Grow Video: Getting Started
Safety First
Safety First
Be aware that the Flex Farm uses water and electricity, so there is a risk of electric shock if instructions are not followed carefully. Also, some of the materials used are caustic and should be kept out of the reach of children. Always pay special attention to the safety notices included in this guide.
WARNING indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury.
NOTE is used to address practices not related to physical injury, which, if not avoided, could cause damage to the Flex Farm or surrounding property.
Farmative
Farmative
ACCESS FARMATIVE TO ENHANCE YOUR GROWING EXPERIENCE!
Farmative is Fork Farms’ digital platform to access transformative and collaborative tools for your growing experience. This platform is 100% free to the Fork Farms community of growers. Access exclusive content such as educational and growing resources, shop the Farmative store, and register for Fork Farms hosted events.
If you have not already activated your Farmative account visit: farmative.forkfarms.com/account/register
Enter your information including the email address you use with Fork Farms and click “Create Account”.
Supplies for your Flex Farm
Supplies for your Flex Farm
The Grower Toolkit includes the following items.
pH Test Kit
TDS Meter
Measuring Cup
Measuring Spoons
Bristle Brush
A 3-month Supplies Box comes with each Flex Farm and includes the following items. Please note, items included in the Supplies Box are subject to change or may appear different than the items listed here.
Rockwool Flats
Nursery Tray
Humidity Dome
Nutrient A
Nutrient B
pH Down
Seeds
Additional Supplies
Food Safety Gloves
Face Mask
Food-safe Storage Bags or Sterilized Food-Safe Containers
Clean Spray Bottle
Clean Scissors or Tools (for seed planting/harvesting)
Store-bought 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (Available at any drugstore)
Shop-Vac (for draining)
Assigning a Farm Manager
Assigning a Farm Manager
We have found that sites that assign an internal “farm manager” have much higher rates of success over time. This person is your knowledge base on Flex Farm operations and will help students, staff, customers or family members use the farm. They should not necessarily be responsible for all the work. Instead, they know how the Flex Farm operates and help everyone who works on the Flex Farm keep everything on track to produce great harvests. We recommend getting multiple people engaged. The more people that can get involved the better!
Flex Farm Tasks
These tasks should take anywhere from 5-30 minutes per week depending on what you are growing. Note: planting, harvesting, and cleaning will take additional time outside the regular weekly tasks. There is a learning curve at first, but once you use the Flex Farm for a few weeks, it will take less and less time.
Flex Farm Setup
Planting Seeds
Transplanting
Harvesting
Water Maintenance
Cleaning
Deep Cleaning
Fork Farms is here to provide any support you may need along the way. Please do not hesitate to reach out. Our team is here to help. Key resources for the Farm Manager to have on hand are:
Growing Set-Up
Skip to the Planting Seeds article if you do not have seedlings ready for transplanting. You can wait to fill your Flex Farm with water until your seedlings are ready for transplanting.
Assembly Manual (PDF)
Filling Tanks & Checking Valves
Step 1
Before filling the tank, ensure the drainage valve connecting the two tanks in the back is in the closed position.
Step 2
Fill the tanks from either side halfway with water (about 25-30 gallons). This can be done with a hose or bucket. You might notice one side fills quicker than the other. The tanks are connected in the back of the Flex Farm. The water will level out between the tanks within a few minutes.
Step 3
Do not leave the Flex Farm open more than 90 degrees (or approximately three feet from tank knob to tank knob) for an extended period of time. This will prevent damage to the back drainage tubing and potential leaking.
NOTE: IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE TANKS HALF FULL AT ALL TIMES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF OVERFLOW AND ENSURE YOUR WATER LEVELS ARE SUFFICIENT TO FULLY SUBMERGE YOUR PUMP AT ALL TIMES.
WARNING: DANGER OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK. ALWAYS USE A GROUNDED OUTLET AND KEEP ELECTRICAL CORDS DRY.
Step 4
Insert black panel plugs into empty plant spaces that you will not be using for your seedlings. Having a plug or plant in every space also allows the Flex Farm to work to its fullest potential by increasing the humidity in the root chamber. The black panel plugs also prevent additional water from splashing out of your system when you turn the pump on. Reference our Transplanting Article for tips on which plant spaces should be blocked with black panel plugs.
Step 5
Plug the pump into a grounded (three-pronged) outlet. The pump starts running automatically when plugged in. The pump should run 24/7. Make sure the valve on the vertical irrigation line is in the open position.
Step 6
Flush the drip lines to remove any manufacturing debris. Place the provided measuring cup or a bucket under the valve located at the end of each drip line. Open each valve for 5 seconds.
Step 7
Close each valve after flushing is complete.