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Financial Institution/Investor Survey

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Please Help Us Build Something Meaningful by taking the survey below.

We’re in the early stages of launching our new company, and your input truly matters. We’ve created a few short surveys designed for different types of people and organizations, based on their interests and experiences.

If you’re willing, please read the Project Summary and take the survey below. Your responses will help guide our decisions, improve what we’re building, and support our efforts to get this project off the ground.

✔ Surveys are brief
✔ Your feedback is valuable
✔ Your participation helps support our startup and fundraising efforts

Thank you for being part of this journey — we genuinely appreciate your time and insight.

Financial Institution/Investor Survey
The New Herbanism Mini-Farm Project

Project Summary

The New Herbanism Mini-Farm Project proposes a network of compact, two-acre, enclosed vertical farms developed along railway and/or highway rights-of-way across Alberta and Saskatchewan. Each facility features a 60-foot-high interior, layered with aquaponics and hydroponics, integrated with solar panels and wind turbines for energy resilience. Designed for year-round production, the Mini-Farms focus on emerging markets such as tropical fruits, specialty vegetables, ornamental plants, and even pet- industry crops and hobby-farm animals. With direct road and rail access, they are strategically positioned for efficient distribution to both local communities and export markets.

The model is entrepreneurial by design: Mini-Farms will be owned and operated by vetted individuals under a federally backed financing program, with AI-assisted automation, robotics, and machine learning helping optimize planting, harvesting, and packaging. By combining sustainable food production with new economic opportunities, the project addresses food security, regional diversification, and climate- smart agriculture. Ultimately, The NewHerbanism Mini-Farm Project reimagines underused infrastructure into a productive, scalable system that supports innovation, community resilience, and long-term profitability.

Phase 1 envisions the build-out of four Mini-Farm units with the following make-up:

Unit 1: 3 types of Mushrooms (Oyster, Lion’s Mane, and Shiitake) with Koi (Aquaponics fish), with 4 types of Herbs (Basil, Mint, Watercress, and Chives), with Babydoll Sheep (4 ewes), with egg- laying hens (Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks, and Rhode Island Reds) — all internal in a CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) with external shrubs (Saskatoon Berries, Gooseberries, and Raspberries) and a small eatery and an operator’s residence.

Unit 2: 4 types of Tropical Crops (Vanilla, Dragon Fruit, Passionfruit, and Dwarf Papaya) with Chinese Banded Sharks (Aquaponics Fish), with Nigerian/Cameroon Dwarf Goats (10 goats), with Khaki Campbell Ducks (35 hens and 5 drakes) — all internal in a CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) with external Orchard including 3 varieties of Apples (Battleford, Goodland, and Honeycrisp), with Ure Pear Trees, with 3 Varieties of Cherries (Juliet, Carmine Jewel, and Crimson Passion) and a small eatery and an operator’s residence.

Unit 3: 4 types of Spice Crops (Saffron, Black Pepper, Cloves, and Ginger) with 8 types of Hobby Goldfish (Ranchu, Oranda, Ryukin, Tosakin, Bubble Eye, Celestial Eye, Veiltail, and Exotic Hybrids — Aquaponics Fish), with 4 Micro-Mini Jersey Cows, with 6 varieties of Exotic Pheasants (Golden, Lady Amherst’s, Reeve’s, Himalayan Monal, Temminck’s Tragopan, and Impeyan — 36 birds in all) — all internal in a CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) with External Berry Plants (2 types of Wild Strawberry, with Black, Red and Golden Currants, with Blue and Red Elderberry with 2 types of Blackberry, and with 3 types of Blueberry) and a small eatery and an operator’s residence.

Unit 4: 8 varieties of Exotic Strawberries (Omakase, Mara des Bois, Pineberry, Purple Wonder, Keoki, Seascape, Festival and Monterey) with 4 varieties of Banana/Plantain (Dwarf Namwah, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Lady Finger, and Dwarf Plantain), with 5 varieties of Hobby Fish (Pearl, Dwarf and Kissing Gouramis; Discus and Arowanas) with Micro-Mini Donkeys (10 donkeys) and Emus (15 birds) — all internal in a CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) with External Ornamental Grasses (3 types of tall-form Grasses (Switchgrass, Big Bluestem, and Giant Miscanthus), 4 types of medium form Grasses (Indiangrass, Little Bluestem, Feather Reed Grass, and Prairie Dropseed), and 4 types of short-form Grasses (Side-oats Grama, Blue Grama, Tufted Hairgrass, and Purple Love Grass) and a small eatery and an operator’s residence.

Section 1 – Respondent Information
(Please complete all fields so we can attribute responses appropriately)

1. Name*

1. Name*

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2. Email*

2. Email*

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3. Title/Position *

3. Title/Position *

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4. Institution*

4. Institution*

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5. Department/Faculty*

5. Department/Faculty*

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6. Phone (Optional)

6. Phone (Optional)

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Section 2 – Financial Institution Perspectives
Please help us refine the vision, address challenges early, and build a foundation for sustainable success by completing this questionnaire.

1. How well does the Mini-Farm concept align with your institution’s current investment or lending priorities?*

1. How well does the Mini-Farm concept align with your institution’s current investment or lending priorities?*

1. Investment Priorities


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2. Which of the following areas would your institution be most interested in supporting? (select all that apply)*

2. Which of the following areas would your institution be most interested in supporting? (select all that apply)*

2. Financing Focus


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3. What role do you see your organization playing in the Mini-Farm initiative?*

3. What role do you see your organization playing in the Mini-Farm initiative?*

3. Institutional Role


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4. What challenges or barriers might limit your ability to participate?*

4. What challenges or barriers might limit your ability to participate?*

4. Barriers to Engagement

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5. On a scale of 1–5, how much potential do you see for the Mini-Farm network to contribute to:*

5. On a scale of 1–5, how much potential do you see for the Mini-Farm network to contribute to:*

5. Strategic Impact


Min 0 / Max 5
Food security in Western Canada
0
Rural economic diversification
0
New financial product opportunities (ESG/impact portfolios)
0
Research commercialization opportunities
0
Long-term risk-adjusted returns
0
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6. Would your institution be open to: (check all that apply)*

6. Would your institution be open to: (check all that apply)*

6. Next Steps


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Section 3 – Awareness & Impressions

1. Before receiving this questionnaire, were you aware of The New Herbanism Mini- Farm concept?
*

1. Before receiving this questionnaire, were you aware of The New Herbanism Mini- Farm concept?
*

1. Awareness

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2. Based on the description, how would you rate your understanding of the project?
*

2. Based on the description, how would you rate your understanding of the project?
*

2. Clarity of Description

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3. In your view, what is the most compelling aspect of this concept? (check all that apply)
*

3. In your view, what is the most compelling aspect of this concept? (check all that apply)
*

3. Impression

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Section 4 – Relevance & Alignment

1. How relevant do you believe this project is to your organization’s mission or interests?
*

1. How relevant do you believe this project is to your organization’s mission or interests?
*

1. Mission Relevance

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Section 5 – Risks & Concerns

1. What potential challenges or risks do you see in implementing this project? (check all that apply)
*

1. What potential challenges or risks do you see in implementing this project? (check all that apply)
*

1. Challenges

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Section 6 – Engagement & Next Steps

1. Would your organization consider being involved in any of the following capacities? (check all that apply)
*

1. Would your organization consider being involved in any of the following capacities? (check all that apply)
*

1. Involvement

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2. What conditions would make your organization more likely to participate or support this project?
*

2. What conditions would make your organization more likely to participate or support this project?
*

2. Conditioned Support

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3. On a scale of 1–5, how likely are you to recommend further exploration of this project to others in your network?
*

3. On a scale of 1–5, how likely are you to recommend further exploration of this project to others in your network?
*

3. Recommendations

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