Rain Canine Farm by Charlie Wainger

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My title is Charlie Wainger. I am from Redmond, WA, roughly twenty miles east of Seattle. For the final eight years I have been working with native meals manufacturing. I began working native co-op’s, then managed an city farm & feed firm, and began my very own farm at Hidden Valley Camp. Now I am my households’ land in a complete new manner. I’ll create a excessive yield neighborhood farm to produce native eating places and a CSA program.

By the years I’ve fashioned relationships with eating places who’re excited to make use of Rain Canine Farm produce, proving there may be not solely a marketplace for native meals in Seattle, and neighboring cities, there’s a demand. 

Photograph taken December third, 2017. Our delicate winters make it good for 12 months spherical manufacturing.

My households’ lovely two acre plot is good for Rain Canine Farm. The land is a south dealing with slope with entry to a properly and ample daylight. I will be within the coronary heart of a booming neighborhood and 6 miles from downtown Redmond, WA the place eating places have a neighborhood meals focus. 

I am focused on preserving the pure fantastic thing about my rising metropolis. The woods I used to experience my bicycle by way of as a toddler at the moment are giant developments and I wish to present the farm expertise for brand spanking new households as an alternative choice to simply grocery shops. 

I’ll comply with an natural low until/excessive yield farming methodology mastered by Curtis Stone and Jean-Martin Fortier, two superb Canadian farmers. These two farmers developed natural farming methods grossing over $100,000 a 12 months on lower than a half acre. 

I’ve eating places in Redmond, Kirkland, and Seattle prepared to make use of Rain Canine Farm micro inexperienced and salad mixes.

This season (beginning February) I’ll develop greater than 2,000 lbs. of salad combine (whole for season) and 25-35 flats of micro greens (per week).

Inexperienced Metropolis Acres, owned by Curtis Stone, in Kelowna, BC

I’ll ultimately domesticate your entire two acre plot, however I am going to begin with 1/four acre. I’ll start with the next crops,

• Spinach
• Arugula
• Pink & Inexperienced Salanova Lettuce
• Sunflower & Pea Shoot micro greens

By specializing in these crops the primary 12 months I am going to have higher management over high quality and make sure the farms success for future development and crop enlargement.

Inexperienced Metropolis Acres in Kelowna, BC

For the second season I’ll add radish, kale, beets, and a second greenhouse to develop tomatoes and basil, and ultimately cucumbers and peppers.

• February – prep land, put up greenhouse, construct rows and canopy, start lettuce begins. Assemble wash station. 
• March – direct seed and transplant into the lined rows, begin producing micro greens (harvested each eight days)
• April – first salad combine harvest
• Might to August – Peek season
• September – prep for winter
• October to February – winter harvesting, focus shifts to micro inexperienced manufacturing.

A camper crops strawberries on my farm at Hidden Valley Camp

5 years in the past I created the primary natural farm program at Hidden Valley Camp. Campers helped harvest and put together salads and different vegetable dishes for 125 campers and 50 employees each day. 

Throughout this time I realized youngsters have extra of an afffinity towards greens than an aversion. My purpose, together with making a viable enterprise, is for the farm to be accessible for native youth. They are going to have the ability to go to a working farm and never solely eat the good meals, however see it develop.

Inexperienced Metropolis Acres in Kelowna, BC

The funds I recieve by way of my marketing campaign will buy the farms infrastructure.

• Greenhouse 16’x30′
• Greenhouse heater
• Excessive Tunnel – 16’x100′
• Soil – 50 yrds. of compost
• Fast reduce greens harvester 
• Jang Seeder & equipment
• Stroll behind & hand weeders
• Broadfork
• Promotion (enterprise playing cards, web site, and extra)
• Wash station
• Stroll-in fridge
• Packaging
• Seeds
• Trays & potting soil
• Panorama cloth
• Land preparation
• Irrigation
• and extra

After the acquisition of those supplies Rain Canine Farm can start producing greens March 1st, 2018.

Thanks.

Movie & Music by Charlie Wainger

Dangers and challenges

I am permitted and able to start Rain Canine Farm as quickly as my marketing campaign purpose is met.

Climate could delay sure duties, reminiscent of leveling out just a few areas of the rising area and the greenhouse development. As soon as that is achieved seedlings can start to germinate within the heated greenhouse and the beds within the area can begin to take form.

In April when the primary harvest is obtainable eating places will obtain Rain Canine Farm produce. From right here I can gauge the demand of every restaurant and see what is obtainable for the primary season of the CSA.

Learn about accountability on Kickstarter