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How to tap into the immense economic opportunities of farming without the labour and hardship faced by many farmers? Make it simple and accessible. Make it low maintenance. Reduce overheads. Get your crops to market before anyone else can. Grow Life Supplies have been working with the youth of the Bahamas to do all of this using AutoPot Watering Systems supplied by AutoPot USA.

Based entirely in the Caribbean archipelago, GLS aim to revitalise the Bahamian horticultural industry. They want to get young people on the islands a share of the two billion US Dollars the Bahamas spends on imported foodstuffs every year. In the words of Germaine Turnquest, Co-Owner and Operations Manager of GLS, ‘We seek to do this via innovation, example and education. We purposely target the youth of our nation in an effort to demonstrate to them that farming is not only needed but also lucrative.’

As GLS have found, when it comes to a grassroots effort the need has never been greater. ‘In terms of food crop production The Bahamas is definitely lacking despite many recent efforts by our government and a few private entities. It is no secret that we are extremely dependent on food importation.’

Outsiders might wonder why such dependence should occur. After all, surely practically anything can be grown cheaply and easily in equatorial climes? Not so, everything from fresh water access, land quality, weather, and loss of skills presents a challenge. Put these challenges together and you get one hefty obstacle to food security. In AutoPot GLS believe they have found the means to overcome this problem.

Take water use for example. Traditional, in-earth cultivation demands significant quantities water on a regular basis and assumes that a large proportion of that water will be lost to the ground. As Germaine points out, in the Bahamas that’s just not tenable. ‘Access to fresh water can be a challenge especially for our more southern islands such as San Salvador and Inagua. Some growers are lucky to have access to a fresh water well. For those without a well, the utility cost can be unfeasible. AutoPot systems have been amazing in this regard due to their minimal-to-zero water wastage.’

Germaine reports that AutoPot Watering Systems have also helped growers make their crops far less vulnerable than their land-grown counterparts. ‘Two years ago hurricane Dorian swept across our islands leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Because the systems are modular we were able to easily relocate all of our crops grown in AutoPots indoors. All of our in-ground crops were unfortunately lost due to high winds and torrential downpour.’

Despite being more efficient, more flexible, and easier to master than in-earth cultivation, irrigation systems often have their drawbacks, chiefly the cost of overheads. As Germaine says, ‘the electrical billing here can be astronomical, substantially ramping up operational cost.’ However GLS have found AutoPot offer an answer there too. ‘The easy2grow systems we use have been critical to the success enjoyed by both our clients and ourselves due to their electricity-free operation and not having to run power hungry pumps.’

It’s always fascinating to find out what growers around the world use in the systems and GLS’s insights are no exception. ‘Most of our clientele typically utilize a 50/50 blend of soil/perlite with some form of gravel such as washed pearock or lavarock at the bottom of the pots. This choice of substrates is the most economical due to the cost related to importing hydroponic substrates.’

GLS offer an extensive service for growers who are just getting started in order to ensure they get the best possible results. On-site they show clients how to blend their own soil-based growing mediums with granular fertilizers and how to use supplements such as iron or calmag via the reservoir. At their own farm they’ve tested ‘a variety of hydroponic nutrients with MegaCrop by Greenleaf Nutrients being a firm favorite.’ Next up they’re looking forward to trialing HortAmericas OMRI-Listed, fully organic Pre-Empt nutrient with AutoPot.

Eggplants, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, herbs, and all manner of other crops are grown by Bahamian farmers. Many are now doing so in AutoPot thanks to GLS’s tireless efforts to introduce and assist with the systems. Germaine says that AutoPot has proven an excellent way to engage with those who have no previous experience of farming. ‘We just make sure we are accessible and available. We also have an awesome support system for clients and free education is provided to those who volunteer at our own farm. Our social media platforms also go along way into garnering interest.’

Yet more wonderful work with which we’re proud to see our systems associated. Our profuse thanks to GLS for their efforts and insights!

Autoflowers on Autopilot in AutoPots…

Our first Instagram live is in books! We had so much fun chatting with Daz from Night Owl about how he uses AutoPot Watering Systems to grow and breed his world famous autoflower plants.

In the world of cultivation, success is often measured by the quality and yield of the final product. When it comes to growing autoflowers, precision and consistency are key. In this exclusive interview, Manny from AutoPot Watering Systems sits down with Daz from Night Owl, a seasoned breeder known for producing top-tier autoflowers that are grown all over the world.

The Marriage of Expertise: Daz, the mastermind behind Night Owl, is renowned for his exceptional ability to breed autoflowers that consistently exceed expectations. He attributes much of his recent success of pushing the boundaries of the size and potency of his autoflowers to the partnership he’s developed with AutoPot Watering Systems.

Daz’s Journey with AutoPot: Daz’s introduction to AutoPot Watering Systems was a game-changer in his cultivation journey. He shares how the automated, gravity-fed system allowed him to maintain a precise watering schedule tailored to the unique needs of his special autoflowers. This hands-off approach to irrigation not only saved him time but also eliminated the stress of manual watering, ensuring his plants received consistent care. His autoflowers are bigger than ever and the genetic expressions of each plant have never been better thanks to the plant-driven automated watering technology of AutoPot.

The Role of Consistency: Consistency is a mantra in the world of cultivation, and Daz’s autoflowers are no exception. He discusses how AutoPot’s technology allows him to get the most out of his plants, while reducing his time/labor spent on maintaining the system or watering, which in turn results in him spending more time with his plants and doing more important things. He emphasizes that the ability to fine-tune his soil blend/feeding regimen with AutoPot’s system has been instrumental in achieving the best results of his career.

We love Daz and Night Owl! Daz is a very humble guy despite his incredible talents and work ethic toward perfecting his craft. We can’t wait to see what he has on deck for Night Owl.

Be sure to check out the full episode at our YouTube Channel or click here.

“With only a couple of staff it’s a godsend to have the AutoPot systems to water and feed our 10,000 sq ft greenhouses. Cultivating an ever-changing range of plants is simple thanks to the responsiveness of AutoPot. The AutoPot system allows plants to draw exactly what they need, when they need it. So feeding is always perfectly in synch with each plant, regardless of type – we call this Plant Driven watering. There’s zero wastage on water and fertilizer and it’s 100% power-free, meaning we can afford to experiment and grow to our heart’s content.”

A word from AutoPot…

For nearly two decades Ben has been working with AutoPot Watering Systems. The length and strength of this relationship is a testament to the systems reliability and versatility, and to Ben’s growing prowess.

Ben knows how to get the very best from the system with a multitude of plant species, growing mediums, and nutrient formulations. He is the trusted go-to man for major nutrient and medium brands who come to verify and demonstrate their products harmonious compatibility with AutoPot watering systems.

This made teaming up with Ben to form the AutoPot Demonstration Center a total no-brainer. At the Center, Ben and his team create exquisite living displays of outstanding quality for AutoPot’s annual showcase trade expo. The displays at Plantasia are the true center piece of the expo each year and a firm favorite with visitors and exhibitors alike.