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4FOCUS-APRIL2012Comparedtooutdoorfarmingwhereacropcanbeharvest-edtwoorthreetimesayearJimwithhisnephewapprenticeDrewPendercanharvestweekly.Jimexplainsx1cWeharvestourspinachweeklyonepondeachweekinrotation.Wehavecreatedtheidealenvironmentinx0whichx0itx0canx0growx0disease-freex0withx0justx0thex0rightx0amountx0ofheatlightwaterandofcoursenodangerfromanimalsorrodents.Whenyoucontroltheenvironmentyoucangetagreatproduct.Weareconstantlytestingandtryingnewwaystomakebetterspinach.x1dAddingtothelengthoftimeneededtogetthehydroponicspinachgreenhouseupandoperatingisthefactthatbecausethetechnologytofarmthiswaydidnotexistJimandhisco-inventorshadtobuildaharvesterandcreatefromscratchsomanythingsneededintheoverallproduction.Ithasbeenacostlyx0experimentalx0innovativex0andx0rewardingx0journeyx0andx0ax0learningprocessthatisneverending.x1cWenowusingourversionx18threex19harvester.Ateverystepofthewaywehadtocreatetheautomationthatcouldhelpusfacetheissuesofheatlightpythiumandcountlessotherfacetsofgrowingspinachx1dJimsays.x0Thex0Sheehanx0greenhousex0wasx0builtx0inx02010x0andx0theirx0rstx0harvestx0wasx0Februaryx02011x0justx0ax0littlex0overx0ax0yearx0ago.x0Jimx19sx0desiretosupplylocalstoreswithhisfreshspinachhascometofruitioninfacthissupplycannotmeetthedemandnowandhehashadtotrimhiscustomerlist.JimsaysthelocalstoreslikeSobeyx19sandVoshavebeenin-crediblysupportiveashasthegeneralpublic.Heobservesx1cWearex0veryx0pleasedx0withx0ourx0rstx0year.x0Ix0wantx0tox0sayx0ax0bigx0thankx0youtothePortPerrycommunitypeopleconstantlycallandemailtoenquireastohowtheycanbuyourspinach.Thegro-cerystoreshavebeenwonderfulandweheardailythatpeoplearelookingforourproduct.x1dItisnowonderJimx19sspinachhasbeensuchahit.ConsidertheproductthatcomesacrossourbordersdailyfromplaceslikeCaliforniawherethespinachispickedtriplewashedtoriditofsoilpesticidesandallmannerofnaturalelements.Itx19sthendriedsenttoapackagingplantandtruckedtoawarehouse.Fromx0eldx0tox0warehousex0tox0ourx0localx0storesx0isx0ax0sevenx0tox0tenx0dayprocesswithaproductthathasashelflifeoftwotothreeweeks.WithJimx19sspinachaquickwashisallitneedsandyouhaveax0packagex0ofx0spinachx0thatx0willx0lastx0atx0leastx018x0days.x0Fromx0oatingx0JimSheehanandhisapprenticeDrewPenderarepic-turedabovewiththemachinethatplantsseedsineachofthesectorsofthestyrofoamformswhichwillbex13oatedonthepondstogrowthespinachuntilitisharvested.PhotobyJ.PeterHvidstenContinuedfrompage3REGISTRATIONNewRe-NewMembersThursdayMarch297p.m.-9p.m.PortPerryHighSchoolPORTPERRYTENNISCLUBOurProarrangeslessonsgroupandprivatehouseleaguesfuntourneyskidssummercampsetc.TennisforeveryoneOPENHOUSEFUNDAYAtthecourts-SaturdayMay5-10am-2pmIncludesBBQlunchFormoreinformationcallKen905-986-4555www.portperrytennisclub.comWANTTOPLAYpondtogroceryshelfin24hoursistrulyamaz-ing.Ilikespinachandeatsaladsalmostdaily.UponleavingJimx19sIstoppedatSobeyx19sandpickedx0upx0ax0packagex0justx0harvestedx0twox0daysx0before.Iusedsmallhandfulseveryfewdaysinsaladsandamamazedtoreportthat25dayslatermyspinachisstillfreshgreensweetandalmostgone.TheSheehanx19shavecomeveryclosetospinachperfectionandJimhastrulyearnedhisnicknamex1cTheSpinachGuy.x1dByMarjorieFlemingFocusonScugog