Gas Factory: Building a licensed no till/living soil cultivation facility in Vermont

  • Thread starter GasFactory
  • Start date
  • Tagged users None
GasFactory

GasFactory

43
33
Hey Everyone, long time lurker, old poster many years ago when I first got started growing cannabis. I wouldn't be at this point if it wasn't for this forum in the past, so I just wanted to come back and share this journey as a journal.

The time has come to realize a dream I've had since I first started growing. I love growing cannabis and sharing it with people and now I'm going in fully, self funded, into a 4000sqft facility with outdoor greenhouse space to be added later. Looking forward to really explore everything the plant has to offer, in a space that doesn't crush my back(had to hunch over in my attic, but was worth it). And sharing all the R&D, strains, & other things I've been doing behind closed doors now for years. I've never sold any weed in my life as I didn't want to ever risk this opportunity.

Today is the first official day as I took ownership of the keys and facility. We're still working through the licensing process and working with architects for plans to meet licensing requirements. Construction can begin October 1st(first day of legal sales). We are a few months behind, but so are most facilities. There is going to be a big shortage in the early months here.

I'm getting into this knowing full well the state of the markets in some states, with hopes that Vermont will continue to steer in the right direction. I'm lucky enough to be in a financial position to take this shot, and if I don't I'll always regret it. We are the only state that passed adult use legalization without the need of a vote by the people, and it's my hopes that eventually we'll have a legal framework that allows business to flourish. It's actually not that bad now(we get right offs and taxes are as good as you could hope for for cultivators out of the gate). We do a great job w/ microbreweries, and I think eventually we'll get to where they are. If we can do as well as Maine seems to be doing I'll be stoked.

The facility is going to be all notill/living soil/organic growing w/ LED's and hybrid sealed rooms. I'm doing all the construction myself that I can with exception to things that are required by the state to be performed by a licensed contractor.

Here's to the future and I'll be posting more photos as things move along!
 
Facility 1
Facility 2
Facility 3
Last edited:
GrowHobo

GrowHobo

1,100
263
Have you sourced your soil yet? The ppl at kisorganics might be able to help you or even help you source it locally. Living soil is their specialty.
 
GasFactory

GasFactory

43
33
Have you sourced your soil yet? The ppl at kisorganics might be able to help you or even help you source it locally. Living soil is their specialty.
I'm a huge fan of Tad and already planned to reach out with them to source my soil. In my personal grows I used their recipe and mixed my own, but at scale, just going to have some yard totes sent in.
 
GasFactory

GasFactory

43
33
awesome. finishing up a similar build in Maine. 2500 sq ft former auto shop. living soil beds on rolling tables, LEDs, and DPS panels for the rooms. Good luck! post progress pics


have you ever put a 4x8 bed on a rolling table? They are more trouble than their worth.. A 4x8 bed weighs close to 3000 LBS when fully saturated. I'd suggest ditching the rolling table idea, you won't be moving them around. I originally was going this way, but someone that's been in the game a lot longer than I suggested doing it a different way. They originally did the rolling tables but found that it only created more problems, because now stuff would fall underneath the tables and you have to move the 3000lb tables to clean underneath them.

Suggestion:

Trays right on the floor then silicon around the tray so no moisture/or bad shit can get underneath and grow. My shop has concrete floors, i'm going to epoxy them first then run the trays right on the floor with a silicon seal.
 
Moshmen

Moshmen

8,218
313
have you ever put a 4x8 bed on a rolling table? They are more trouble than their worth.. A 4x8 bed weighs close to 3000 LBS when fully saturated. I'd suggest ditching the rolling table idea, you won't be moving them around. I originally was going this way, but someone that's been in the game a lot longer than I suggested doing it a different way. They originally did the rolling tables but found that it only created more problems, because now stuff would fall underneath the tables and you have to move the 3000lb tables to clean underneath them.

Suggestion:

Trays right on the floor then silicon around the tray so no moisture/or bad shit can get underneath and grow. My shop has concrete floors, i'm going to epoxy them first then run the trays right on the floor with a silicon seal.
I know u know what ur doin but specially up there in the winter put a pice of that insulation board under the tray first this will help keep the root zone temp consistent - cold roots = no growth
 
GasFactory

GasFactory

43
33
I'm ALMOST there with the documentation for my license and permits. I have a team working on city permitting for me(architects, etc) that are needed to get drawings completed to meet requirements. I have done my part already and filled out about 237 pages of shit for every tom, dick, and harry in the state. Bank account is secured, money in the bank, truck on the way for deliveries/equipment hauling, insurance forms submitted. The Auction for previous tenant takes place on September 26th. That's all we're waiting for.

Just keep moving forward 1" a day and eventually I'll be growing ya? I am planning to hit the ground running starting October 1st, so we'll have some build progress coming soon. First thing to get done is epoxy the concrete floors. Anyone have any recommendations for good epoxy that's resistant to harmfuls, slip resistant, and a good reflective white?
 
GasFactory

GasFactory

43
33
I know u know what ur doin but specially up there in the winter put a pice of that insulation board under the tray first this will help keep the root zone temp consistent - cold roots = no growth
Wanted to update you, we ended up going with heating pads underneath each 4x8 or 4x4 to keep the roots perfect temps in the winter. 👍

We've got our epoxy on order from Spartan Epoxies.. Went white w/ a gloss finish/topcoat. We can get started on Saturday so expect some daily progress photos/videos.

the-dark-knight-joker.gif
 
GasFactory

GasFactory

43
33
We've settled on a facility design, looking forward to getting in there and getting going. The white space to the left of the flower room is the back 40 where we'll be setting up 2-3 green houses next summer.

Plan is to plant 1 row every 2 weeks in the flower room, giving us a harvest every 2 weeks or so.
 
Image
Concept grid 1
JerzeyMike

JerzeyMike

338
93
Congratulations! A legal organic cultivation facility is a dream of mine. Not sure if I have the patience or the pockets to deal with the bureaucracy. Probably not🤣🤣 Wish you all the best man!
 
GasFactory

GasFactory

43
33
Congratulations! A legal organic cultivation facility is a dream of mine. Not sure if I have the patience or the pockets to deal with the bureaucracy. Probably not🤣🤣 Wish you all the best man!
Thanks man! This has been my dream for as long as I can remember.. not letting some beuracrat ruin that.. my foots in the door, were gonna work on kicking it open and creating a viable market here in VT..
 
Jimmie

Jimmie

269
143
Make sure they put walnut shells or whatever they use for grip on the epoxy floors, it gets real slippery. Had epoxy floors in a kitchen in a private club I renovated, it’s like ice .
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom