If you just finished your FarmBot hardware assembly, you should be ready to set up FarmBot’s software. We suggest proceeding in the following order:

Step 1: Create a web app account

  1. Follow our instructions to create a web app account at my.farm.bot. Make sure you verify your account by clicking the verification link emailed to you upon sign up.
  2. Once logged in, read the cards in the message center to become acquainted with the app.
  3. Finish setting up your account by choosing your FarmBot. This will add a set of starter resources (sequences, tools, etc) and apply settings appropriate to your FarmBot model.

Step 2: Connect your FarmBot

  1. Install FarmBot OS onto the microSD card and power on the device.
  2. Configure FarmBot to connect to your home WiFi network and your web app account.
  3. Log in to the web app and verify that FarmBot has connected.

Step 3: Match the virtual FarmBot to real-life

  1. Using the manual controls, try moving FarmBot along each axis in both directions. If needed, use the INVERT JOG BUTTONS and SWAP JOG BUTTONS settings (in the move widget’s menu) so that the buttons send FarmBot moving in the direction that the arrow indicates, according to your real-life perspective.
  2. If needed, use the MAP ORIGIN and ROTATE MAP settings so that the farm designer matches your real-life perspective.

Step 4: Set up FarmBot’s axes

  1. Send FarmBot to all corners of your raised bed to ensure it can successfully move throughout the entire working area. Make adjustments to belt tension, eccentric spacers, and track alignment as needed, as well as hardware settings such as MAX SPEED.
  2. Once you’re sure everything operates as expected, finish the rest of axis setup.

Step 5: Add tools, seed containers, slots, peripherals, and sensors

If you chose your FarmBot model in the message center, then all of these resources will have already been added for you. However, you will still want to test the peripherals and sensors.

  1. Add tools and seed containers and then load them into slots so that FarmBot knows where everything is located in the garden bed. Remember: the virtual configuration must always match the real-life configuration.
  2. Add peripherals and sensors, and then use the manual controls to test them.

Step 6: Design your garden

Add plants to the farm designer. Remember to choose crops that will grow well in your area at this time of year, and that will be compatible with FarmBot. Large, indeterminate crops such as Squash or Runner Beans should be placed at the front and back edges of the bed and trained outward so they do not interfere with FarmBot’s movements along the x-axis.

If you chose your FarmBot model in the message center, then all of these resources will have already been added for you. However, you will still want to test the peripherals and sensors.

Step 7: Build and test sequences

Create sequences and try them out with the RUN button. Start with short, simple sequences and combine them later with the EXECUTE SEQUENCE command to do longer, more complex routines. You might first try mounting or dismounting a tool, picking up seeds, or watering. This is where things get really fun!

If you chose your FarmBot model in the message center, then there will be some starter sequences already available for you to try. Feel free to use them as-is, copy them, or modify them.

Step 8: Create regimens

Create regimens to take care of your plants throughout their entire life. This will make it easy to re-plant the same crops season after season.

Step 9: Schedule events

Use events to schedule your sequences and regimens to run automatically. Your garden is now on auto-pilot!

Step 10: Monitor your garden

Add a webcam feed to monitor your garden remotely.