Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

New England Arbors (NEA) is a local family business that has nearly two decades of fencing and outdoor living experience in Sarnia, Ontario. They strive to design arbors, pergolas, and planter boxes that are popular on a larger scale and are created in modern, low-maintenance vinyl materials. NEA's planter boxes have opened the door to the horticulture industry where they have gained market acceptance. Looking to expand on this success, NEA is collaborating with Lambton College's Bluewater Technology Access Centre (BTAC) and Lambton Water Centre (LWC) to develop a unit with which environmentally and health conscious individuals can grow edible microgreens in their homes year-round. Microgreens are immature greens produced from the seeds of vegetables and herbs, having grown up to the point where the plant's first two true leaves emerge. New England Arbors' ""Micro-Farm"" would provide the user with an easy-to-use unit that can sit on the kitchen counter, allow them to place their seeds and harvest their microgreens a few days later. The goal of the collaborative project with Lambton College's Lambton Water Centre and Bluewater Technology Access Centre is to develop a working product with a sophisticated look that is also cost-efficient. NEA's micro-farm would be different from that of their competitor's as most micro-farms on the market use soil trays and conventional watering techniques. NEA's concept requires no media for growth, instead relying upon energy stored in the seed itself for germination and initial growth.