For most of the year the soil in Jackson, Wyoming is iced over and the town’s produce is trucked in. Nona Yehia and Penny McBride wanted to bring fresh vegetables to the ski town, but given the scarcity of available land (97% of county land is protected), they turned a tiny vacant lot next to a parking lot into a 3-story vertical farm.
Today, Vertical Harvest produces 100,000 pounds of vegetables a year on a plot 30 feet by 150 feet long; their 1/10th of an acre site grows an annual amount of produce equivalent to 10 acres of traditional farming. Relying on hydroponics and moving carousels, the farm uses 90% less water than conventional farming and doesn’t use any pesticides (only sticky traps).
In an industry with an ongoing labor shortage, Vertical Harvest has tapped into a population with a 78% unemployment rate in Wyoming. Their employees have conditions such as Down syndrome, autism, seizure disorders and spina bifida and as of yet, they have a 100% retention rate.
The project began with a Kickstarter campaign, but evolved into a public/private partnership: the land is public, the women received a public grant, but there are also private investors who have bought into the “low-profit” business model. Vertical Harvest is registered as a “low-profit” limited liability company, or L3C, so social goals coincide with those of achieving profitability. The ground floor is open to the public with a market and “living classroom”.
https://www.verticalharvestjackson.com
Original story: https://faircompanies.com/videos/ski-town-turns-car-park-into-vertical-farm-for-local-jobs-food/
Video Rating: / 5
Rich California Transplants: The Video. That said its a badass setup they have.
Great, just marvelous! What a good solution! Also, what a plus to be able to make money doing God's service: feeding His children. You get to work with all sorts of God's creations where it would be impossible, but for all the employees' dedication and skill. This was beautiful in so many ways! Thanks for the video!
1. Water wasted (could be more economically viable if nutritious aerosol was used)
2. surface wasted (plant per sq ft)
3. what is that elevator thing that wastes electricity? I think LEDs would do just enough?
What are they doing to increase carbon dioxide?
The way that women Talks is insufferable, had to stop watching in short order. Thank goodness there is a bunch of yuppy trustafarians there to buy pricey salads at hyped restaurants. Was one of the last ski areas to be completely ruined by developers actually. Even FIBS find there way there now
Jackson hole
18:15 using "CRACK" as a comparative to something good and irresistible is a habit you should drop. sparks curiosity in young ones.
My son has autism and I run a community playgroup for special needs kids. This video makes me so happy and hopeful. I hope something like this can be implemented in my country (Malaysia) as well, to provide employment opportunities for special needs youth
the lady in all black is impressive
I was watching for the technology; but as the story developed, I saw that the real project is building communities. Bravo
SYNERGY!!!!!!!!!!!! Grace to you all !! I will forward this to the local Flathead Industries . Bravo to you all , what a beautiful way to feed people , wow , !!!!!
WOW, Incredible model for food production and employment. BRAVO! Thank you for this video.
BIGGGGG BIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG BUCKS
incredible story!
They could grow cannabis to cover the electric bill.
With a 78% unemployment rate and you employ a workforce of special needs. Why not employ people who are in need of jobs, who are out there facing homelessness if they don't get an actual job. These special needs people are going back to their protected safe homes…smh
Great work. Plan on developing more indoor farms as the cooling solar cycle is going to create general cooling making it difficult for growing crops above 45 deg N. You people that are only thinking about the profit margin and costs of products need to realize that food shortages to come later in the 20s and 30s will raise the price of ALL food and we will probably see an increase in disease and starvation. Do NOT believe the PC global warming alarmists as they are only concerned about carbon taxes and redistribution of wealth (from everyone else to themselves).
The future can be beautiful , if we allow it to be . Think carefully when you vote .
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING & MARVELOUS IDEA!!! CONGRATS TO YOU IN WYOMING!!