Phil LaHaye

LaHaye & Associates, Inc.

125A 177th TER W

Redington Shores

Florida

33708

United States

407-782-1196

Project Running Now but Needs Funds

My goal is "help feed the world." I began purchasing and experimenting with hydroponic growing systems in 2011. I bought several different designs and began optimizing them. We grew delicious food in all of them. The hydroponic units I will write a description for were designed and built in May 2013. It was completed, put into production at our home, and the harvest was plentiful! Each design made since has incorporated the “lessons “learned” from previous models. Pictures are available to show what we have done so far. (The listed website needs updating to show this model.) The design is simple, easy to manufacture, easy to assemble, low cost, and easy to operate. All that is required for startup is included in a kit, which can currently be shipped anywhere in the continental US. The design uses PVC pipe, tubing, a single pump, pulling only 40W, a nutrient tank, plant food, seeds, pH tester and other items. Everything is included to get started! Also, this system can easily be modified with a simple, effective “greenhouse” structure over the the whole unit to extend the growing season. This is a High Productivity, "small footprint" hydroponic unit capable of growing 240 leafy green plants in a 9 ft x 2 ft area (18 sq ft) or 2.7 m x 0.6 m (1.7 sq m), making it an ideal setup for a rooftop hydroponic food production unit, even in the most densely populated areas. Obviously it can be set up on the ground as well for maximum production in minimum area. The units can also be built smaller or larger, of course, and modified as needed. These units are “double decker” units, complete with a rain shield on top (prevents young plant damge from heavy downpours). With the rain shield they are a little over 6 feet tall and have easy side access for harvesting. Leafy greens include a diversity of plants such as lettuce, bok choi, kale, chard, arugula, spinach, many high value herbs, such as cilantro and lemon grass, as well as more exotic plants such as radicchio, chicory, endive. Thus, the system can be used to feed families fresh, nutritious greens, or it can be used to develop a commercial market, supplying nearby restaurants with fresh, real food. It costs about 10 cents to produce 1 head of lettuce or bok choi. It is easy to see how rapidly this unit will pay for itself. For example, if a person planted 120 lettuce plants and 120 bok choi plants, all of which will mature to full size in 6-8 weeks, and sold each of these beautiful plants for only $1 each =$240. This means the unit is fully paid for in about 6 months. Again, this is the “leafy green” part of the unit. With the addition of a few plastic containers (instructions easily provided) a person or co-op of families can plant ANY OTHER TYPE OF EDIBLE PLANT. These units can then be populated with plants already started in containers at local Home Depots or Lowe’s, or any other garden supply. For example, we grew ONE cherry tomato plant which consistently provided us with almost 2 quarts (about 2 liters) of fresh tomatoes EVERY DAY. Root vegetables are also grown in the containers that can be set up off to the side of the main growing unit. THE SAME PUMP FEEDS THEM ALL! Concept: This unit can be used anywhere, in almost any climate. The inspiration for developing this unit is to provide low cost real food to the people in densely populated locations, such as cities. Although I have not yet gone “door knocking” I strongly believe that successful people, such as entertainers and sports stars, would support the communities they grew up in and would know exactly who to work with in these communities. I am very willing to contact these types of people and promote this hydroponic system. If I begin doing this I believe this project will REALLY take off quickly as the word gets around. Pricing: I am not totally certain of how investors may choose to be involved in this type of project, so I am presenting a couple of options. We find we can build these units and sell them for $1000 each, making a modest profit. Production would be limited, realistically to 25-30 units/month initially. Scaling up would require renting facilities, employing more people, and all the overhead that takes. That being said, this project is already underway. I have one of these units (120 plant capacity) sitting in my yard right now, producing food. I have a friend I have worked with for 25 years who will build these units with me, using the tools we have and the expertise we have at operating a business where we sell, assemble and ship a product used in the water treatment industry, called a Flow Switch. We have shipped over $1MM of these Flow Switches, a niche market product in about 19 years. We currently need nothing but the cooperation and small investment to start putting out these proven units. Plus, there is no need for any extra infrastructure until demand exceeds 25-30 units/month. Once we “sit down” with you and work out the details, we are ready to go! We will pay you a $100 royalty on each unit sold until you have recovered your investment +50%. We then evaluate and determine possibilities. Future Innovations: My wife and I are both involved in alternative health care therapies, such as sound therapy, microcurrent therapy, hypnotherapy, NLP, and hold certifications in some of these. Sound technology MAY be able to be used to induce nutrients into water, as strange as that may sound. We have already demonstrated raising the pH of water 0.5 pH units by apply certain sound frequencies for only about 15 min. There could be great potential here, but it will take access to a sophisticated laboratory to test this. I have also worked with ozone, some light frequencies, low level laser, and biomagnetism, each with a degree of success. Again, laboratory testing could validate innovative new inventions which could dramatically increase production. Investment Projections: I am in favor of starting out with 10 units to stock; ready to ship = $10,000. I would also ask for $4000 for initial marketing for 2 months. This would allow me to devote full time to knocking on doors, meeting people locally who are involved in their communities. Plus, I fully intend to get on to some national TV shows; maybe even Oprah. So, the initial investment is about $14,000. Yet, as the pace picks up, my desire is to be with someone who can scale up with us. Let’s get together this week and work out the details!

Under $25k

$10,000 for 10 unit inventory, ready to ship $4000 for 2 months of marketing