Phase 1: Project Design and Specifications
Oversight from day 1 so nothing slips through the cracks
- We start by working with ownership teams to identify the needs and requirements of the facility in their specific markets to ensure the facility plans match each client's unique goals
- Development of facility program and conceptual design to maximize workflow efficiency and ensure all client needs are captured
- Equipment procurement- solicit bids for all cultivation equipment to incorporate into design- benching, irrigation, environmental controls, and lighting
- Systems integration and coordination to ensure everything communicates and functions as a cohesive unit
- Organizing, cataloging, and maintaining all facility specifications from plant counts and irrigation sizing to bench layout and lighting design in a centralized cultivation narrative used as the basis of design and for all decision-making
- Coordinating with architects and engineers to provide plant-centric facility finishes and specifications to ensure that the facility will be built to accommodate and withstand the unique environments of controlled environment agriculture
Building a strong foundation of clear and organized information in the beginning is critical to downstream cohesion and project success
Phase 2: Project Management
Organization, planning, and accountability to ensure everything stays on track
- Manage bid solicitation and review process with you to ensure you get the best pricing and highest quality output
- Budget and financial projection exercises with you to manage expectations and plan for the future
- Full-scope project oversight and timeline management
- Coordination across vendors, contractors, engineers, and internal teams
- Technical guidance on HVAC, irrigation, lighting, fertigation, controls, and automation
- Systems integration support to ensure everything communicates and functions as a cohesive unit
- Daily/weekly communication, milestone tracking, and issue escalation
- Holding all project stakeholders accountable for timely completion of deliverables
- Transparent documentation and accountability — no kickbacks, ever
Every facility needs a squeaky wheel. Someone whose job is to remember, follow up, and get it fixed before it becomes a bigger issue.
Phase 3: Installation, Commissioning, and Training
Turning plans into reality- where close oversight matters most
- Direct guidance to contractors during installation to ensure all equipment is installed to spec
- Site audits and walkthroughs to verify proper placement, connections, and function
- Serving as the liaison between you, your contractors, and your vendors — keeping communication streamlined and issues resolved
- Providing additional documentation, clarifications, and real-time decision-making when things get ambiguous or off track
- On-the-fly problem-solving and pivots to keep the project moving when unexpected issues arise
- Full commissioning support — verifying proper startup, systems integration, and making sure every piece of equipment functions as it should
- Oversight to ensure missing components or incomplete installs are addressed before the project is considered complete
- Hands-on training for your team so they understand how to operate and maintain all systems
- Clear, documented operating plans to support a smooth handoff and long-term success
A project isn’t truly complete until your team can step in, take the reins, and run the facility with confidence.
Phase 4: Preventative Maintenance and Ongoing Support
Protect your investment and prevent failures
- Custom maintenance plans aligned with your equipment and facility design
- Implementation of tracking and monitoring systems — including equipment checks, validation logs, and equipment performance tracking to catch issues early and maintain consistency
- Root-cause analysis of HVAC, irrigation, and control system issues to collaboratively identify and resolve issues
- Vendor liaison support — translating technical problems into actionable next steps and working with vendors to ensure they provide the service and support needed to get equipment running the way it should
- Persistent, hands-on problem-solving — tracking issues, closing loops, and holding vendors and team members accountable so nothing falls through the cracks
- On-call availability until your team is ready to fully own operations
Small problems ignored too long become big ones. Catastrophic issues or crop losses are rarely the result of a single event- they’re symptoms of missed details or overlooked issues compounded over time. When your team is focusing on the day-to-day, it is easy to overlook or miss seemingly small issues. Our services ensure nothing slips through the cracks, and these issues get resolved before they turn into disasters.
About Me
Jeremy Shechter
I bring over a decade of cannabis and CEA experience to my consulting and project management practice. Through Open Source Horticulture, I help operators achieve best-in-class results with clear strategy, technical rigor, and honest guidance.
I’ve worked with licensed cannabis operators in 17 states and across 1.7 million square feet of cultivation facilities — from mid-size independents to multi-state operators. My previous roles include COO of Bickel Consulting and VP of Operations for Buckeye Relief, where I oversaw facility design, operational systems, automation, irrigation, and advanced controls.
My background is in Agricultural Engineering from The Ohio State University, and I began my career in CEA over a decade ago, focusing on greenhouse food production systems, business management, CEA education, and system design.
I am a firm believer that agriculture is rooted in a passion for the work and love for the plant, and I will always be willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done and ensure it is done right.