DWC Raft Beds - Are there local sellers on the east coast

[Paul Phillip Meyer]

Hello,

I'm about to purchase around 200 4X6 raft beds but the only dealer I know is Beaver plastics in California. I'm surprised I couldn't find a direct post on this since most people do DWC and either make their own or buy them setup. Anyone have any resources to a plastic company that would make them on the east coast? I'm in Virginia. I know shipping is really high so I'd like to pick them up.

-Paul

VAfarmer.com

[Jon Parr]

What up, Paul? How did your project go? Hopefully excellent, and you will post some pics. BTW, Beaver is in Canada, and my company CleverPonics is in Cali. I may send my mold out to Virginia so you can save the shipping and have them made locally. 

[Paul Phillip Meyer]

I ended up going with Beaver (I didn't feel like I had a choice). I remembered yours but couldn't find anything on the web so I figured you weren't selling them yet. There is some major demand on the east coast. I spent around $650 JUST on the semi truck to hull all the way from Canada. I wouldn't even know who to contact with a mold so maybe you can point to a plastics company that would know what to do. I know all the universities here have to buy from Beaver too. Just something to think about if you can team up with a company on the east coast and sell them much cheaper/less shipping cost. You can see some images of my setup here www.vafarmer.com

[Jon Parr]

Great site! Looks like things are going good. 

Yeah, there is very little money in foam rafts with Beaver around. I can buy there molds shipped to my door for $7 each, and it costs me $6 to blow them from my own mold, which cost me $20K. But mine are thicker and made in the USA. If you need more, let me know. 

[Paul Phillip Meyer]

Jon a lot of the frustrations you were having and comments you made are coming up with me. I'm just trying to stay small and sell within a limited base of customers. Once I'm happy and I can pay all the bills and quit delivering pizzas at night I'll know things are going good. I've had positive feedback on brightagrotechs live sales model and I plan to make that my wholesale business for herbs on a small scale. However, I feel hands down the basic DWC system of growing is much easier to construct/grow and even harvest. I still have enough rafts left because I stocked up. I figure once I'm finished with my mini 6000sqft and I'm selling it all then I'll be ready to expand from there granted I'm making money and I can hire long-term workers to make everything much less stressful. Did you see the blog post I just updated? It shows some DWC (using more hydroponics solution as of now maybe you can help stear me better into aquaponics).