Growing Green: One Year with Growcer

A Year of Fresh, Local Growth

It's hard to believe it's already been over a year since our Growcer unit arrived in Ucluelet. In that time, it's gone from a brand-new idea to a genuine part of how we feed our community.

A lot of the credit goes to Moe, who has poured real heart into this project from day one. His dedication is a big part of why it's working so well, and it shows in every harvest.

From Greens to Herbs

We started out growing leafy greens like lettuce, kale, bok choy, and Asian greens, and we've kept that going year-round without skipping a beat. More recently, we've added fresh herbs to the mix: basil, dill, spearmint, and more. One thing we've noticed is that because they're grown and packed right here, they stay fresh for a long time compared to what gets shipped in.

We're still figuring things out and learning with every growing cycle, which honestly makes it more fun. Each run we get a little better at knowing what grows well and what our community actually wants on the shelf.

How It Works

For anyone who hasn't caught one of our updates, Growcer is a Canadian company that grows fresh produce inside a 40-foot shipping container using hydroponic systems. Plants grow in nutrient-rich water instead of soil, under energy-efficient LED lighting. No pesticides, no natural sunlight required, and it uses only about 5% of the water that traditional farming does.

One container can produce around 500 heads of fresh greens every single week, all year long. That works out to over 26,000 servings annually, grown right here in Ukee.

For a deeper look at the technology and how it all works, read our original Growcer article.

Why We're Proud of It

Beyond the fresh produce itself, this project means a lot to us because of what it represents for Ucluelet:

- Less reliance on long-distance shipping and the emissions that come with it
- A more consistent local food supply regardless of what's happening with supply chains
- Local jobs and food dollars staying in the community

It's the kind of thing that sounds great on paper and then turns out to actually be great in practice, which doesn't always happen.

More to Come

We have some exciting news on the horizon this month, so keep an eye out. We're continuing to grow the program and explore what else we can bring to the community through it.

Thanks for supporting this project and for being so enthusiastic about locally grown produce. We couldn't do it without you.

For more on Growcer's farming systems, visit thegrowcer.ca