Traditional Farming is DEAD! (Here’s Why)

Launch your dream business with Bizee today at https://bit.ly/4hQpDi5 Shannon O'Malley discovered hydroponics when she relocated from Pennsylvania to Florida, where traditional gardening methods failed her. Frustrated by the harsh climate, she transformed her garage into a hydroponic garden that yielded an abundance of produce, so much that she began sharing with her community. This simple start would grow into Brick Street Farms, a hydroponic farm that generated $2.5 million in revenue in 2024. What began with 3 shipping containers has evolved into a 20-container operation, equivalent to a 70-acre traditional farm. Brick Street Farms specializes in general hydroponics, growing leafy greens and microgreens, supplying both local consumers and restaurants while maintaining wholesale partnerships with stores. Their controlled environment ensures chemical-free, pest-free produce that meets the highest quality standards. Shannon's journey from garage gardener to successful entrepreneur started with a modest investment of just a few thousand dollars in her garage setup. She and her husband then scaled to their first shipping container farm, where each container equals 3 acres of traditional farmland through vertical growing. When COVID-19 hit, Shannon pivoted from restaurants to department stores and online delivery, saving Brick Street Farms from going under. In this episode, Shannon reveals how you can start your own hydroponic farm and master the art of sustainable growing. She shares hard-earned wisdom from her container farming journey, showing how growing your own food can transform both your livelihood and your community. Resources: 🎓Launch your business in 10-days guaranteed - https://bit.ly/4hO4yVC 🎓 Start or scale your business with the UpFlip Academy - https://bit.ly/3EquJmX 📕 FREE access to ‘137 most profitable businesses’ - https://bit.ly/3WU7jg5 📕 FREE access to ‘8 franchises you wish you knew about earlier’ - https://bit.ly/3CR2c9p 🎙️ Follow the UpFlip Podcast - https://bit.ly/4hrHa05 📩 Join the UpFlip Newsletter - https://bit.ly/4jTzo0X Timestamps: 00:00 - Start 00:57 - A farm… in containers?! 01:37 - Scale of operations 02:06 - Team behind the farm 02:53 - So, why shipping containers? 03:12 - Engineer with a farmer’s heart 04:14 - Profitability 05:08 - A “spa” for plants 06:06 - Years in operation 06:15 - Building amidst uncertainty 06:58 - Revenue and sources 08:47 - Fan blitz 10:38 - Zero-budget marketing strategy 12:05 - Picking the best location 13:13 - Unique industry? Unusual funding! 15:00 - Anyone CAN start today 15:28 - Flood and drain setup 16:12 - Benefits of growing microgreens 16:42 - Switching models ain’t easy 17:17 - A fancy (and profitable) crop 18:15 - A whopping monthly bill 19:44 - Harvest and production 20:22 - Hydroponics IS the leader 21:04 - Landing big players 22:07 - Investment that pays off 23:23 - Order and shipping process 24:26 - Art of picking great talent 25:37 - Meeting the “brain” 27:28 - The entrepreneurship journey 29:14 - An endless grind with big rewards 30:32 - The secret’s in the numbers 31:37 - Introducing products and SKUs 32:39 - Hobbies for success 33:15 - Operating in a garage 33:49 - Tackling competition 34:43 - Power of listening 36:23 - Tracking KPIs for success 38:15 - Humble beginnings, bold future 39:32 - Outro Tags: #hydroponics #hydroponic #hydroponicfarm