US 12,232,458 B2
Farming system
Mark Vanacore, Arlington, MA (US); Ahmad Zameli, Cambridge, MA (US); and Jonathan Toll, Medford, MA (US)
Assigned to Evergreens, LLC, Hudson, MA (US)
Filed by Evergreens, LLC, Hudson, MA (US)
Filed on Oct. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/492,098.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/094,283, filed on Oct. 20, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0117179 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. A01G 31/04 (2006.01); B65B 25/02 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 31/042 (2013.01) 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A farm for growing one or more crops, the farm comprising:
a container, the container comprising a growing surface, a lip, a bottom surface having one or more ridges with one or more openings and one or more plugs corresponding to the one or more openings, wherein the growing surface is substantially flat and attached to the lip of the container:
a seeding station arranged to load a plurality of seeds onto or at least partially into the growing surface of the container, the seeding station comprising: a viscous fluid configured to hold the plurality of seeds in a desired position on or at least partially in the growing surface of the container, wherein the plurality of seeds are configured to be suspended in the viscous fluid, the viscous fluid comprising a gel comprising at least one of pectin, corn starch, glycerin, konjac, xanthum gum, and guar gum;
a manifold separate from and not connected to the container comprising one or more outlet channels configured to dispense the plurality of seeds on or at least partially in the growing surface of the container, wherein the one or more outlet channels are positioned to maintain a predetermined density and a predetermined dispersion of the plurality of seeds while the plurality of seeds are dispensed on or at least partially in the growing surface of the container;
an irrigation and growing station comprising one or more nozzles separate from and not connected to the container arranged to supply water and/or nutrients to the container for hydroponic aeroponic irrigation in the form of a mist of the one or more crops, wherein the irrigation and growing station is stationary;
a harvesting and packaging station comprising a serrated, band saw, height adjustable blade arranged to harvest the crops from the container while keeping the container, the growing surface and roots of one or more plants intact to allow the one or more plants to continue to grow for a plurality of harvests, and to place the crops in one or more packages; and
a conveyor, wherein the irrigation and growing station is arranged with the conveyor such that the container is configured to be conveyed above the one or more nozzles, wherein the conveyor is configured to move the container within and in between at least one of the seeding station, the irrigation and growing station, and the harvesting and packaging station.