Abstract: A system for mimicking the environmental conditions of a habitat includes an enclosure and a ventilation assembly. A ventilation strip extends horizontally through a sidewall of the enclosure. The ventilation strip includes first and second inner channels separated by an inner fin. A ventilation opening(s) allows communication between the interior of the enclosure and the inner channels. An air fan in fluid communication with the first inner channel provides airflow into the first inner channel to create a low-pressure zone over the ventilation opening, thereby drawing air through the ventilation opening and into the enclosure from the exterior of the enclosure through the second inner channel. In some embodiments, a vertical growing assembly having a mounting panel and a plurality of cells is provided. Each cell is adapted for receiving substrate for growing an organism. A method for training an artificial neural network to control said system is also provided.