Hidden Gems: Meet Blake Bennett of B3 Roots

Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Bennett.  

Hi Blake, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
While at Auburn University, I worked at a very large greenhouse company. I really enjoyed working with plants and growing them from start to finish. My studies were in landscaping due to availabilities within the job market. After school, I worked in the landscaping field approximately 20 years. Just over two years ago, along with many others in 2020, I decided to try something else and work for myself, so I could spend more time at home with my family. I’ve always been interested in hydroponics, and the pandemic opened my eyes to how easy our supply chain can falter. After a little research, I ran across a company called Freight Farms that was producing shipping containers that are converted into vertical hydroponic farms. The combination of technology and agriculture sparked my interest, along with the ability to solve multiple problems: shipping, waste due to spoilage, and pesticide use. I decided to give it a shot! Upon making that decision, I had to secure the financing, order the container, find a suitable location for it, secure permits, set up the site, get it delivered and hooked up to power, and start growing. My first produce delivery was just at a year ago. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Ha ha! Every step of this process has been a mountain to climb. I had left my current job prior to getting the loan. Banks do not like that. Then on top of that nobody had any clue what a vertical hydroponic shipping container farm is or how it can be profitable. Insurance was another hurdle. Once again, nobody knows what these farms are and how to insure them. Zoning was another issue. It is an agricultural business, but it is by no means a typical farm. There is no runoff, dust, smells, tractors, or trucks like a normal produce farm. Cities could not figure out if it was light industrial or agriculture. One city shot it down right off the bat just because it is a shipping container. I also misjudged the market tremendously. The areas that I thought I would be selling to are not where I ended up selling. The first areas I solicited first questions were how much am I charging. Luckily, I eventually found the market that appreciated clean, local, pesticide-free greens. 

We’ve been impressed with B3 Roots, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
B3 Roots is a vertical hydroponic shipping container farm specializing in pesticide-free leafy greens. The farm is only 320 square feet but can yield as much as traditional 2.5-to-3-acre farm. Being fully enclosed the temperature mimics a perfect spring day all year long, so there are no seasons in the farm. Also, the fact that it is enclosed means the outside pressure of disease and insects is essentially eliminated, so pesticides are not used in the farm. Water usage is at a minimum as well. All of the water in the farm is recirculated, so in the wintertime, it only uses about 5 gallons a day. In the warmer times of the year, the HVAC system removes humidity from the air and drains it into a cistern for future use. During that time of year, the farm will produce about 10 to 15 gallons a day more than it uses. Everything is harvested and delivered within 6 hours. Mornings in the farm are for harvesting, and afternoons are for delivering. 

Right now, I am growing about 30 different varieties of greens. Lettuces, basils, arugula, mustards, mizunas, kales, and herbs. 

Most everything is delivery based. I want everyone to have access to clean local greens every week. 

We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Right now, I’m doing it all! Seeding, harvesting, delivery, invoicing, etc! The name B3 Roots has a couple meanings. My name is Blake, and so was my dad’s and his dad’s. So, I’m the 3rd. Also, there are 3 of us in our family, Autumne my wife, Marley, our daughter, and myself. The Roots part has to do with how the lettuce is harvested. When the lettuce gets pulled for an order the roots come with it. Also, Roots gives a nod to me getting back to my roots of working in a greenhouse when I was at Auburn. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.b3roots.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/b3roots/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/b3roots