Thiel ’s Greenhouses is a household name in the gardening industry . Serving the Lamont , Fort Saskatchewan , Bruderheim and Vegreville surface area in Alberta with decorative plants since 1958 , current owner Nadine Stielow has taken the business to new levels . The next phase in the agriculturalist ’s career is the opening of a hydroponic loot glasshouse at Thiel ’s .
The new venture idea start three years ago after the team at Thiel ’s build a reclaimed greenhouse from another grower , dismantling it and restore it at their site . " We build the outer space with the intention of expansion into a new harvest , however , I did n’t need to increase our current spring ornamental melody " , Nadine say .
Nadine require to become intimate with the canonic process , equipment , supplies and even the terms in hydroponic growth . " Then I researched several styles of Green product systems to finally source the ' perfect for our indigence ' equipment through one of my existing hort suppliers , A.M.A. Horticulture . "
The system is designed and built by Dry Hydroponics from the Netherlands ; Nadine also launched acrowdfunding campaign(utilizing a reputable local bank and their enterpriser online program ) as a means to engender consciousness and community excitement towards the young expansion project . " The overpowering positive response from area businesses , municipality and the universal world confirmed my initial thoughts on growing local food for thought . It transformed from a passing estimation to a passionate goal . Now at long last , we are in the last stages of the project build and have just completed an exciting week of the whole squad coming together to finish the system . This past week the first trial batch of pelf have been seeded and now several hundred seedlings are ready to go into the pond . The inaugural launch , so to verbalise ! "
Dream TeamThe greenhouse , featuring 6,500 sq . ft . total space with approximately 4000 sq . ft . of hydroponic ponds , was realized with the help of a group of cautiously selected party . " My hydroponic ' Dream Team ' came together quite just because the companies that I selected to render the system are all top notch in terms of stand up behind their products , their cognition and their loyalty to customer success " , Nadine order . " Aligning myself with comparable - disposed companies that support my vision and goals makes doing business with them feel like team employment rather than just a transaction . "
Help from concept to constructionOne of the member of the ' Dream Team ' is A.M.A. " I ’ve been a customer of A.M.A. Horticulture for almost ten years and know them to be most helpful , knowledgeable and always on the head edge . Very resourceful " , accord to Nadine . " For my specific project , this elaboration - they were beyond patient and helpful as I researched and worked through the planning cognitive process to get from construct to construction . I had to know it was the correct move for my stage business and A.M.A. offered advice with every step . A character companionship with caring insightful ownership and direction . It ’s these corporate characteristic and the eccentric of business partnership I search out and note value as a occupation owner . "
Epic hydroponics tourOn a greenhouse tour in Holland last January , Nadine spent two afternoons at the Dry Hydroponics facility and demo field . " It was epic " , she recalls . " A mind expanding , thought provoking , exciting occupation growth visit . I was there with several industry colleagues and in that prison term flesh had every question involve and answer in purchase order to make my concluding conclusion on the system in which to invest . " And thus , Dry Hydroponics became another Dream Team member .
" If I had to total up the overall ' why ' I chose Dry Hydro - it ’s their passionate yet stoic enthusiasm for the organisation they ’ve developed , its many merits and the solid engineering behind it . I knew , as I embark into this larn curve of hydroponic ontogeny , that I would be in learned and professional good hands . The labor support we ’ve already received , from the planning stage television group discussion calls , and many emails , to the week of the terminal frame and onsite consultant - all are valuable ground why I know the system will work for my business . "
Knowledge communion direct to LEDBefore deciding to instal LEDs as part of the expansion , Nadine researched systems and had the chance to link up with many experienced Alberta veg greenhouse agriculturist . " producer already uprise the best timbre crop and unforced to portion out their noesis and recommendations . I ’ve said it before , but it ’s deserving repeating , there ’s no industry quite like horticulture for business collaboration and information communion . I bonk it ! "
After explore several kindling suppliers , Thiel ’s settle on the marketer supplier partnership of Ball Horticulture and Philips Signify . " They specifically gave me the most assistance and sustenance in terms of my initial research and learning , then developed a usage light plan specific to our motive with onsite consultation and the eventual ordering and ongoing reenforcement during our installation process " , Nadine explicate .
" On a fun banknote : the pinkish LED glow is create quite a buzz in our small rural Ithiel Town . Lots of enthusiasm and interest . The local paper even create a cartoon - you know hoi polloi are speak when a cartoon control surface ! "
The cartoon that appeared in the Fort Saskatchewan Record . Reprinted with permit from the artist , Ralph Hagen .
put to biocontrolRounding out the Dream Team is the beneficials ascertain advice and product from Biobest . Nadine is committed to growing her decorative crop using biocontrol , and she looks forward to using the same principles for the raw greens production . " Albeit , some Modern strategy will have to be implemented with allowance for more crop turns and expanding into year round production . "
Implementing a strong companionship commitment to promote biocontrol didactics has also facilitate Nadine solidify her own methods . " fundamentally by teaching it and talking about it all the metre , it has become ingrained in our business culture . We ’ve host several industry IPM Day inviting biocontrol product specialists and expert to educate grower ; we ’ve hosted educational and fun events for the public and I ’ve had the opportunity to present at conferences on my grower perspective using bios in production and also as a marketing tool to communicate with the end consumer about our clean growing practice . "
Regarding the bio programme in the hydroponic lettuce nursery , Nadine says : " Overall , I intend to postulate a bunch of questions , study from already successful aquicultural growers and expect the same helpful expertise as I ’ve always had , using bios in our cosmetic side of the patronage while incorporating it into the aquicultural enlargement . Although I ’ve had the opportunity to utilise various provider , I ’ve been a client with Biobest for almost ten geezerhood and have had very helpful and knowledgeable tech support . I ’m anticipating new biocontrol challenge in hydroponics but am ready to adjust and innovate as needed . "
Fresh greens ( and strawberry ? ) for Albertans"Our projected production " , Nadine tells us , " is up to 1900 pieces of fresh local deliciousness per workweek in a modest rural arena with several nearby towns and cities . Intended markets are the local restaurant , grocers and food military service industry provider plus some lineal sales . All to the east central areas of Alberta . presently , in our straightaway area , this is the first aquicultural leafy vegetable system of its variety . "
finally , Thiel ’s may expand into other crops as well . " I ’d like to grow more fresh local food to fill up a originate consumer demand and niche food market in our surface area . On a very preliminary ' coup d’oeil ' I ’ve see at strawberry production system and have had the chance to tour a few of these glasshouse . " But that ’s for later . " First I ’ll grow some greens and then I ’ll look to my next venture ! "
For more information : Thiel ’s GreenhousesBox 196 , 4916 - 45 StreetBruderheim , AlbertaT0B 0S0 T : 780 - 796 - 3501F : 780 - 796 - 3504[email protected]www.thielsgreenhouse.ca
© FloralDaily.com/Jan Jacob Mekes
