This is The Do It For Yourself Podcast.  Each week I sit down with someone who is doing it for themselves and chasing a dream they just couldn’t suppress.  This is often speakers, entrepreneurs, or athletes.  They all share one thing in common, they are overcoming challenges and never giving up.  Someone who is Doing It For Themselves is not selfish in their pursuit, they are simply chasing a dream or working towards a goal because it is something THEY want to do.  They are not forging down a path because society or someone is telling them it’s what they should be doing.

This week I had the privilege to sit down with the CEO and co-founder of Green Relief Warren Bravo.  Green Relief is a medical cannabis company based in Canada that is shaking up the industry with their growing techniques.  The story began with Warren working in the concrete industry.  He was the third generation in the family business and his interested was peaked by his good friend.  He was approached by Steve because his son and son's friends were able to grow plants based on the old rules.  After getting his feet wet with the first investment Warren knew that he wanted to pursue this a bit further.  

When Warren was going through this next process he knew that it was going to be a challenge because he and his partner Steve did not have any political ties to move this process along.  They needed to go through the process and answer all the questions once twice, sometimes even three times.  Warren is so thankful for his wife who took care of a lot of this because at times Warren admits he does not have the patience for this.  

Once everything was clear, Warren and his crew began building their facility to start growing aquaponically. Warren and his partner Steve were lucky enough to have the contacts and resources from the construction industry.  They were able to cut the cost significantly when it came to the constructor of their state of the art building.  Once the building was constructed they were ready to put in their fish tanks, yes you read that correctly, fish tanks.  The growing technique that Green Relief uses is called aquaponics and it is the first time it has ever been used to grow cannabis.  

The plant's life on a closed loop system where it feeds off of fertilizer that is pulled from the fish waste in the fish tanks.  This technique uses 90% less water than traditional growing techniques because they recycle the water and push it back into the system.  There is a lot that goes into getting this system set up but Warren and his team feel that this is the best way to grow and give back.  

Even after they are done with the fish they take the fish that they will no longer use for their growing process and they donate them to a local food bank for meals.  

 

I really enjoyed my conversation with Warren and learning more about his company and the technique they use for growing.  Please enjoy.

 

Green Relief

Green Relief Instagram

Warren Bravo

Do It For Yourself Instagram