Buried shipping container grow?

BWG707

Well-Known Member
Reminds of years ago, someone buried shipping containers in the Sierras to grow. First snow revealed perfectly melted squares. They were busted immediately.
 
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Reactions: K J

K J

Active Member
Hahahaha what a pain in the ass. If you're building a shop in the middle of nowhere anyway I'd say skip all the pain in the ass of going underground and just grow in the damn shop you just built, it's in the middle of damn nowhere.
 

ASMALLVOICE

Well-Known Member
A kewl idea, just remember to add internal structural support to those containers, as they are not intended for burial and anymore than 6" of dirt along with a good rain can easily overcome the structural integrity and implode.
I have been in a couple that were done that way as a "bug out" shelter and they are about 12' below the surface. He added serious support to the inside to support all the weight of the earth above. His wife did not go in there for almost 3 months cause she was convinced it was a tomb..lol
Just some food for thought.

Peace and Safe Grows

Asmallvoice
 

torontoke

Well-Known Member
Up until a lil while ago i was a licenced welder and iron worker. I would definately add angle iron and i beams to the sides and top inside and out.
 

GrowerGoneWild

Well-Known Member
The boat n car work is not to make money its a front we are both good at.
I dont think it will cost that much to get going.
The containers here are about 2000.
I would buy a used bobcat.
Rent a crane truck for obe day to place the containers.
We already have all the grow equip.
The most expensive part will be the solar system and even that we were quoted 20k for a 200amp service.
It going to be alot more than you think. Run some numbers on crane rental, its by the hour not the day. No fuel budget.. etc. You guys have truck mounted welders?. you gonna rent that too.? How much fuel are you going to need for the bobcat to do all the work?. Your numbers are too low for a realistic estimate.

I was mistaken one thing I thought you guys wanted a slab. No mention of dirtwork and leveling, tell me the location you pick is a bit higher so if it does rain your buried container doesn't fill up with water.

Whats making it all expensive is you're trying to hide the grow.. Why dont you just build a conventional shop, do a few cash crops, and shut it down.. Grow in the cooler parts of the year, and when its hot outside turn it back into a shop?
 

torontoke

Well-Known Member
We planned to install a foot of gravel and a drainage system with a sub pump under the buried container.

We did consider a shop and just growing in it but we thought the huge solar panel setup would draw some attention.
The containers would be delivered and placed where ever i want.
And i was told a septic crane could lift the one into the hole in three hours.

Perhaps your right its just a stoner fantasy.
We'll see
 

d0rk2dafullest

Well-Known Member
Very interested in this. About to pull the trigger myself and buy a shipping container, insulate and add power to it and throw on solar panels as well. Not gonna bury it tho, but also gonna build a roof so it isnt in the direct sun, gonna try to help it as much as i can to not get so hot and not be so open. with solar panels, gonna have to run this during the day. Very interested in this. Looking into a 40' container hopefully 40x10x10 and throw in 6 lights atm. maybe will upgrade to 8. but for now i only have enough equipment for 6. thinking 2 4x8 trays on each side of the container with 2 ft aisle in between. so that's about 16' plus another 4 feet' for room on the ends, so that's half of the container, plus maybe 16-18 feet for the veg room (gonna have a wall seperating the two rooms) and then another wall when u open up the container. so about 3-4 feet for any kind of storage or what not. and so when u open the container it's not BEAMING out light when i open it. Not trying to HI Jack thread. Trying to see what OP thinks of this plan. Maybe u can draw up plans as well. Cuz i am VERY VERY close to getting my container as well.
 

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torontoke

Well-Known Member
The containers available here only come 8 feet wide
And either 8 or 9 1/2 high.
Looks like you have the perfect idea.
We talked to an insulation guy and he told us if we spray foam the entire interior and plastic wrap and put siding on the exterior that the temperature inside would be super easy to keep comfortable..
 

Ace Yonder

Well-Known Member
The boat n car work is not to make money its a front we are both good at.
I dont think it will cost that much to get going.
The containers here are about 2000.
I would buy a used bobcat.
Rent a crane truck for obe day to place the containers.
We already have all the grow equip.
The most expensive part will be the solar system and even that we were quoted 20k for a 200amp service.
I love the idea but I think he's right about the roughly 100K price point, things always wind up being more expensive than you planned. Also remember, you have to take into consideration ground analysis and such, burying anything that deep can be tricky, especially if you don't know the water table, the soil compaction data, etc. You could wind up with a flooded container that sits several feet below the level you placed it. If you're gonna do it you gotta do it right, and that takes time, research, and a LOT of cash, not to mention that even with a bobcat digging a hole that can hide a shipping container is no easy task, and IMO I doubt a single bobcat could get that job done. I think it's a great idea, but if you have the money to pull it off there are better ways you could spend that money, IMO.
 

d0rk2dafullest

Well-Known Member
The containers available here only come 8 feet wide
And either 8 or 9 1/2 high.
Looks like you have the perfect idea.
We talked to an insulation guy and he told us if we spray foam the entire interior and plastic wrap and put siding on the exterior that the temperature inside would be super easy to keep comfortable..
Yeah so far the only downside i've seen or heard of so far is the condensation but the spray foam is suppose to take care of that, and just the flooring. sometimes u might have wood, and sometimes that container has spilt some things, or have been coated. and it has a possibility of OFF gassing. and like in Chinese Made grow tents off gassing from the lights will release toxins and kill your plants. I've had that happen to a friend of mine who first started. But that's just something to keep in mind. Hopefully we wont run into that but it's always a gamble. Maybe if we painted it, it wouldnt release. Hey. some risks are worth the reward. But yes. Let me know how things go. I'm planning to start mine sometime middle of next year.


Edit: Also if u only had 8ft' wide containers available, I'd run the tables in the middle like the 20 train car guys did, that way u have 2 ft on each side to move around!! if doing that, i suppose only 6-8 Lights work in a 40' Container, you would lose about 4-8 feet in Veg, But u can always grow Veg pretty close, then move into Flower room THEN give it it's light and transplant if u wanna use bigger pots if you dont have the room. Making everything more comfortable!
 

torontoke

Well-Known Member
Well id love to hear some of these better ideas.
I agree it would be alot of work and it would cost but it could also make a crap load of money to pay for itself and then the grow could stop and someone could just live there debt free.
 

d0rk2dafullest

Well-Known Member
I love the idea but I think he's right about the roughly 100K price point, things always wind up being more expensive than you planned. Also remember, you have to take into consideration ground analysis and such, burying anything that deep can be tricky, especially if you don't know the water table, the soil compaction data, etc. You could wind up with a flooded container that sits several feet below the level you placed it. If you're gonna do it you gotta do it right, and that takes time, research, and a LOT of cash, not to mention that even with a bobcat digging a hole that can hide a shipping container is no easy task, and IMO I doubt a single bobcat could get that job done. I think it's a great idea, but if you have the money to pull it off there are better ways you could spend that money, IMO.

So Depending on where you are. Container should cost about 3k (Delivered)
Insulation should cost about 1-2k
Drywall or cheap OSB boards go for CHEAP to seperate rooms. I'm thinking Framing a wall and an energy saver door, would prolly run you about 200 FOR A DOOR AND FRAME SETUP USING OSB Board to separate the rooms.
Now electricity, Running the wires and having the MLC (mother light control panel) I have an electrician friend who would charge me on material only. Should only run about 1-2k

Solar, You can pay monthly and finance that. (no problem)
Considering YOU ALREADY HAVE THE EQUIPMENT. it shouldnt cost THAT much.

8k to outfit a shipping container, ONE TIME.
Monthly Solar Payments
Water (unless you have a well)
Nutrients
You're good to go. Throw in all your equipment.
Flip that bitch on!
 

d0rk2dafullest

Well-Known Member
Reminds of years ago, someone buried shipping containers in the Sierras to grow. First snow revealed perfectly melted squares. They were busted immediately.
Buddy of mine lives in Canada, He said some ppl grow in the attic, and when it's snowing and there's no snow on their roofs, you already know whats going down.
 

Cold$moke

Well-Known Member
I knew of a few peeps that have helped bury them in ak

they are there and when your in construction you can meet peeps to do it at night

with not alot of cash but beer food and budd lol
 
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