Introduction
Hello, and welcome to our mid-year review. As the world around us continues to evolve, so too does our approach to plant cultivation. The wave of technology has washed over every sector, and the realm of cultivation is no exception. If you’re like me, your passion for plants and the complexities of their care is being intertwined with digital tools and cutting-edge technology.
And who am I, you might ask? Well, let me introduce myself. I’m Shawn Deggans, and I’ve been delivering technology solutions to various industries for the past 25 years. I’m not committed to helping cannabis cultivators spend less time struggling with technology, and more time focused on their gardens. Over the years, I’ve taken a deep dive into the world of cultivation and tech, merging the two to foster healthier, more efficient, and more manageable growth.
It was this passion for tech and greenery that led me and my wife to create Green Nanny, a platform dedicated to bringing the benefits of modern technology to cultivators everywhere. Whether you’re a seasoned cultivator or a green-thumbed novice, our aim is to provide you with the tools, knowledge, and resources to streamline your operations and make the most of your green space.
Through Green Nanny, I’ve had the pleasure of working with fellow cultivators, industry experts, and technology innovators. Together, we’re paving the way for a future where tech-integrated cultivation isn’t just a trend, but the norm.
I’m excited to bring you along this journey and share our progress, experiences, and upcoming plans as we explore the future of plant cultivation.
Let’s take a look at the first half of this year and see what we’ve achieved, where we stand now, and where we’re heading. Fasten your seatbelts; it’s going to be a thrilling ride!
The Journey So Far
As we stand on the threshold of July, poised to dive into the second half of 2023, it’s time for reflection and introspection. The first half of the year has been a period of development, refinement, and anticipation here at Green Nanny.
The most pivotal part of our journey so far has undoubtedly been the creation of the GrowerInTheLoop maturity model. This comprehensive guide, spanning over 100k words, represents the essence of our approach to plant care and the integration of technology in cultivation. The maturity model isn’t merely a tool; it’s an ecosystem designed to resonate with cultivators, helping them streamline their growth journey and maximize efficiency.
Now, the model is still in its infancy, and we haven’t put it to the test in enough hands to garner widespread feedback. However, our hope and belief are that the GrowerInTheLoop maturity model will prove to be a game-changer. We envision our community of cultivators reporting increased efficiency, improved plant health, and a smoother cultivation process – all achieved by leveraging the insights and strategies within the model.
The upcoming second half of the year will provide us with opportunities to validate this belief. One such opportunity is the collaboration with my friend Clent Baker at Papa Jesus Farms in Oklahoma City. As we embark on this joint venture in July, we will apply the GrowerInTheLoop approach to marry practical cultivation with digital transformation.
Clent’s willingness to transform his farm into a hands-on lab offers us a unique chance to test, refine, and perfect our tools in a real-world setting. Simultaneously, we hope to provide support and solutions that could positively influence the farm’s growth trajectory.
In summary, the first half of 2023 has been about laying the groundwork, about creating the tools and models that we believe will revolutionize the world of cultivation. As we step into the second half, it’s time to put these beliefs to the test and, hopefully, witness them translate into reality.
Hands-On Experience – Current Project
As we’ve moved from ideation to execution, an exciting opportunity has materialized on the horizon. My good friend, Clent Baker, who helms Papa Jesus Farms in Oklahoma City, has graciously agreed to collaborate with us. Our ongoing project, due to commence this July, will provide a practical and immersive environment to apply the GrowerInTheLoop maturity model in real-time.
This partnership symbolizes a meeting point of two passionate minds looking to explore and experiment in the vast landscape of cultivation. It’s about uniting traditional cultivation practices with the transformative power of modern technology. Papa Jesus Farms, under Clent’s dynamic leadership, has offered us an authentic field lab where we will employ our methods and tools, effectively turning theory into practice.
Papa Jesus Farms focuses on creating a sustainable culture through organic farming and by hand selecting the best genetics from around the globe.
Named after our father, it became our mission to create a business and brand focused on cultivating and producing the cleanest cannabis possible in order to help others just as it has improved and extended the life of our father.
Our flower is grown indoors under the FLUENCE VYPR series LED lights and fed only certified organic nutrients and inputs. We focus on quality over quantity and only want to bring the cleanest, purest, and highest quality cannabis flower to the connoisseur.
“Everyone needs a little Papa Jesus” – Papa Jesus
While we’re eager to offer our support and innovative solutions to Papa Jesus Farms, we also stand to gain significant insights from this project. This hands-on experience promises to be an immersive learning journey, allowing us to fine-tune our maturity model, identify its strengths, and understand areas where it might require further refinement.
We believe that real growth occurs when we’re open to learning and adapting. Therefore, the lessons derived from this project will directly impact our approach at Green Nanny. The feedback, data, and experiences from this collaboration will serve as valuable inputs, enabling us to sharpen our model and ensure it continues to evolve and stay relevant.
As we stand on the cusp of this engaging endeavor, we’re fueled by optimism and a strong belief in the potency of the GrowerInTheLoop model. This undertaking, we hope, will pave the way for many more collaborations and innovations, enabling us to redefine the intersection of technology and plant care.
Innovations for Small and Medium Cultivators
In keeping with our commitment to help cultivators simplify their cultivation process and maximize plant care, we’ve developed the BoutiqueGrow Notion Suite, an effective, affordable, and user-friendly tool designed specifically for small and medium-sized operations.
With its focus on Notion, an application that I’ve relied on heavily and found extremely beneficial, BoutiqueGrow Notion Suite takes into account the limitations that smaller cultivators might face and offers a solution that fits their requirements perfectly. Its ease of use, reasonable price, and simplified yet comprehensive design make it a practical alternative to larger, more complex software solutions.
The BoutiqueGrow Notion Suite is not just a one-time offering, but a continually evolving platform that we plan to expand with integrations to Clarify.io, METRC, and other platforms that align with our mission to deliver a comprehensive wellness approach to plants. While we’ve made significant strides, we’re just getting started.
So, what does the BoutiqueGrow Notion Suite bring to the table for cultivators?
- It simplifies operations by consolidating all essential cultivation information into one platform, helping avoid redundancies and errors.
- It fosters better communication and collaboration among team members by offering a shared workspace.
- It helps cultivators make data-driven decisions by tracking crucial data, such as strain-specific yield, harvest progress, and inventory levels.
- It aids in maintaining regulatory compliance by managing and documenting standard operating procedures.
- It offers scalability and customization to accommodate the evolving needs of your cultivation business.
- It is a cost-effective alternative to feature-rich platforms, providing a powerful management tool without compromising on affordability.
At Green Nanny, we believe that the right technological solutions can be a game-changer for cultivators. BoutiqueGrow Notion Suite is our testament to that belief. While we’re still early in its journey, we’re optimistic that this tool will empower cultivators to manage their operations more effectively and spend more quality time nurturing their plants.
On the Horizon: Future Developments
While we’re proud of the work we’ve done in the first half of the year, we are by no means resting on our laurels. There is much more to come, and we’re excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.
One area we are particularly excited about is the GrowerInTheLoop Self-Assessment tool. This tool is designed to measure the maturity levels for the different pillars of plant care, similar to the Well-Architected Framework standards that Microsoft and AWS utilize for cloud-based systems. By assessing your answers in a survey format, we can determine where you stand in terms of maturity levels for the different plant pillars of care.
However, the Self-Assessment tool is just the start. Upon completion of the survey, you’ll receive a comprehensive, 40+ pages report packed with valuable cultivator information. This report will cover the pillars of plant care, what the maturity levels mean, what data points and data events can do for you, as well as a summary of your maturity model at each plant pillar. More than that, it will also produce a roadmap of tactical steps you can take to boost your current maturity level and transition to the next.
Additionally, we have plans to roll out even more resources and features for cultivators. Our goal is to become an even more comprehensive platform for those in the cultivation industry. We’re listening to our user base and taking note of what tools, resources, and features would be most beneficial to our community of cultivators.
In line with this, we’re looking forward to further refining our Notion Suite, adding more integrations, and exploring other ways to simplify and streamline the cultivation process through the intelligent use of technology. The latter half of the year promises to be an exciting one, and we can’t wait to share these developments with you.
The road ahead is filled with challenges, opportunities, and innovations. Here at Green Nanny, we’re prepared and thrilled to navigate this journey with you. As always, our ultimate aim is to empower you, our community of cultivators, to spend more time with your plants, and less on the burdens of technology. We believe in the incredible power of nature, and with the right tools, we’re convinced that we can unlock that potential together.
Continuing the Journey of Learning and Growth
Education has always been at the heart of our mission at Green Nanny. We believe that knowledge is a powerful tool that can transform the way we approach cultivation, unlocking new levels of productivity, sustainability, and quality in our endeavors. And while our journey in this realm has been filled with rich learning and growth, we’re still looking forward to a future filled with opportunities for educational expansion and community engagement.
Thus far, the development and conceptualization of our GrowerInTheLoop maturity model serve as the bedrock for our future educational initiatives. This model, which lays out the pillars of plant care in a comprehensive and easily digestible manner, represents the sum of our knowledge and experience. While it’s still in development, we’re excited about the potential it holds as an educational asset. We envisage this tool serving as a cornerstone for workshops, courses, and other educational resources aimed at upskilling the cultivation community.
And it’s not just about what we know. We’re also eager to tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience within the cultivation community. By learning from professionals who have hands-on experience in the field, we’re aiming to create a dynamic and diverse knowledge base that is grounded in real-world insights and applications. Our goal is to foster a space where the sharing of wisdom becomes the norm, where each of us can learn from the experiences and insights of others.
Moving forward, we’re aiming to create more detailed learning materials that cover the “why” as well as the “how” of plant care. The beauty of the GrowerInTheLoop maturity model lies in its ability to elucidate complex concepts in a way that is intuitive and applicable. With this tool as our guide, we’re planning on developing a series of educational resources that delve into the practical applications of the model.
In the end, we want Green Nanny to be more than just a platform for plant care technology. We want it to be a place for learning, growth, and community. By fostering an environment of education and collaboration, we aim to shape a future where cultivation is not only more efficient and sustainable but also more informed and insightful. The journey ahead is one we’re thrilled to embark on, and we’re grateful to have such a passionate and engaged community with us every step of the way.
Keep growing, friends!
Shawn
