We start all our plans with a 2 hour site visit and collection of a soil sample. Testing the soil to identify and correct any nutrient imbalances in the soil. Following the site-visit, we provide a general write-up or proceed to beginning the design process to develop your Farm Plan.

Our phased design process is structured to help you make informed decisions and maintain traction on your project. This is especially important when making decisions amongst business partners, investors, family units, tenants and landlords, farm managers and farm crews.

The Phase 1 design is intended to help you visualize design options for your farm layout and orchard design; review up to three yield/revenue scenarios based on crops selected & density; and make design decisions to produce a farm site map and orchard design. This information is used to draft your Farm Plan. The Farm Plan is the foundation for your Irrigation Design Plan and Installation Projects.

Estimated Timeline: ~3 to 4 months from site visit to Phase 1 Design Draft.

Milestone: Phase 1 Design Draft»Review Checklist Completed»Client Approval Confirmed»Phase 1 Design Finalized.*

Payment Schedule: Retainer fee (20% of Estimated Phase 1 Design) is required to begin the Phase 1 Design Process.  Final payment is required before receiving the finalized Phase 1 Design.

*Design Revision Fees are charged at the rate of $150 hourly if requested after the Client Checklist/Approval is confirmed.

Farm Site Plans help actualize your vision for your farm, communicate production goals and action plans with your farm manager and farm crew, and prioritize your energy and resources. They are may also be used to support the planning & permitting process for Farm Dwellings, Farm Worker Housing, Agritourism and other permitted ag-related uses. Whether you’re bringing fallow land into production or working with land that has existing vegetable or tree crops, developing a comprehensive plan and setting up systems on your farm are foundational steps to running a successful farm. Production goals in each individual farm plan are used towards the regional supply potential of tree crops and local starches. Plans can include irrigation system design, which are developed to meet the water demand needs of your specific crops, along with site-specific needs for mitigating pressure, flow rate and back-up water needs.

Your site plan takes into account site conditions, such as topography, prior land use, erosion, drainage, easements and other site-specific planning considerations. Site plans include recommended set-backs and placement for your access roads, fencing, sanitation leach fields and your growing areas and other farm infrastructure (e.g. packing house, green houses, dry storage and other farm structures). Our farm site plans are intended to support the onsite development of your farm. They are not to be used for design or activities that require a licensed professional, such as an engineer or architect.

Timeline: ~ Month 4 to 6

Milestone: Farm Site Plan Draft»Review Checklist Completed»Client Approval Confirmed»Farm Site Plans Finalized.*

Payment Schedule: Retainer fee (30% estimated cost for the Site Plan) is required to begin drafting the Farm Site Plan. Final payment for the plan is required before receiving the finalized Farm Site Plan.

*Plan Revisions Fees are charged at a rate of $150/hrly if requested after the Client Checklist/Approval is confirmed for the Finalized Site Plan.

Irrigation design services start by calculating a water budget and irrigation zones for your orchard blocks, windbreaks and other growing areas. This information, along with field measurements of your existing flow rate and pressure from your water source, are used to design your system. As part of your irrigation design, we identify the need for back-up water storage and pumping systems, risers, controllers/timers, filters and back-flow preventers, pressure release valves, and appropriately sized main, sub-main and lateral lines and emitters to meet the water demand identified in your irrigation plan. Soil moisture sensors and fertigation systems can also be added to improve the efficiency of your automated irrigation system.

Timeline: ~ Month 6 to 7

Milestones: Irrigation Design Draft»Review Checklist Completed»Client Approval Confirmed»Irrigation Design Finalized.*

Payment Schedule: Retainer fee is required to begin drafting the Irrigation Design.  Final payment is required before receiving the finalized Irrigation Design.

Farm plans are implemented in phases and by project. Most of our projects start by installing irrigation and windbreaks. This stage of work includes estimating costs and setting a budget for phased work, placing customized plant orders, and sourcing/staging materials onsite. We often work with farmers for a year or more to set-up their orchards and mid-term crops.

Once you have completed the design and planning process for your Farm Site Plan and Irrigation Design, we can provide an estimate for our installation services. Beginning with a project-level action plan is a great way to phase and budget for your irrigation and orchard installation. Project-level estimates and action plans are a helpful tool for establishing a project-level review processes with partners prior to executing projects on the ground. 

Estimates for our installation services can be provided once a Farm Site Plan and Irrigation Design are finalized. Once the estimate is approved, Project-Level Action Plans are developed at a rate of $100 hourly (depending on the scale complexity of your project).

We build and install your irrigation system during or following the land prep phase. Although most of our planting installation services are phased, we often install your full irrigation system at one time, to ensure water is available to all viable agriculture land identified in your site plan.

Timeline: ~ Month 6-Month 8.

Milestones:  Irrigation & Land Prep Estimate» Estimate Approved by Client» Installation Services Scheduled.

Payment Schedule:  Retainer fee is required to begin the land prep and irrigation installation project. This is necessary to order materials and schedule our work crew. A payment schedule and budget updates will be provided in your client contract.

Our Annual Crop Nutrient Management & Monitoring Plans are customized for the nutrient and water demands for each of your tree crops and are based on regenerative and natural farming methods for improving crop and soil health and fertility. The plan includes:

Soil lab sample to identify any pH or nutrient deficiencies, the conductivity and nutrient holding capacity of your soil, any build-up of salts (saline or sodic conditions) and if you have enough carbon and nitrogen in your system to fuel soil biology and crop needs to ensure nutrient availability and cycling;

Recommendations for soil amendments and fertilizer applications based on soil and leaf tissue analysis (along with actions to correct any soil health or fertility issues);

Monitoring map of your existing and proposed trees;

Inventory of each tree crop (including the age and size of the trunk diameter & canopy);

Identification of the essential nutrients for each type of tree crop;

Annual fertilizer schedule and application rate (based on the age, size and phonological stage of each tree);

Application methods and equipment.

*Crop Water Demand & Irrigation Schedule and Integrative Pest Management (IPM) strategies can be added to your plan.

Timeline: Post Orchard Installation

Milestones: Farm Management Plan Draft»Review Checklist Completed»Client Approval Confirmed»Irrigation Design Finalized.*

Payment Schedule: A retainer fee is required to begin drafting the Farm Management Plan. Final payment is required before receiving the finalized management plan.

Our annual soil and crop maintenance services ensure the health and development of your crops and investment in your soil. Our annual packages start with a 3 month intensive treatment to address any current pest, disease or nutrient imbalances, followed by monthly or bi-monthly maintenance visits. We use OMRI-certified, organic products and Korean Natural Farming (KNF) microbial solutions and soil amendments. Building crop and soil health through a comprehensive management system improves the abundance and quality of your crops, improves the tilth and nutrient cycling ability of your soil and can proactively reduce pest and disease pressure.

We work with a growing list of community organizations and small-businesses interested in sourcing food grown on the North Shore using regenerative practices. Our farm plans and harvest logs are used towards our regional goals for import substitution of fruit tree and canoe crops.