Unit: $0.50
• Sales Price per Unit: $1.50
• Gross Earnings: 91,200 x (1.50 – 0.50) = $91,200

Savings Model:

• Supermarket/wholesale Price: $2.00 per unit
• Gross Savings: 91,200 x (2.00 – 0.50) = $136,800

This farm setup delivers a highly profitable and efficient way to produce fresh, nutritious greens while saving or earning significant income!

Labor Requirements for a Small Urban Farm:

• Total Workload: 1 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE), split as follows:
  • Resident Farmer: Part-time daily checks and maintenance (0.3 FTE).
  • Harvesting Team: Help needed 1–2 times per week for harvesting and making new seedlings (0.6 FTE).
  • Maintenance: Occasional tasks, such as cleaning or system upkeep (0.1 FTE).
• Daily Tasks:
  • Check the system’s performance.
  • Monitor water levels.
  • Perform light maintenance.
• Harvesting:
  • Happens once or twice a week.
  • Requires extra help, but it’s already included in the 1 FTE total.

This ensures the farm operates smoothly without always requiring full-time staff on-site!

Support is readily available, especially in the early stages when many aspects of the operation are still new and unclear. It’s important to avoid unnecessary mistakes, and that’s why standard training on the job is not always enough—especially if you lack agricultural experience. Urban Ponics offers both online and direct, hands-on guidance throughout the growing period. Simply reach out with your inquiries, and we will connect you with the necessary resources and expertise to ensure your success.

An Ecosystem refers to the symbiotic relationship between plants and their environment. At Urban Ponics, we create an ecosystem where plants can thrive with minimal stress. This allows them to grow freely and provide us with the highest quality nutrition. We avoid using energy-intensive equipment like LED lights, chillers, and Pad & Fan systems, relying instead on simple, sustainable principles of physics. For example, why use LED lights when sunlight can be naturally adjusted to optimize plant growth? By harnessing natural processes and resources, we create a system that is both efficient and adaptable to various climates.

Vertical Farming typically involves growing crops in stacked layers within a controlled environment. This often requires high-energy inputs, such as LED lighting and climate control systems, and the focus is on maximizing production to compete with traditional farming methods. On the other hand, Urban Farming emphasizes Polyculture Crops—growing a diverse range of crops—while minimizing energy consumption (zero energy systems), reducing water use by up to 96%, and producing nutrient-dense crops. Urban Farming is designed for small to medium-sized setups that cater to health-conscious individuals who want greater control over the food they consume, creating a sustainable and more holistic approach to food production.