https://pitch.liveplan.com/pitch/PuqJG/VUfbaBuswell and Lopez, as well as Harvey, translate
metta as "loving-kindness". In Buddhist belief, this is a
Brahma-vihara (divine abode) or an immeasurable that leads to a meditative state by being a counter to ill-will. It removes clinging to negative state of mind, by cultivating kindness unto all beings.
We believe in mindfulness and respect for every living thing. It’s about knowing where it all comes from and how it’s cared for during every step of the process. From the planting of seeds to using the final product.
We seek to provide organic, healthy, and sustainable products. From herbal teas to livestock feed to bath bombs, each ingredient every step of the way is treated with respect and kindness.
We know what to do and we have the will to do it. The only thing stopping us is a boost to get started.
Why Us?
We have a wide range of skills and experience to help us succeed.
Three out of four of us have been doing farm work for a while now and we enjoy the work, the last member of the team is our techie who farms data and servers instead. One of our crops, the CBD, is in high demand right now and having spent some time in the cannabis industry, we know where to take it to get good prices for it that others wouldn't. We also have the ability to do direct sales, and all of us have managing experience from other jobs such as ten years (for two of us) at the University of Oklahoma.
We are adaptable and can adjust what we grow to match local market needs. We plan to start with 4-6 acres of Industrial Hemp, 2 of Lavender, and the rest to be determined at this phase. We have made contacts already that have shown interest in products we aim to provide, and having worked in cannabis before this, we know exactly where to take something like CBD to get the most for it.
Forecast
Fall 2022: We can plant flax and/or garlic to have something to bring up in the spring. Planting garlic would give us a cash crop to start with early on and help cover operating costs.
Winter 2022: Focus on preparing locations for crops and making more early sales contacts. In January we can apply for our license to produce industrial hemp.
Spring 2023: If we planted garlic the previous fall, this will give us something to sell. 1/2 an acre could gross us $80,000. We would be planting the first round of industrial hemp during this time. We could also start the berries and flowers.
Summer 2023: In July, we would get our first harvest of cbd flower and hemp biomass. This will potentially gross us $380,000. We would immediately replant too for a second harvest in a few months.
Fall 2023: In October we would get our second harvest of cbd flower and hemp biomass. We would get another potential gross of $380,000. We would then replant our rotational crops such as more garlic and flax.
Winter 2023: This is when we would focus more on production of premade items and planning out for the next year. We should have grossed $840K in 2023, and that would more than cover operations for the following year and facilitate repayment of loans and returns for investors.
Spring 2024: Expecting to gross $100,000 from both spring crop sales and produced items.
Summer 2024: Expecting to gross $450,000 from both crops and produced items.
Fall 2024: Expecting to gross $450,000 from both crops and produced items.
Winter 2024: We should gross a whole million dollars by the end of 2024. At this point we could work on ramping up production.
2025: At this time, most of our other long-term crops reach maturity and will double our earning potential.
This list is by no means set in stone what we are doing, but gives an idea of what we are capable of.
Crops
- Industrial Hemp: CBD Flower & Biomass. Can be planted first April after we receive licensing. $2000 to grow / $15,000 to harvest / $80,000 gross per acre in sales (0.15pp @ $200/lb w/biomass).
- Lavender: 2 years to mature. Can be planted first spring and regrows for multiple years. Harvested and dried as needed or made into oils. $60,000 gross per acre in sales.
- Oats: Grown mostly for adding to feed.
- Garlic: Rotational crop. Grown from October -> April. $5,000 to grow / $40,000 gross per (1/4) acre.
- Flax: Grown mostly for adding to feed.
- Canola: Rotational crop.
- Ginseng: Complicated to grow but can begin cutting after 3 years, mature in 6. $200,000 gross per acre.
- Tea: 3 years to mature. Grown as an additive to the produced teas.
- Goji Berries: 3 years to mature. $14,000 gross per acre.
- Assorted Herbs for Tea: Mints, Chamomile, Catnip, Lemon Balm, etc. Grown for adding to tea. We can also grow assorted organic herbs for local businesses.
- Edible Flowers: All kinds of potential applications. Jasmine, Hibiscus, Roses... Fresh or preserved.
- Honey: Bees are the best. We need pollination and this just adds value.
- Fruit Trees & Shrubs: Takes 3-5 years to mature. Can be added to feed and other products as well.
- Assorted Vegetables: Not our main focus, but surplus can be sold and donated out. If the restaurant takes off this will become more important though.
- Mushrooms: We can sink trailers to grow them in, then grow other stuff up on top. Anything we can't use right away can be dried.
- Cover Crops: Alfalfa and crimson clover can be added to feed.
Teas & Candies
- Blends: We can make custom blends for everyday use such as "Vitamin Booster", or "Naptime", or "Energy Shot".
- Custom Teas: We can allow people to use the website to choose 3-5 ingredients to make their own special blends of herbal tea, which will package and ship to them.
- Saltwater Taffy: Or honey candies and infused with different fruits and flowers. Lavender w/apple is really good!
- White Chocolates
- Ice Cream or Mochi/Minis
- Pet Treats
- Spice Mixes & Rubs
Smokables & Concentrates
- Cigarettes: CBD and Herbal Prerolls. Both sell for $5 a gram at the national level. That's more than $2000 a pound and they can be sold anywhere online or via storefront. Cost to produce is 1 person for 500 cigarettes a day (50 packs) without heavy machinery. Papers can be organically sourced at $0.67 each, and packs for 10 for $1 each. So it costs roughly $10 to make a pack, and it sells for $50.
- Tinctures
- Live-Resin: We can literally take the still-alive plants and bypass the frozen stage of "fresh-frozen" and press it ourselves to make full spectrum live resin concentrates.
- Essential Oils
Farm-to-Table
- Livestock Feed
- Vegetarian Buffet: Something we are looking at for 2025 is a vegitarian buffet that would do amazingly well near campus and use fruits and vegetables from the farm and other local businesses.
- Bakery Decorations: Preserved edible flowers, either in beeswax or sugar glass. All natural, beautiful, tasty.
FAQ
Q1: If you can make $$$ off an acre of [BLANK], why not just grow 20 acres of [BLANK]?
A1: Because more isn't always better. Having that much more makes it harder to harvest, store, transport, and sell. We prefer a balanced and sustainable approach.
Q2: Why do you have so many different crops?
A2: Again it is about having a balanced and sustainable approach. We don't want to be reliant on a single cash crop, and doing this as a whole system makes for a healthier farm all around.