|
The Orchid & Plants
Education Center
Compiled on May 28,
2004 PDF
General Outline
This
is an orchid growing company, established in April, 1999. We were able to
buy land and obtain a permit to build greenhouses
in Dos Palos, CA in September,
1999. The construction period lasted ten months and we were able to start
growing
our inventory in the beginning of 2001.
Our current operation consists of 15.7 acres, housing five greenhouses
with
approximately 250,000 plants. In the near future, with the expansion of more
greenhouses, our goal is to
grow more than one million plants. We will also
focus on creating educational and cultural projects by building an Orchid
&
Plants Education Center.
One of our company's goals is to diversify the agricultural business on the
basis of orchid and plant growing technology in the central valley. We hope to
educate our customers on the necessity
of greenhouses for the purpose of
conservation of the environment. We will employ the practices of greenhouse
growing,
equipment management, growing ornamental plants, cloning technology for
propagation of a certain species, and water
conservation.
The additional effect of opening our farm to the public is to provide travelers,
commuters,
and even our local neighbors with resting places, field trip
opportunities for students of all ages, and just a good
educational experience
for anyone who would like to visit us and learn more about our orchids and
plants.
The main content and the aim of the project
1. Orchid & Plant Museum:
The museum will be built in the first greenhouse
(0.5 acres), closest to Highway
152. This museum will comprise various kinds of orchids, including a wide
variety
of different plants. This variety of orchids would meet the educational
taste of the local people. By teaching the details
of growing and cultivating
characteristics of orchids, we will be able to concentrate on teaching the
importance
of the plant resources and conservation, in addition to home
horticulture.
2. Botanical Garden:
Bamboo plants will be our main plants in the Botanical Garden, spread over 5
acres
of land. We have completed extensive research on more than 70 varieties of
bamboo coming from all over the world. In
the near future more than 150
varieties will be tested and planted here at our facilities. The Botanical
Garden
will be open to the public, free of charge.
3. Research Center and Seminar Room:
1)
Orchid and plants tissue culture:
We will conserve and propagate the almost extinct species of orchids with the
hope of contributing to the horticulture industry in America by developing the
mass propagation of these extinct
species.
2) Hydroponics:
Through hydroponics, these
plants will receive only 10% of the
water they would normally use. Also, by diminishing the growing time and
increasing
the production by at least twice the amount, this will allow us to
conserve water by recycling. We will practice this
skill of water conservation
that is vastly depleted in California.
4. Expanding the
greenhouses:
We will build two additional greenhouses, used solely for growing orchids. The
reason for
this addition is that one greenhouse that we currently use for
growing orchids will be transformed into a museum, open
to the public free of
charge.
5. Restaurant and gas station/mini mart:
For
the comfort and convenience of our customers, we will have a restaurant for
those who would be able to sit down, rest,
and stay awhile. But for those
travelers who are on the go, we will have a mini mart on the premises as well.
6. RV Parking:
RV parking is convenient for truck drivers
who have an interest in orchids and
plant growth and would like to visit our place of business, as well. They will
be able to visit our restaurant, facilities.
Expected
Effect
1. Job opportunity:
We are currently
employing seven full time workers and six part-time workers
year-round. After our project is completed, we expect to
increase our job
opportunities to twenty full time workers and fifteen part-time workers
year-round.
2. Tax Revenues:
It is expected that we will be paying at
least four to five times more than our
current tax amount.
3.
Spin-off effect of diversifying agriculture:
It will be the forefront of high-tech agriculture in the
traditional agriculture
zone in the central valley.
4. Contribution to the local orchid
growers:
It will open up many opportunities for orchid growers to learn more about
orchids and how to grow
them, as well as give people who want to start raising
orchids as a hobby, a place to learn and explore.
Planning Department of Merced County
Measuring for layout
Engineer Garth Pecchenino
|
