Cultivation Director - Lean Farming Systems Expert

Christopher Verni

Cultivation Director/ LEAN Farming Systems

Avon, CT • 707-***-**** • ****************@*****.*** • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopher-verni

“Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul.”-E.Abbey

Professional Summary

Cultivation Manager / Director-level leader with 23 years of experience managing large-scale, regulated cannabis cultivation across indoor, mixed-light and fully automated greenhouse, and multi-acre regenerative outdoor systems. Proven ability to plan and execute seed/clone-to-harvest production schedules, meet forecasted harvest targets, and consistently deliver product meeting yield, potency, LEAN production efficiency, and regulatory compliance standards.

Expert in automated environmental control systems (Link4, Argus, Wadsworth, TrolMaster), nutrient program design, hydroponic cultivation, and biological IPM. Demonstrated track record of improving yield (10–20%), crop uniformity, and labor efficiency while maintaining 100% regulatory compliance (METRC, CCC).

Recognized as a systems builder and people leader who establishes clear expectations, enforces accountability, and coaches cultivation teams to perform at a high level in fast-paced, audit-driven environments.

Technical Skills & Systems

Environmental Control Systems

Link4, iGrow 800, TrolMaster, Wadsworth, Argus, AROYA, Hortimax

Fertigation, Irrigation & Pump Systems

Fertigation planning and nutrient recipe design (Athena, FloraFlex, Cutting Edge, General Hydroponics)

Stock tank and nutrient solution management; optimization based on DLI, crop stage, and environmental demand

Automated fertigation and irrigation platforms: Link4 iPonic, Dosatron, TrolMaster Aqua-X / Hydro-X Pro, Damatex

Hands-on use of DAB pumps (submersible and inline) for indoor, greenhouse, and outdoor systems

Working knowledge of Grundfos and centrifugal/solar pump systems used in large-scale cultivation

Irrigation System Design & Implementation

Indoor facilities, greenhouses, and field production (4+ acres)

Drip irrigation (on- and off-grid), ebb-and-flow, NFT, Dutch bucket hydroponics

Living soil beds and gravity-fed Blumat systems

Fertility, Living Soil & Foliar Management

Nutrient programs across salt-based fertigation, hybrid systems, and living soil production

Compost-based fertility management, nutrient cycling, and soil reuse strategies

Foliar feeding for micronutrient correction, stress mitigation, and targeted physiological response

Low-pressure and gravity-fed irrigation strategies supporting consistent soil moisture and reduced labor demand

Crop Production & Agronomic Management

Crop cycle planning and production scheduling across indoor, greenhouse, and outdoor systems

Preventative crop management to reduce stress, pest pressure, and yield variability

Clonal and seed-based propagation; efficient nursery design and production workflows

Crop steering system design and implementation

Canopy architecture management to optimize light distribution, airflow, and uniformity

Cover cropping and green-manure interplanting to support soil health and nutrient cycling

Multi-crop and multi-site production: cannabis, leafy greens, vegetables, and perennials

IPM & Biosecurity

Biological controls, microbial inputs, structured scouting and population tracking

Strict biosecurity, sanitation, and exclusion systems

Data & Compliance

Excel and Google Sheets modeling

METRC / BioTrack seed-to-sale systems

CCC, DCP, and MDAR compliance

GMP and HACCP documentation and audit readiness

Leadership & Operations

Hands-on leadership and SOP development

KPI tracking and performance management

Multilingual workforce management

Safety training and compliance

Cross-functional and interdepartmental coordination

Consumable inventory forecasting, ordering, and managemen

Applied Cultivation Systems & Technical Documentation

Lean Regenerative Cannabis Cultivation Manual (In Development)

Authoring a comprehensive cultivation manual informed by The Lean Farm, The Lean Micro Farm, and The Lean Vegetable Farm frameworks

Grounded in applied agronomy, plant physiology, soil and substrate science, and systems thinking

Integrates agroecological and regenerative farming principles within advanced cultivation systems and controlled-environment agriculture (CEA)

Incorporates compost-based fertility systems, closed-loop nutrient cycling, and biological IPM (preventative and curative)

Applies LEAN operational design to reduce biological variability, standardize execution, eliminate waste, and improve consistency, labor efficiency, and compliance readiness across indoor, greenhouse, and outdoor cannabis production

Cultivation Modeling & Decision-Support Tools

Standardized Excel workbooks translating grower expertise into repeatable workflows for propagation, vegetative growth, flowering, harvest, and post-harvest handling

Advanced Excel-based models for multi-cycle crop planning, yield forecasting (g/ft, lbs/acre), fertigation calculations, and labor/input cost tracking

Rule-based decision frameworks (including internal chat-assisted tools) supporting irrigation timing, nutrient diagnostics, crop steering, and IPM escalation

Integration of climate, substrate, and runoff sensor data (AROYA-based) into structured decision trees

Nutrient, conversion, and field-scale calculators for soil amendments, irrigation demand, compost inputs, and resource efficiency analysis

Professional Experience

Regenerative Systems Consultant – Self-Watering Planter Design & Project Planning

FarmDaddy — Avon, CT Dec 2025 – Present

Consultant supporting refinement and expansion of FarmDaddy’s patented self-watering planter system for regenerative, low-input agriculture

System optimization to improve water-use efficiency, root-zone consistency, and labor reduction through passive, demand-driven irrigation

Design of regenerative production protocols including compost-based soil blends, mineral balancing, and biological inoculant strategies

Development of fertility programs integrating nutrient cycling, microbial activity, and moisture regulation

Implementation of living soil and low-pressure irrigation strategies to reduce operational complexity

Project planning and technical guidance for school, community, and institutional garden installations

Development of educational frameworks positioning FarmDaddy systems as applied learning tools

Integration into closed-loop systems incorporating rainwater harvesting, compost utilization, and nutrient reuse

Cultivation Manager / Head Grower

DMC Cannabis — Whately, MA Nov 2024 – Present

Own end-to-end cultivation operations for mixed-light greenhouse and outdoor cannabis production across multiple sites, managing crops from clone through harvest.

Develop and execute detailed crop plans and harvest timelines, aligning plant counts, room turns, and labor requirements to meet weekly and monthly production targets.

Manage environmental setpoints (temperature, RH, VPD, airflow) and fertigation strategies to maintain crop consistency and optimize resin development and cannabinoid expression.

Implement cultivar-specific nutrient programs and irrigation strategies, reducing variability and improving overall flower quality.

Lead and coach 30–40 cultivation technicians, establishing clear SOPs, daily priorities, and accountability standards.

Improved crop uniformity and reduced rework through tighter environmental tuning and standardized canopy management practices.

Oversee integrated pest management (IPM) programs, including scouting schedules, pest thresholds, and biological releases; prevented major pest outbreaks while minimizing chemical interventions.

Maintain 100% METRC accuracy and Massachusetts CCC compliance; prepare facilities and records for inspections and audits.

Serve as on-call cultivation lead for climate alarms, irrigation failures, and crop health issues, reducing downtime and crop risk.

Greenhouse Manager (Seasonal)

Gardener’s Touch LLC — Westport, CT Oct 2023 – Present (Seasonal)

Manage a 2,000 sq. ft. heated glass greenhouse producing organic citrus, subtropical fruit, and specialty plants.

Control winter climate parameters including heating, ventilation, humidity, and supplemental lighting to protect sensitive crops.

Develop crop-specific irrigation and fertility programs, adjusting inputs based on seasonal uptake and plant response.

Inspect boilers, fans, vents, and structural systems daily; coordinate maintenance and emergency response during cold events.

Enforce sanitation and pest-prevention protocols aligned with organic standards and GMP cleanliness.

Farm Partner / Cultivation Consultant

Athena Ag Nutrients — Hartford, CT Jun 2023 – Nov 2025

Collaborate on hydroponic nutrient trials to evaluate fertilizer formulations under commercial growing conditions.

Implement Athena feeding programs and collect EC/PPM, runoff, and growth data to evaluate plant response.

Provide technical feedback to refine nutrient ratios, application schedules, and grower guidance materials.

Cultivation Consultant & Farm Liaison

TRIMMR — Hudson Valley, NY May 2024 – Nov 2024

Advised licensed micro-cultivation operations on climate control, fertigation design, SOP development, and regulatory compliance.

Provided hands-on troubleshooting for environmental control systems, irrigation infrastructure, and crop health issues.

Managed harvest and post-harvest teams during peak production periods, improving workflow efficiency and batch traceability.

Acted as liaison between farm operators and external processors to align production timing and quality standards.

Director of Cultivation

Curaleaf — Simsbury, CT Aug 2018 – May 2019

Led cultivation and harvest operations for a 50,000 sq. ft. state-licensed indoor cannabis facility supplying medical markets.

Managed teams of growers and trimmers, setting production goals, enforcing SOP compliance, and maintaining accountability across shifts.

Leveraged Argus environmental data and grow metrics to refine climate and fertigation strategies, resulting in a ~10% increase in yield per cycle and improved batch consistency.

Designed and enforced SOPs covering cloning, vegetative growth, flowering, IPM, flushing, harvest, and sanitation.

Established KPIs including grams per square foot, cycle time, and cost per pound to guide management decisions.

Maintained 100% compliance during all state inspections and audits, with accurate inventory, batch records, and testing documentation.

Director of Urban Farming

Chrysalis Center — Hartford, CT Feb 2023 – Feb 2024

Hydroponic NFT Dutch bucket food production cultivation rooms

Design and volunteer led plantings of 2 acre Permaculture Food Forest in Hartford, CT

Directed a hydroponic food production program using NFT and Dutch bucket systems, producing consistent weekly harvests of leafy greens and vine crops.

Designed nutrient recipes and managed reservoirs (pH and EC), reducing crop loss and improving crop uniformity.

Implemented biological IPM programs with weekly scouting and beneficial insect releases, maintaining near-zero pesticide use.

Enforced HACCP food safety protocols and sanitation standards, achieving zero food safety incidents.

Trained staff and volunteers, improving operational consistency and adherence to SOPs.

Cultivation Director / Consultant

Cannabis Haven — Auburn, ME Oct 2022 – Dec 2022

Contracted to stabilize and recover a 10,000+ sq. ft. indoor cultivation facility experiencing severe pest, pathogen, and yield issues.

Conducted a full operational audit of environmental controls, irrigation practices, nutrient programs, and SOP execution.

Redesigned crop steering, fertigation, and IPM programs, eliminating root aphid and mite pressure within one production cycle.

Improved environmental uniformity and plant health, restoring viable production while maintaining compliance and testing schedules.

Cultivation Director & Nursery Manager

Danu Farm & Nursery — Hadley, MA & Sharon, CT Jun 2020 – Aug 2022

Managed a 3-acre regenerative hemp farm and 15,000 sq. ft. certified organic nursery, overseeing full-season crop planning and execution.

Produced and supplied thousands of disease-free clones and seedlings annually to licensed operators.

Designed fertility and IPM programs that reduced pest pressure and improved plant vigor without synthetic pesticides.

Led and trained seasonal crews, improving labor efficiency and reducing crop losses year-over-year.

Co-Founder & Chief Cultivation Officer

Northwest Cultivation — Sharon, CT Jun 2019 – Jun 2021

Co-founded an organic hemp cultivation and nursery operation.

Designed greenhouse propagation systems and outdoor field layouts.

Authored all cultivation SOPs including fertigation, IPM, and post-harvest handling.

Managed regulatory compliance, inventory tracking, and cannabinoid testing.

Coordinated harvest logistics and processing partnerships.

Consulted for Harney & Son’s Tea Company, Millerton,NY - Field production of CBD flower and Biomass; transition to light dep greenhouse and field cultivation of THC flower (from greenhouse to nursery stock to flower) for the NY Rec Market.

Owner / Head Grower

Ocean Seed: Consultation, Farm & Nursery — Sebastopol, CA & Canton, CT 2003 – 2023

Owned and operated Ocean Seed Farm: an organic farm on two properties (Cazadero & Western Santa Rosa )producing cannabis nursery stock, organic vegetables, and cannabis flower for the medical market.

Simultaneously managed multiple indoor, greenhouse, and outdoor production facilities.

Developed custom soil blends, compost systems, and organic fertilizer programs for cannabis cultivation.

Applied biointensive and permaculture design principles to maximize yield and soil health.

Consulted and mentored growers nationwide on the cultivation of cannabis, greenhouse & indoor facility design, & installation, harvest & posy harvest management, sustainable, no-till soil management, and biological IPM programs.

Education

M.A., Ecological Agriculture & Biointensive Design — New College of California

B.A., Environmental Science (Ecological Agriculture Focus) — Dickinson College

Additional Coursework: Rainforest Ecology & Sustainable Forestry — School for Field Studies

Certifications & Licenses

FSMA Produce Safety Certification (Expires Jan 2026)

Advanced Permaculture Design Certificate, (Permaculture Institute of N. California (PINC) Point Reyes, CA)

Master Composter Certification (UConn Extension, 2024)

Master Vernicomposter Certification (Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz, CA)

American Red Cross First Aid & CPR Certified

OSHA-compliant safety training; valid driver’s license

Physically capable of sustained manual labor (55+ lbs)

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