Rural business development requires a unique approach to all aspects of business, but rural business does not require that the business is a farm. Some country businesses, though, lend themselves uniquely well to being associated with agriculture. Canada’s three prairie provinces face unique challenges in growing a business that can compete in both rural and
Reducing Greenhouse Energy Costs
The economic viability of a conventional commercial greenhouse operation is, in northern latitudes, questionable, at best. Conservative estimates suggest that the cost of producing vegetables in a greenhouse in Canada is roughly four times that of field-grown produce in the southern USA. Even allowing for transportation costs from the USA, the pricing differential makes competing
Creative Heating Systems to Make Greenhouse Operations Affordable
With the price of imported vegetables skyrocketing, consumers are seeking affordable alternatives. In the summer and early fall, our own local produce competes, in price and quality with Mexican and southern USA crops, but by mid-October, only root crops remain competitive. Root crops, however, are not suited to greenhouse growing, as they are not cost
Earthen Bale Greenhouse Planning
The typical cost of produce grown in a greenhouse in North America is four to 6 times the cost of the same produce field-grown. The most significant contributors to this cost of production differential are the cost of heating and lighting. However, other costs include growing medium, water systems and infrastructure operating and capital costs