A Returning Genius Farmer Grows Money Indefinitely

“No, I like it. I feel like I’m becoming a little farmer now.”

At Park Tae-ho’s words, Han Gi-tak chuckled and laughed.

He was also looking forward to growing crops.

Kim Deok-myeong said that he wanted to grow crops that would create synergy with dairy products from the ranch.

If that happens, he thought that the Jirisan farmers could take a step forward.

* * *

I went out to the hotel lobby with Baek Min-seok.

“Where did you learn such a talent for making air pumps?”

“It’s the skill I used to play with science boxes when I was young.”

“Anyway, it was great, thanks to which I was able to take a field trip. I wonder what a real hydroponics facility would look like, not just a toy.”

Then I got a call from Hae-ri.

We headed to the Plant Factory with her.

“The representative said that he would guide us directly.”

“Is Mark Lester directing you?”

Baek Min-seok asked with an excited face.

“Yes, he said he has a story he wants to talk to with Kim Deok-myeong.”

to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing

Mark Lester showed interest in me. I wondered why.

The Plant Factory was located on the outskirts of the city.

It was not as big as I thought.

The possibility was now recognized. It was still a growing company.

“Are you growing crops in this building?”

“Yes, we also grow crops in this building.”

I went inside the company with Hae-ri.

A clean office environment caught my eye. All the staff worked in comfortable clothes.

to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing

Mark Lester was waiting for us. He was wearing a one-piece overalls with a hat.

It was a device to prevent dust and germs. We also changed clothes.

With Mark Lester, he moved to the place where the crops were grown.

It looked like a warehouse. When I opened the door and entered, I doubted my eyes.

A huge plant factory appeared.

“This is the model that will be commercialized. It provides an optimal environment for crops to grow. We control light, temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide.”

There were dense holes on the huge shelf. Green vegetables were planted in each hole. could not count.

I got closer and looked at the vegetables.

Kale and spinach were predominant. It is a leafy vegetable that is easy to grow hydroponically.

There was a tube that supplied water and nutrients under the shelf where the vegetables were grown. A device that looked like an air pump was also seen.

The most striking thing was the lighting on the vegetables.

When I first walked in, I was amazed at the sheer number of lights.

Crops cannot be grown with water and nutrients alone. light is needed Artificial light is growing vegetables.

“Awesome, I didn’t expect it to be this big.”

Baek Min-seok showed interest in a system that provides nutrients like a programmer.

The system for giving water and nutrients was automated. The operator could check the status of water and nutrient solution through the screen.

We were preoccupied with the hydroponics facility.

“Crops get a perfectly balanced nutrient supply. There is no fear of pests or pests coming from the soil. They are healthier and more nutritious because they receive a balanced diet.”

“It feels like we are in the future.”

“There are a lot of people who say that other than Kim Deok-myeong.”

to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing

Mark Lester said with a smile.

“At the fair, we talked about the advantages of hydroponics. Hydroponics doesn’t just have its advantages. In fact, there are downsides as well. It can be both a drawback and a fatal problem. That’s the cost of building the facility.”

As he said, cost was the biggest drawback.

To build a high-tech facility like a plant factory, you had to have an astronomical amount of money.

Plant Factory established its current facility by attracting investment.

“I heard it through Jeon Hae-ri. Kim Deok-myung is very interested in hydroponics.”

I nodded quietly.

“I like people who are good at solving problems. Just like Kim Deok-myeong.”

I wondered what I was saying to me.

“I had a feeling that Kim Deok-myeong could solve other problems as well.”

“What do you mean?”

“There is one homework that I have not been able to solve.”

“Is it something to do with the hydroponics system?”

“you’re right.”

At that time, an article related to Plant Factory suddenly came to mind.

It was the content that Plant Factory suffered in the process of growing up.

He seemed to know the homework he had not solved.

lucky persimmon

We came out of a hydroponics facility.

In the break room, Mark Lester spoke up.

“The unsolved homework is to raise the hydroponics.”

He made eye contact with me. The eyes were alive. His earnest dreams were felt.

“Of course, there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed now.”

That was the problem the Plant Factory was facing.

It was a way to raise the hydroponics farm to the sky.

This is also called vertical cultivation.

A system in which hydroponics are stacked layer by layer like an apartment building.

“This is also the homework I gave to all the staff, including Jeon Hae-ri here.”

to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing

Mark Lester looked at Hae-ri and said. There was a subtle change in her expression.

“I think creative ideas can solve problems.”

he said looking at me

Plant Factory was an innovative agricultural enterprise.

It had a goal to lead future agriculture through hydroponics.

Founder Mark Lester was a believer in creative ideas.

In fact, the person who came up with the idea of hydroponics was neither a farmer nor a scientist.

An ordinary college student’s thesis was the starting point.

This is why he confides his concerns to a farmer from Korea.

to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing

Mark Lester asked me.

“When you return to Korea, you’re thinking of doing hydroponics, right?”

“Yes, I am planning to introduce hydroponics to Korea.”

“As expected, may I make a suggestion to Mr. Kim?”

“What proposal?”

“If we can solve problems that Plant Factory has not been able to solve, we are thinking of forming a technical partnership.”

“Technical partnership?”

“It means that you can do anything if you give the solution of vertical cultivation.”

As he said, it was not easy to build a hydroponics farm layer by layer.

The vertically connected hydroponics were also one giant plant.

Just as blood vessels are connected to organs, the tubes that supply nutrients and water are connected as one.

There were many mountains to climb, from bearing the load to the circulatory system.

“I appreciate the potential of Korean people. We have achieved tremendous growth in a short period of time. Consumer electronics and semiconductors surpass that of the United States. It’s not very good right now, but I think high-tech agriculture will one day achieve remarkable growth.”

to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing

Mark Lester lifted a plastic model from a shelf in the break room.

It looked like the hydroponics were stacked layer by layer.

“Honestly, this is not just a proposal for Mr. Kim. I told you the same story with a young man from Holland not too long ago. That man, like Mr. Kim, was excellent at problem-solving. Plant Factory is open to anyone. Of course, there is a prerequisite for solving problems with original ideas.”

* * *

After finishing the schedule at Plant Factory, I got into the car.

Jee-ri, who took the steering wheel, asked.

“Would you like a cup of coffee?”

I saw an apple pie house in the middle of the road.

She parked her car there.

It was a quiet cafe. A man and a woman who appeared to be a couple were drinking apple pie and coffee.

“The apple pie here is delicious.”

“I will buy it.”

“No, I have to buy it.”

Hae-ri ordered apple pie and coffee.

Apple pie and coffee came out soon.

“Isn’t Mark a bit unique?”

Hae-ri asked while drinking coffee.

“No, it was fun.”

Baek Min-seok nodded at my words.

“As Mark said, vertical cultivation is also a homework assignment for our employees.”

“Is vertical cultivation so difficult?”

“Yes, it is very difficult. With our current technology, we can go up to the third floor.”

Hae-ri said with three fingers spread out.

“If you upload more than that, various problems will arise.”

“Then how many floors are you planning to raise?”

“I think that at least the 30th floor should be raised.”

“Are you on the 30th floor?”

Baek Min-seok, who was eating the apple pie, asked with a surprised face.

“It would be taller than an apartment on the 30th floor.”

“I said at least the 30th floor. Mark is probably thinking about the 100th floor.”

“Are you on the 100th floor? It’s amazing!”

Baek Min-seok opened his mouth and opened his mouth.

Plant Factory actually built a 50-story plant factory. Of course, that is 10 years from now.

“Do you really want to challenge hydroponics, Mr. Deokmyung?”

Hae-ri made eye contact with me.

“Yeah, I’m thinking of giving it a try.”

“As Mark said, it’s a lot of upfront capital. The Plant Factory could not have come this far if it hadn’t received investment.”

“I have no intention of doing things recklessly from the beginning.”

“I also wish Mr. Deokmyeong well. To be honest, I think that hydroponics is more needed in Korea than in the United States.”

“Is there any reason you think so?”

“Agriculture is the weakest part of the Korean economy.”

It was ironic to hear these words through the mouth of a Korean citizen. But there were also words to be engraved.

“Can I give you a little tip? About hydroponics.”

“good.”

“Hypoponics is not just about money. I need professional help. He is an expert in botany and has an understanding of hydroponics systems.”

“I kind of know that. It is difficult to find such a person, but…”

“I know an expert.”

“Who are the experts?”

“He used to work in a plant factory. I am retired now. Min Yo-han is a man.”

“Are you Korean?”

“That’s right, I’m Korean.”

to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing

Min Yo-han was an early member of Plant Factory. He was a botanist and a person with expertise in hydroponics.

“Where is he now?”

“I heard you are in Korea now.”

“Do you know where you are?”

“I heard that you are in Jeju Island. There were rumors that bees were raised there.”

“May I have your contact information?”

That’s all Haley knew. I did not know their contact information and email address.

After leaving Plant Factory, Min Yo-han left for Korea.

“I don’t know exactly why I left. Because he left before I joined the company. What is certain is that Min Yo-han was a key member of Plant Factory.”

“If you can start hydroponics with that person, things might be easier.”

“Yes, we had a lot of trial and error in the beginning. If you start with that person, you can minimize trial and error.”

“Thank you for good information.”

“I am more grateful. You even gave dried persimmons as a gift. Can you stop waking up?”

Hae-ri got up from her seat.

I was grateful for her caring. However, it was not easy to find people by name alone.

read at https://readwn.com

Of course, the information that bees are being raised on Jeju Island could be useful.

* * *

Tomorrow is the end of all my itinerary in California.

Had our last dinner here.

I asked Baek Min-seok.

“What do you think?”

“Are you asking about Min Yo-han?”

Baek Min-seok asked as he sliced the steak.

“I think he is the person we need. But there is one thing.”

“What?”

“I am concerned about the reason I left Plant Factory.”

He said that she did not know why he left Plant Factory.

I was concerned too.

“It may not be a big deal. Maybe I just missed Korea.”

Baek Min-seok said with a smile. As he said, it may not have been the reason.

As soon as I returned to Korea, I was thinking of meeting Min Yo-han. Of course, it was a job to find.

I was going to ask the people of the local beekeeping association for help.

It was time to finish eating and go home.

The phone vibrated.

“Who is it?”

Baek Min-seok asked when he picked up the phone.

“Little Hans.”

It was a call from Little Hans. I met him by chance at the fairgrounds.

We didn’t have time to talk because our destinations were different.

Then we exchanged contact information. Before I left, I left a message that I would see you when the time comes.

“Hans, how about seeing you?”

I asked Baek Min-seok. Signed that there was no problem.

We made an appointment to meet with Little Hans.

The hotel he was staying with was not far away.

We took a taxi and headed to his place.

Several people were seen, including Little Hans.

“I would have been sad if I had only seen it at the fairgrounds and took the plane.”

Little Hans shook hands and said.

“Yeah, that must have been really sad.”

We sat at the table together.

“You should have a light drink.”

“good.”

The light drink he ordered was a German beer.

“Germans drink beer like a drink.”

At Little Hans’ words, the party burst into laughter. It was our last night in America.