tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10850646575294341232024-03-18T19:58:30.676-07:00The Vertical Farm BlogKeeping you up-to-date on an idea that will change the world.The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-23704102703999734472011-03-03T14:55:00.000-08:002011-03-03T14:56:56.555-08:00We're Moving!Dear Loyal Readers, <br />
<br />
As part of an effort to refocus the Vertical Farm message, we're moving the blogging operation 100% over to the main VF site, <a href="http://www.verticalfarm.com/">http://www.verticalfarm.com/</a>. There, you'll have access to all the information you've grown to love on this site, plus weekly articles written by the one, the only--Dr. Dickson Despommier. <br />
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It's been fun learning and writing about the world through the lens of Vertical Farming, and I hope all of you find the new set-up more useful and enjoyable. <br />
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Thanks a lot!!<br />
<br />
The Vertical FarmerThe Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-81941164549545535792010-10-15T10:50:00.000-07:002010-10-15T10:52:34.113-07:00New Vertical Farm DesignThe Incheon International Design Awards (IIDA) 2010 Award winners have just been announced on Design Bloom, and one of them is for a <a href="http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/11759/spiral-garden-by-benet-saida-dalmau-anna-julibert-carmen-vilar-iida-awards-2010.html">vertical farm</a>. The designers, <span class="arial18">Benet Dalmau, Saida Dalmau, Anna Julibert, and Carmen Vilar expain: </span><br />
<blockquote>We wanted to build a new environmentally-friendly town where the environment is considered as an important part of everyday life. We propose "Spiral Garden System": a public sustainable place like a green heart, easy to maintain and self-sufficient, created by a joint population that will stimulate social interaction among neighbors...To sum it up, we propose an ecological project in a way to give sustainable change to daily city lives, where humans and nature can coexist. </blockquote>Sounds great to me! And after looking at the pictures, I say: Do it! <br />
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To read more about this project and other in the IIDA 2010 competition, visit <a href="http://www.designboom.com/contest/winner.php?contest_pk=34">Design Bloom</a>.The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-3557955695356245492010-10-13T10:55:00.000-07:002010-10-13T10:55:37.685-07:00Green Right Now Interview with Dickson DespommierNow that the book has been released, media outlets are increasingly interested in Q &A's with our VF guru, Dr. Despommier. Below is an excerpt from a recent interview done by Samantha Weinstein of <a href="http://www.greenrightnow.com/kabc/">Green Right Now</a>. <br />
<blockquote><strong>What would happen if this was put into effect on a grand scale? What would happen to small farmers who are already struggling?</strong> </blockquote><blockquote> This is what happens already: The farms eventually fail and big corporations step in and say, “It’s okay. I don’t care if your farm fails. We will supply you with seeds and we will pay you a living wage to farm with our seeds.” So you have Monsanto and Cargill and other corporations taking over these small farms. Even if the farms fail on an annual basis for many years, it wouldn’t matter to Cargill because they own so much farmland that 80 percent will succeed regardless. That is why 2 percent of the farmers in the US control 50 percent of the farming. They take advantage of the farms that are already there. They buy their farms and say, “You can stay in business. We will even double the amount of money you made farming, but we want you to farm what <em>we</em> want you to farm.” And some farmers agree to that because they like farming. That’s not a solution though, is it? That’s an industrial application of a failing technology to an increasingly difficult situation where fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides have to be used more and more to produce the same amount of food. It wears out the land and spoils the environment.</blockquote>To read the interview in its entirety, head on over <a href="http://www.greenrightnow.com/kabc/2010/10/13/vertical-farms-could-help-feed-cities-and-reduce-carbon-pollution/">here</a>. <br />
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And if you haven't already, go check out <a href="http://verticalfarmblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/grab-your-copy-in-bookstores-today.html">the book</a>! The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-20589578834245573002010-10-12T09:01:00.000-07:002010-10-12T09:31:16.875-07:00Grab Your Copy In Bookstores Today!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE03nBehBY-PtX7LUobphvGQSuGRyW-N8InoMVGCzqtTO6fuRiraz7lclmtHHS71xOv0ALT8J31k4bifndAuX7Bim8IEv3bWfmwWeVwBElvTLLrtx_KOuV8JRIzfc9aegt1CdCrhw1Ui8/s1600/IMG_1149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE03nBehBY-PtX7LUobphvGQSuGRyW-N8InoMVGCzqtTO6fuRiraz7lclmtHHS71xOv0ALT8J31k4bifndAuX7Bim8IEv3bWfmwWeVwBElvTLLrtx_KOuV8JRIzfc9aegt1CdCrhw1Ui8/s400/IMG_1149.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I began today with a stroll to my local Barnes and Noble. At long last, I was holding the finished product of over a year of hard work, and let me tell you, it was blissful.<br />
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This book is packed full of persuasive prose making the case for a new kind of agriculture. Pages of shiny images accompany the text, limning the words with carefully selected visual stimulants. If you don't already have your copy (it's day one, I know, but still...), I highly recommend grabbing one for you and one for your favorite niece or nephew next time you're at the bookstore. If anything, this book will spark the imagination--and for that alone, it's relevancy is indisputable.The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-21525887067655435622010-10-07T08:11:00.000-07:002010-10-07T08:20:49.237-07:00How to Solve Crisis: Use Less WaterI just came across a brief interview with the Director General of the <a href="http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/">International Water Management Institute</a>, Dr. Colin Chartres. The IWMI is one of 15 international research centers supported by something called the <a href="http://www.cgiar.org/who/index.html">Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research</a>, whose official Vision is: "To reduce poverty and hunger, improve human health and nutrition, and enhance ecosystem resilience through high-quality international agricultural research, partnershp and leadership." (Seems like the CGIAR ought to have some good reasons to advocate vertical farming.) Anyway, the part I wanted to share with you was what Dr. Colin Chartres had to say when <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101004/full/news.2010.490.html"><i>Nature</i> asked</a> about the worldwide water crisis:<br />
<blockquote><b>What is causing the crisis?</b> </blockquote><blockquote>Agriculture is the biggest user of fresh water, making up 70–90% of the annual water demand for many countries. This will have to change, because global food production is going to have to double over the next 40 years to meet the needs of a growing population. Farmers will have to increase production without using any more water than they do today.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1V9zjF25YgW1-47vr1i2Btc5JCIvTtePux3J26nYCdy0wqGXWutvSl3BHG8Wr2I2SuPWFLdHt7L-74ZKZLBXx2pFTS88D9H7DiZuEjfeY6g5zCw9UFKjR3_TAxcdKNQ3slIgzZdy104/s1600/irrigation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1V9zjF25YgW1-47vr1i2Btc5JCIvTtePux3J26nYCdy0wqGXWutvSl3BHG8Wr2I2SuPWFLdHt7L-74ZKZLBXx2pFTS88D9H7DiZuEjfeY6g5zCw9UFKjR3_TAxcdKNQ3slIgzZdy104/s320/irrigation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(image from <a href="http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/11/13/reports-show-less-water-used-in-organic-farming/">Eco Localizer</a>)</span> <br />
Well all right. Can anyone think of a proven method of growing more food with less water? I can. It's going to be so important to increase the hydroponics education in order for vertical farming to have its best chance at success. Groups like the <a href="http://www.carbon.org/">Institue of Simplified Hydroponics</a> and <a href="http://www.boswyckfarms.org/">Boswyck Farms</a> here in New York are empowering people with this knowledge, and I commend their efforts. Still, if someone offered lessons to bodies like the IWMI and the CGIAR, I think we might see a broader shift in attitude around hydroponics--and attitudes can go a long way.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-23976670311819944972010-10-06T13:00:00.000-07:002010-10-06T09:50:27.455-07:00Robo-PlantI saw <a href="http://www.good.is/post/gilbert-esparza-s-cyborg-plant/">this</a> from Andrew Price over at GOOD magazine.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XXaxmiYDMX737_GpAiiJ5sPz3A7oml5sG-ZnFto3GOGXvhuRH3lGqZHUnPhWG-4gDPebb2xBJmSrfsyl9lT4lRyeovR5hN13ZdgZdoaT-YhydCNevbWi_LVGvGtO_XCsSlSQBZocbLw/s1600/post_full_1270684417nomplant4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XXaxmiYDMX737_GpAiiJ5sPz3A7oml5sG-ZnFto3GOGXvhuRH3lGqZHUnPhWG-4gDPebb2xBJmSrfsyl9lT4lRyeovR5hN13ZdgZdoaT-YhydCNevbWi_LVGvGtO_XCsSlSQBZocbLw/s320/post_full_1270684417nomplant4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span id="goog_1057600640"></span><span id="goog_1057600641"></span><br />
This "<a href="http://www.plantasnomadas.com/">nomadic plant</a>" functions as follows: <br />
<blockquote>Vegetation and microorganisms live in symbiosis inside the body of the <a href="http://www.plantasnomadas.com/">Nomadic Plants</a> robot. Whenever its bacteria require nourishment, the self-sufficient robot will move towards a contaminated river and 'drink' water from it. Through a process of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial_fuel_cell">microbial fuel cell</a>, the elements contained in the water are decomposed and turned into energy that can feed the brain circuits of the robot. The surplus is then used to create life, enabling plants to complete their own life cycle.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvDyCy2ksZIQ_11-Leg4NNJqa79R5MRENtfb74Pi5hJcPH2uhwqnN9u933WbXXxOhP-lcOz-xd6vXIOI4sX8aQ56QSABNmfg7KQRl8plVphu7TeIft5WbYd1M8bTjB57M7NLGtSbKrhk/s1600/4472712902_a9715dce96_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvDyCy2ksZIQ_11-Leg4NNJqa79R5MRENtfb74Pi5hJcPH2uhwqnN9u933WbXXxOhP-lcOz-xd6vXIOI4sX8aQ56QSABNmfg7KQRl8plVphu7TeIft5WbYd1M8bTjB57M7NLGtSbKrhk/s320/4472712902_a9715dce96_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The designer, <a href="http://gilbertoesparza.blogspot.com/">Gilberto Esparaza</a>, has a history of coming up with projects that make you think twice about the world we live in. For that, we thank you, Gilberto. The world benefits when we're pushed to think.The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-36028940803391720732010-10-05T15:34:00.000-07:002010-10-05T15:34:03.734-07:00Urban Ag Status UpdateIt seems like just yesterday I was sitting in a room with Newark's Deputy Mayor, Stephen Pryor, where he voiced Newark's support and pursuit of Vertical Farming in his town--our slogan, it was decided, would be, "Bringing the Garden Back to the Garden State." Then Chicago's Mayor Daley trumpeted the same message from his mayoral throne, only to announce his abdication from the position a few short months later. In New York, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer has been very consistent in his advocacy for Vertical Farming. And it makes sense that he should be: New York City is the most <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population_density">densely populated US city </a>with more than 70,000 residents. Unfortunately, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been <a href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/food-advocates-envision-rooftop-gardens-and-vertical-farms/">more tepid</a> in his support. <br />
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I know it's easy to think that things are very stagnant in this sphere, that the naysayers are winning. Actually, they're not, and I'm going to look at a few recent initiatives that bode well for our ultimate goal of a Vertical Farm-fed world.<br />
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First of all, media coverage of vertical farming and the broader topic of urban agriculture has been way up in the past few months. <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/16/vertical-farm-concept-is-a-green-gateway-for-chicago/">Inhabitat</a>, <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/edce67d8-cceb-11df-9bf0-00144feab49a.html">Financial Times</a>, <a href="http://sustainableindustries.com/articles/2010/08/down-town-farm">Sustainable Industries</a> and the <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703989304575504071389728014.html">Wall Street Journal</a> have published stories within the past month exploring the subject. It seems like every day there's some new story published heralding the wave of urban agricultural projects.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.gazettechicago.com/index/2010/09/after-success-with-industrial-space-designer-plans-urban-farm/">Gazette</a> focuses on the Chicago project, <a href="http://www.plantchicago.com/">Plant Chicago</a>, directed by developer John Edel, which will soon begin to grow food inside of a warehouse at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=UTF-8&gfns=1&q=1048+W.+37th+St.+in+Bridgeport+chicago&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl">1048 W. 37th St. in Bridgeport</a>, just outside of Chicago. This is going to be huge for urban agriculture: a tangible example of high-intensity aquaponics being done inside a city. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GIEAxOmbaWSuc6UCcPuNfKmqAEQRD3MOCj9jgW8axWMwEEVVcSSj2pC1PGrCvD9_QKiscyAkJKZ4sDgnT2uxiZwCa9rI1j88-ElMUztzWmtfVKMczZQUCq-zy2VxnBdI9DBU2_FR0Eg/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-05+at+5.17.16+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GIEAxOmbaWSuc6UCcPuNfKmqAEQRD3MOCj9jgW8axWMwEEVVcSSj2pC1PGrCvD9_QKiscyAkJKZ4sDgnT2uxiZwCa9rI1j88-ElMUztzWmtfVKMczZQUCq-zy2VxnBdI9DBU2_FR0Eg/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-05+at+5.17.16+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>And then there's the new company <a href="http://ecoveggies.com/">EcoVeggies</a>, which leases an aeroponic growing technology from <a href="http://aerofarms.com/">AeroFarms</a>, a company run by Ed Hardwood, whose <a href="http://aerofarms.com/about">past experience include</a> working on Controlled Environment Agriculture at Cornell University. EcoVeggies was founded by three ex-Wall Streeters, which is important because it shows that finance-types see value in this industry. If money makes the world go 'round, then having these guys on board is a good leading indicator of where we're headed. The New York Times <a href="http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/20/a-crop-sprouts-without-soil-or-sunshine/">reports</a>:<br />
<blockquote>“The produce will be sold and used in the areas immediately surrounding Newark to start with, and then we expect to be able to service the [New York, New Jersey, Connecticut] area...We have a substantial pipeline of prospects and expect to close on a commercial- size growing facility soon," Richard Charles, one of EcoVeggies’ founders, wrote in an e-mail.</blockquote>Point is, this is a good business now, and the prospects are looking even brighter down the road. Venture capital is taking note. (<a href="http://www.21ventures.net/">21Ventures</a>, a New York City-based VC firm focusing on clean-tech companies, is behind EcoVeggies.) <br />
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But that's not all. <a href="http://agriculture20.com/">Agirculture 2.0</a>, whose tagline is, "Where the sustainable agriculture industry is being defined, built and funded," is only in its infancy, and already it's attracting major players. The annual conference, sponsored by the investment banking and advisory firm <a href="http://www.newseedadvisors.com/">Newseed Advisors</a>, brings together tech start-ups poised to capitalize on the burgeoning demand for urban agriculture with VC firms who've begun to drink the Kool Aid. By all accounts, it's a major success. (FYI, Dr. Despommier was a speaker at the most recent gathering.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxRPyU6UjRmt3z850j3XXktXbwjl84uCqCaZfYQJT9Tw37eIJEVIi1gOAETsDWQBf2_nB3x8d78qpomc3nz8eiMg_1Kx0qH_5HwZ1PZLK7dZw0g14jK8LdipLgw6lTl6TaZGHQtiQIfg/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-05+at+5.44.21+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxRPyU6UjRmt3z850j3XXktXbwjl84uCqCaZfYQJT9Tw37eIJEVIi1gOAETsDWQBf2_nB3x8d78qpomc3nz8eiMg_1Kx0qH_5HwZ1PZLK7dZw0g14jK8LdipLgw6lTl6TaZGHQtiQIfg/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-05+at+5.44.21+PM.png" width="231" /></a></div>As venture capital looks to fund promising start-ups, there are existing payers that are quietly laying the groundwork for a robust ecosystem. Players here include Anna Lappe, the writer and founding principal of the <a href="http://www.smallplanet.org/">Small Planet Institute</a>, Annie Novak and Ben Flanner, and their <a href="http://rooftopfarms.org/">Eagle Street Rooftop Farms</a> and <a href="http://brooklyngrangefarm.com/">Brooklyn Grange Farm</a>, respectively, and Lee Mandell of <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/boswyckfarms/boswyck-farms-hydroponics-for-all-build-it-grow-it">Boswck Farms</a>, where they're focusing on integrating hydroponics into the middle school classroom experience. Then we've got <a href="http://gothamgreens.com/">Gotham Greens</a>, which will hopefully have its rooftop greenhouses up and running very soon. And this is just in New York City. There are other players like <a href="http://www.skyvegetables.com/">Sky Vegetables</a> and <a href="http://www.cityscapefarms.com/">Cityscape Farms</a> who, like Gotham Greens, have a head-start on up-and-coming urban agriculture companies, but aren't quite as far along as their non-hydroponic peers. These guys set-up shop about a year ago, so they're that much better positioned to take advantage of favorable government policies aimed at propelling development in this sector. <br />
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You've got action in <a href="http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/0921urbanfarming.aspx">Cincinatti</a>. You've got <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/3729246/Fuel-from-sewage-plant-hums">Growing Lots</a> and <a href="http://www.growingpower.org/">Growing Power</a> in Milwaukee. You've got innovative <a href="http://www.greenmuze.com/build/homes/2154-green-garden-office-pods-.html">"green" architects</a> pushing the envelope. You've got waste-to-energy action in <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/3729246/Fuel-from-sewage-plant-hums">New Zealand</a>. The pieces for vertical farming are really lining up. <br />
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The Financial Times recently reported on the progress being made in Seattle, which, in January, dubbed 2010, "<a href="http://verticalfarmblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/2010-year-of-urban-agriculture.html">The Year of Urban Agriculture</a>."<br />
<blockquote>The [<a href="http://www.seattle.gov/council/">Seattle City Council</a>] has relaxed planning regulations to let buildings be 15 feet higher for rooftop greenhouses, and is encouraging people to grow food in places where gardening was previously deterred, such as house fronts. </blockquote><blockquote>One objective is to shorten the food chain and encourage local farmers to supply the city. To this end, planning permission has been granted for food processing plants, warehouses and farmers markets, which previously required weekly permits with inspection and charges. </blockquote>It might not seem like much, but any action on the part of the government should be viewed as hugely positive. Seattle is progressive in its push for urban agriculture, and more cities should follow its example.<br />
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Urban agriculture will benefit from people pursuing urban agriculture, is one of the lessons we've learned over the past year. As communities become knowledgable about the food chain, they become excited at all the local possibilities. Then governments respond to this excitement because they realize that re-election could depend on whether or not they enact policies in support of urban farming. So all this momentum really is just going to keep building onto itself like a snowball. <br />
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I'm not sure when we'll ultimately see vertical farms. Newark might <a href="http://verticalfarmblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/its-happening-in-newark.html">come through</a> for us. Maybe <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68N54E20100924">Mark Zuckerberg's generous donation</a> to that city will free up some funds to pursue VF. We might have to keep at it like we've been doing for a bit longer, building up awareness and support for urban agriculture as a general theme. That works for me.<br />
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Because at the end of the day, this is a question about values: do we value cheap food at the cost of our health, or are we willing to invest in smart farming options and an agenda to promote food education and healthy eating habits? For me, and probably for most readers out there, the choice is simple. If you agree, then tell people; spread the word. The more people know about urban agriculture, the more, I'm finding, they love it. And love can change the world.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6NXP8QNCZrg3uu8sdwVhUcx_CUPIH7pu0XLxPDGvNOg3t1XfSaeCBAPWynyzdbz_d0ZeQ0Sd89h2ryS8xev5NSbYPsORTDTCoSEzS6bCGzE0241ksIRKuO2hNKG9mBSd2NRCJjcAHlI/s1600/090110_172615_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6NXP8QNCZrg3uu8sdwVhUcx_CUPIH7pu0XLxPDGvNOg3t1XfSaeCBAPWynyzdbz_d0ZeQ0Sd89h2ryS8xev5NSbYPsORTDTCoSEzS6bCGzE0241ksIRKuO2hNKG9mBSd2NRCJjcAHlI/s320/090110_172615_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
(for this and more cool images, check outresults from the <a href="http://www.bustler.net/index.php/article/winners_announced_in_hp_skyline_2020_online_competition">HP Skypine 2020 Online Competition</a>.)The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-75031801234411251972010-10-05T13:35:00.000-07:002010-10-05T13:35:53.320-07:00Plantagon Is Cool<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gzim4hTGRQE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gzim4hTGRQE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
On listening to Dr. Despommier's interview on the Diane Rehm Show, it dawned on me that I've never posted anything about an interesting company called <a href="http://plantagon.com/international/">Plantagon</a>. They seem to be interested in effecting the same kind of future as we are here at the Vertical Farm Blog, so they've got our support. This just goes to show that there's a ton of activity surrounding urban ag. Which is fantastic. The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-49654727421004758052010-10-05T07:59:00.000-07:002010-10-05T07:59:19.297-07:00Dickson Despommier on the Diane Rehm ShowTune-in to the <a href="http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-10-05/environmental-outlook-vertical-farm">Diane Rehm's NPR show</a> today to hear Diane speak with Dr. Despommier and <a href="http://www.fb.org/index.php?fuseaction=about.staff">Bob Young, the chief economist</a> with the American Farm Bureau (and its catchy catch-phrase: the voice of agriculture). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtFuvv2RWzvtQFLa7fmbkjXfHrFi0iIybfK5g16N5jcvqqk0phI8iTWKp16DItJ2dXaJZi7SepuNNKNkPizHeyVcHqahMu2v_WHRi_-wYNKn2kA8xgTM4v9XQ38WO5VKbjLg4DPmXzjg/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-05+at+10.51.44+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="74" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtFuvv2RWzvtQFLa7fmbkjXfHrFi0iIybfK5g16N5jcvqqk0phI8iTWKp16DItJ2dXaJZi7SepuNNKNkPizHeyVcHqahMu2v_WHRi_-wYNKn2kA8xgTM4v9XQ38WO5VKbjLg4DPmXzjg/s320/Screen+shot+2010-10-05+at+10.51.44+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>Can't wait to hear how this discussion unfolds. If you listen to it, write your comments at the bottom of this post, or give DoctorDickson a "tweet" about it, we'd love to hear your thoughts!The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-90891080944398255342010-10-01T10:37:00.001-07:002010-10-01T10:37:12.372-07:00Expermenting With Wordle<a href="http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/2512248/Vertical_Farm"
title="Wordle: Vertical Farm"><img
src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/2512248/Vertical_Farm"
alt="Wordle: Vertical Farm"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd"></a>The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-16194213036035411962010-09-30T21:38:00.000-07:002010-09-30T21:41:56.183-07:00Income Levels and Food Production/PersonThis amazing website, <a href="http://www.gapminder.org/">Gapminder</a>, has assembled hundreds of thousands of pieces of data into a massive database where you, the user, can compare just about anything you want against just about anything else you want. Was that clear enough? If not, check out the website--it's definitely worth it to play around with the graphs yourself. <br />
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<a href="http://www.bit.ly/9cMaHN">Here's one</a> I came up with. (Follow the link, then click the "Play" button in the bottom left hand corner of the graph.)<br />
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If this whole operation works how it's supposed to, then the graph you're looking at show the income per capita on the X-axis versus the net production per captia of food--countries USA, India and China are in yellow, blue and red, respectively, each one's 2005 population level reflected in the size of its bubble. Get used to these graphs, because I'm sure I'll be coming back to Gapminder again to find some more interesting stories. <br />
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Next graph idea: by country and year, $ spent on fertilizers versus $ spent on crop insurance. Can a graph highlight the economic wastefulness of our present food system? I'll come back to this tomorrow.<br />
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If you have any good ideas for using Gapminder, please, share them in the comments section below...The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-88715470204566102742010-09-05T15:52:00.000-07:002010-09-05T15:52:01.783-07:00Boat + Botanic = ?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://davidreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/boatanic_boat_osullivan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://davidreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/boatanic_boat_osullivan.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo from <a href="http://davidreport.com/">David Report</a> and also <a href="http://www.designobserver.com/changeobserver/entry.html?entry=14318">here</a>.)</span><br />
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I just caught wind of <a href="http://www.boatanic.com/">Boatanic</a>, a company created, as its website puts it,<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">...When [we] were walking around Amsterdam and realised that the typical tourist boat resembles a greenhouse. What if you replaced tourists with basil or tomatoes? The Boatanic was born.</span></span></blockquote>Sounds great to me. Why don't we float some greenhouses down our canals? And while we're at it, let's power them with <a href="http://nysunworks.org/index.php/the-science-barge/know-more/">sun and wind energy</a>, and maybe even integrate the food float with one of Mitchell Joachim's <a href="http://verticalfarmblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/floating-vertical-farm.html">River Gyms</a>. Anyway, let's keep these good ideas flowing, and let's get some deep pockets convinced that creativity in food production is what it's going to really take to propel our species into the future. We might be fine today, but if McDonald's wins over vertical farms and greenhouse boats, our grandchildren will never know the beauty of <a href="http://www.beeswaxmag.com/?p=58">real food</a>. <br />
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What do you think? How much would you pay to float through Amsterdam on one of these greenhouse boats?The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-50671221892690086822010-09-01T10:30:00.000-07:002010-10-05T16:56:48.249-07:001BillionHungry<object height="385" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0l57fmIup9Q&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0l57fmIup9Q&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="500" height="385"></embed></object><br />
The FAO of the United Nations has recently launched a campaign to get people riled up about the one billion stomachs that don't get enough to eat. <br />
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If you want to sign the petition (like I did), head on over <a href="http://www.1billionhungry.org/">here</a> and make your voice be heard. <br />
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(Caveat: with all its resources, this viral campaign is the least the UN FAO can do to stop the terrible, terrible inequity which is the 21st Century hungry human.)The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-23867119002481918902010-09-01T10:18:00.000-07:002010-09-01T11:03:31.596-07:00Guest Blogger Series: Intelligence at the SupermarketLeading up to the release of the book (available for pre-order on Amazon.com), the Vertical Farm Blog will be accepting guest blog entries via email (theverticalfarm@gmail.com) from our readers around the world. The only condition is that your submission has to touch on some aspect of vertical farming--be it <a href="http://verticalfarmblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/billion-dollar-home-employs-hydroponics.html">multi-use buildings</a> or conscientous shopping choices--and it would be great if you could include pictures (people love pictures). <br />
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The first article in our series is written by Dan Grifen, a blogger over at <a href="http://everythingleft.wordpress.com/about/">Everything Left</a>. Take it away, Dan.<br />
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<b>Sustainability Through the Consumption of Things Conserved</b><br />
"In other environmental issues we tell people to stop something, reduce their impact, reduce their damage," - US Ecologist Gary Nabhan<br />
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Since the beginning of the green movement, there has been a rise in the number of organizations and businesses that are doing their part in the promotion of sustainability through conservation. As human beings, we're told to reduce our carbon footprint, consume less unhealthy foods, and spend less time in the shower! But let's take a minute to step back and look at this from a different perspective; one that <a href="http://www.garynabhan.com/">Gary Nabhan</a> strongly suggests.<br />
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Gary Paul Nabhan, PhD., is a Arab-American writer/conservationist whose extensive farming work in the U.S./Mexico borderlands region has made him world renowned. Specifically speaking, Nabhan is known for his work in biodiversity as an ethnobotanist. His uplifting messages and attitude towards life and culture has granted us access to multiple beneficial theories including his latest of eat what you conserve.<br />
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According to <a href="http://www.fao.org/">The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization</a>, about three quarters of the genetic diversity of crops been vanishing over the last century and that a dozen species now gives 90% of the animal protein eaten globally. In accordance, just 4 crop species supply half of plant based calories in the human diet.<br />
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Nabhan claims that by eating the fruits and vegetables that we are attempting to conserve/save, we're promoting the granular dissemination of various plant species. But this goes beyond what we typically buy in supermarkets, particularly because of price and abundance. We must remember to try new things and immerse ourselves in the very concept of diversity. Keep in mind- the benefits of splurging for that costly fruit/vegetable supremely outweigh the cons. Not only are you promoting biodiversity and further eliminating the needs of farmers to remove rare, less purchased crops off their agenda, but you're also effectively encouraging healthier lifestyles.<br />
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Agriculturist Marco Contiero mentioned, "Biodiversity is an essential characteristic of any sustainable agricultural system, especially in the context of climate change."<a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ips/5cf45c1c04357fdc5183024a327e7952.htm">[1]</a> With sustainable crop efforts being lead by the CGI (Clinton Global Initiative) and the IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) the duo plans to provide a more sustainable crop that can withstand natural disasters, avoiding food shortages like Haiti is experiencing. Contiero goes on to state "We need to ensure this is the basis for the future…" – This is exactly what <a href="http://www.gainesville.com/article20090204/MAGAZINE01/902040257?Title=The-Gator-Behind-Bill-Clinton">Doug Band</a>, the CGI, and the IRRI are doing by engaging in sustainability efforts.<br />
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So remember, next time you're in the supermarket picking out a common varietal of navel oranges or strawberries, turn your attention to something that's a bit more exotic in nature. The same goes for salads/salad ingredients; shop outside the norm, picking spices and vegetables that you wouldn't normally incorporate into your everyday diet. During such economic downtime it isn't always easy to maintain the same level of grocery shopping intrigue, but we must also not forget that in this sundry of foods we can find fun!<br />
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Dan Grifen – Supporter of all things green and progressive.The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-49261137653600969502010-08-25T13:51:00.000-07:002010-08-25T13:51:49.221-07:00Turn Plastic Into OilA Japanese man and his company, <a href="http://www.blest.co.jp/">Blest</a>, have been touring the globe showing off a little machine they invented which can turn plastic garbage back into oil.<br />
<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/R-Lg_kvLaAM?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/R-Lg_kvLaAM?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
As the video describes, plastics are made from oil, so why shouldn't we be able to turn plastics back into oil once we're through with them? This is great thinking. Why do we dump tons and tons of plastic waste into landfills (and oceans) every day, when the technology currently exists to reclaim the energy in that waste and turn it into fuel?<br />
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Plastic waste, the video says, "are a treasure." I'm not sure why our species is so good at squandering.<br />
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Share your thoughts...The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-22207933864372504222010-08-03T09:28:00.000-07:002010-11-02T14:08:30.575-07:00More Newark NewsRemember Newark? Well, Dan Albert and Peter Greaves of <a href="http://www.weberthompson.com/">Weber Thompson</a> recently issued a press release detailing a bit more about their involvement with getting a vertical farm up and running in Brick City. I'll let them tell you:<br />
<blockquote>July 23, 2010 </blockquote><blockquote>At a time when the world ponders how to feed its nine billion people, Seattle architects Weber Thompson have designed a Vertical Farm for the Garden State to help solve that problem. The Newark Vertical Farm (NVF) a radically new prototype for Newark, NJ, illustrates the ideas promoted by Dr. Dickson Despommier for an approach to high capacity controlled environment urban farming. Principal Peter David Greaves, AIA, LEED AP and Ecological Designer Dan Albert, Associate ASLA, LEED AP and Dr. Despommier made a presentation of the design to government officials including <a href="http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/government/city_departments/economic__housing_development/about_the_director.php">Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Stefan Pryor</a> and City Councilman Donald Payne, Jr., along with leaders from the Greater Newark Conservancy and Brick City Development Corporation.</blockquote><blockquote>The term “Vertical Farm” was originally coined by Dr. Dickson Despommier at Columbia University. The vertical farming concept begins with a simple idea: grow food in a climate-controlled multistory building free of pollutants, pesticides and seasons while producing the highest-quality produce in an urban environment. The Vertical Farm, designed to supplement the existing food supply while bringing more healthful products to our cities, is but one of a host of solutions needed to address the complexities of bringing food to people. Despommier envisions buildings filled with stacked soil-less growing systems designed to produce the maximum yield and eliminate contamination. This concept has been illustrated by designs ranging from 10-story structures to dragonfly wing-inspired behemoths that tower over Manhattan.</blockquote><blockquote>The Newark Vertical Farm represents not only the next generation for Urban Agriculture and Vertical Farming but also an approach to design which incorporates integrated and overlapping sustainable design features. More than just a Vertical Farm, it is a research and development program for sustainable design in an urban context. It is an open system designed to attract any number of features for both demonstration and research into the best ideas for sustainable design of our cities. Both a demonstration project and a laboratory, NVF is envisioned to be a flexible armature for uses relating to vertical farming, urban agriculture, sustainable design and energy efficiency. The main building contains the vertical greenhouse, and research labs separated by a full height atrium for light and ventilation. The greenhouse space contains high intensity soilless growing systems and is designed to be flexible and adaptable. The ground floor showcases a demonstration green house for public interaction while the upper floors serve as an agricultural laboratory. The purpose of the building is to develop, test, and educate with the ultimate goal of a commercially viable building type. </blockquote><blockquote>The site is also designed to showcase sustainable site strategies in an urban environment. The buildings and the site are oriented to maximize solar exposure, with the Vertical Farm green house section facing due south and the more conventional urban agriculture plot with south to north rows. The spaces are arranged in a series of overlapping rooms that allow both observation and function to coexist. The parcel is organized to create numerous opportunities for both demonstration and research platforms relating to the study of vertical farming, urban agriculture, urban gardens, water conservation, constructed wetlands, on-site power generation, and more. The site, like the buildings, is designed to attract a range of uses and to be adaptable as these uses evolve over time. </blockquote><blockquote>Dr. Despommier, Peter Greaves and Dan Albert have spoken of the Vertical Farm concept and emerging ideas about urban agriculture at a number of conferences including The King County Government Confluence and the Living Futures 2010 unConference. Dr. Despommier and Dan Albert will also be on a panel this coming fall at the Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design on September 29th in New York, NY. This is the second prototype vertical farm structure designed by Weber Thompson. Their Eco-Laboratory project has won numerous national and regional awards. </blockquote><blockquote>Dr. Dickson Despommier is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vertical-Farm-Feeding-World-Century/dp/0312611390">The Vertical Farm: Feeding Ourselves and the World in the 21st Century</a> to be released by Thomas Dunne Books / St. Martin’s Press on October 12, 2010. </blockquote><blockquote>For more information on the rationale behind Vertical Farms please see: </blockquote><blockquote><a href="http://www.djc.com/news/en/12015000.html">A new use for urban high-rise</a>s: farming by Dan Albert </blockquote><blockquote><a href="http://verticalfarm.com/">The Vertical Farm Project</a> - Dickson Despommier </blockquote><br />
To top it off, they've released pictures of what their finished project might look like. They're sweet. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYuT8ypX3XtfGx1Ai0o0OTK9vC1Rdkv5mqip3uskDkmxDu59QcLnQcxW_mn7gIFgQO2lBCUspHasTlPrRIvLzhHIDzBwfLc79R7izHAhyxN9V18Dsi4ip92u7iX9tZmtRwIJjpZfi7OI/s1600/NVF_sign-screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYuT8ypX3XtfGx1Ai0o0OTK9vC1Rdkv5mqip3uskDkmxDu59QcLnQcxW_mn7gIFgQO2lBCUspHasTlPrRIvLzhHIDzBwfLc79R7izHAhyxN9V18Dsi4ip92u7iX9tZmtRwIJjpZfi7OI/s400/NVF_sign-screen.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjFY6gytwyf7U0VmblFsuFG10bcxWuPtqcS5dZBHTdUfE4MPRmy4ohEzYEDLBArchGPhfKL0mRbj-C61VLHYW0btPvNClAuG1-9AfRAQwoWO47_V25nZNbOemCdBo0xI3uGdua7hv-LE/s1600/NVF_experience-screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjFY6gytwyf7U0VmblFsuFG10bcxWuPtqcS5dZBHTdUfE4MPRmy4ohEzYEDLBArchGPhfKL0mRbj-C61VLHYW0btPvNClAuG1-9AfRAQwoWO47_V25nZNbOemCdBo0xI3uGdua7hv-LE/s400/NVF_experience-screen.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEe6ZFuOGlEACcq2jdrr_7fQ8j9OotCQadw6IcWPX1a_ZTgdmqPU-2eCi0_TLsGT16Et78fbl2MTyalP-CB-74IQEXo5zsrShKtNzl0RKwfCHBE-Uo2UYd_oHXId9qllSA0gTFVLTuh_A/s1600/NVF_exterior-screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEe6ZFuOGlEACcq2jdrr_7fQ8j9OotCQadw6IcWPX1a_ZTgdmqPU-2eCi0_TLsGT16Et78fbl2MTyalP-CB-74IQEXo5zsrShKtNzl0RKwfCHBE-Uo2UYd_oHXId9qllSA0gTFVLTuh_A/s400/NVF_exterior-screen.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVXqy85BYZT03i-ToxmwGRS0SsNXNbiS-pCN2m5gTZ-rTtIBKcg4GPL7uo_OGW0ZjUu5jyiOHIMsSfZnIq1-JaaJF3lNlZUUrYzq90HXT7t1urE8QMp47o_-LCzP5fcGiHsGlCMda05w/s1600/NVF_interior_night-screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVXqy85BYZT03i-ToxmwGRS0SsNXNbiS-pCN2m5gTZ-rTtIBKcg4GPL7uo_OGW0ZjUu5jyiOHIMsSfZnIq1-JaaJF3lNlZUUrYzq90HXT7t1urE8QMp47o_-LCzP5fcGiHsGlCMda05w/s400/NVF_interior_night-screen.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwGD1v5GP5FatIAHlQnysVaqKZan_Nzv6UgKZMuCqRIBxJlUjn-IoM6cdPa81RCUyo-LoeRpfumFMazG5nInDe7fID5LuZH4wNqfIAOZhGMmPijym6-1qX_56ZUkOY7DY5dkETO4QpGs/s1600/NVF_interior-screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwGD1v5GP5FatIAHlQnysVaqKZan_Nzv6UgKZMuCqRIBxJlUjn-IoM6cdPa81RCUyo-LoeRpfumFMazG5nInDe7fID5LuZH4wNqfIAOZhGMmPijym6-1qX_56ZUkOY7DY5dkETO4QpGs/s400/NVF_interior-screen.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyRC0NQ-WJMlQgyDYZrlDd0vRbA-_otCPgpw5mNjUuq4KWPKqFYPfkIzYot3RkuJtMiAo5lTC2oPjJOuvjdIlHKLqnnfmxGdp8T1NsWLA6CXGfAzvuTAfZ9Pq7PId51bJID3D3-NxpkU/s1600/NVF_Diagram-water_screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyRC0NQ-WJMlQgyDYZrlDd0vRbA-_otCPgpw5mNjUuq4KWPKqFYPfkIzYot3RkuJtMiAo5lTC2oPjJOuvjdIlHKLqnnfmxGdp8T1NsWLA6CXGfAzvuTAfZ9Pq7PId51bJID3D3-NxpkU/s400/NVF_Diagram-water_screen.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUO9eufUazDYC3AagkHw6N42ZqjxJ9egzAI9kuXYxw0gE5ZM9I0R-muiNr5liheoEzHBgz-JLkF0xzM-E4-DGs-LJ5uPju4Jbh8E6-zloyDsuDsRAp82gIbDDOik72wdfe03TvTjbBz6U/s1600/NVF_Diagram-energy_screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUO9eufUazDYC3AagkHw6N42ZqjxJ9egzAI9kuXYxw0gE5ZM9I0R-muiNr5liheoEzHBgz-JLkF0xzM-E4-DGs-LJ5uPju4Jbh8E6-zloyDsuDsRAp82gIbDDOik72wdfe03TvTjbBz6U/s400/NVF_Diagram-energy_screen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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(all images: Copyright © 2010 Weber Thompson, PLLC All Rights Reserved)The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-52525904368397061912010-08-02T15:27:00.000-07:002010-08-02T17:38:10.588-07:00Pulled Pork with Pickled Red Onions and Black Rice<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtIZMJpsIaUKfId5C__KF8YZwasLBwUk2exfblvPMLr_BNlQpKYB3-kVpdSQHkxROSlxi4_jSXz2pfLTIvZOv8I1bK11DeTtl2ZuSxHfj1bQCAngeIyS1m_Djq-O4HfJaIhbhaCBjfdA/s1600/IMG_0080.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtIZMJpsIaUKfId5C__KF8YZwasLBwUk2exfblvPMLr_BNlQpKYB3-kVpdSQHkxROSlxi4_jSXz2pfLTIvZOv8I1bK11DeTtl2ZuSxHfj1bQCAngeIyS1m_Djq-O4HfJaIhbhaCBjfdA/s400/IMG_0080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500943699606112338" border="0" /></a>Pork shoulder is a cut of meat that is often overlooked. Perhaps because of its sheer size, which requires that it be cooked for a lonnnnnng time. As in 4 hours. To be exact, it's 4 excruciating hours of hovering around the oven as the tantalizing aroma of slow-roasted pork taunts your tastebuds. But once you take the first bite of the tender porky goodness, foiled by the pungent tang of the pickled red onions, you realize that you've never had 4 hours better spent. The avocado provides the perfect mellow reprieve from the heat and tartness, and the black rice provides a nutty base and turns this dish into a one bowl meal (but you can use whatever vehicle you want - eg. taco shell, tortilla, bread)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pulled Pork</span><br />Mix up a spice rub to your own taste. I used salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne, and paprika.<br />Rub spice mix all over the pork shoulder. Use a heavy hand in seasoning the pork (look at how BIG it is!)<br />Place pork shoulder in a roasting pan. Cover tightly with foil and into a 350 F preheated oven. Roast for 4 hours. (no cheating!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pickled Red Onions</span><br />Slice red onions real thin.<br />Pour a cup of very hot water over onions. Drain water after 30 seconds.<br />Squeeze juice of one lime into non-reactive bowl and add drained red onions. Cover and refrigerate while the pork's-a-roastin'.meeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15217982300145311908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-4717143926217691662010-07-20T12:14:00.000-07:002010-07-20T12:14:28.412-07:00Billion Dollar Home Employs Hydroponics for Energy Efficiency<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCo0psNYMyZx1ZIKlFgAjdQAivRMU9d-85GTJtzjwBKwpdeDAyoRbT_PJTC3KzH5GtnYndSmzf_SjpUPe-a52OQlAaQHOO42CMZLNW_mM6h08fy-nF3-N9rCSetFgmbbpg9xjrrmmbxE/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-20+at+3.20.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCo0psNYMyZx1ZIKlFgAjdQAivRMU9d-85GTJtzjwBKwpdeDAyoRbT_PJTC3KzH5GtnYndSmzf_SjpUPe-a52OQlAaQHOO42CMZLNW_mM6h08fy-nF3-N9rCSetFgmbbpg9xjrrmmbxE/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-20+at+3.20.28+PM.png" width="160" /></a></div><a href="http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Mukesh-Ambani_NY3A.html">Mukesh Ambani</a>, the Indian billionaire ranked 5th on the Forbes list of richest men, is devoting part of he and his family's 27-story home in Mumbai to growing hydroponics crops. You might wonder, Why? Well, unfortunately, it's not because Ambani is actively endorsing vertical farming, like some other <a href="http://verticalfarmblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/vertical-farming-getsstung.html">well-known men</a>. No, instead, it's primarily an economic concern:<br />
<blockquote>Hanging vertical gardens dot the exterior. While they make for good decoration, their key function has to do with energy efficiency: The hydroponic plants, grown in liquid nutrient solutions instead of soil, lower the energy footprint of the home by absorbing heat and sunlight and providing shade that helps keep it cool.</blockquote>The architecture firms of <span class="lingo_region" id="lingo_span"><a href="http://www.perkinswill.com/">Perkins + Will</a> and <a href="http://www.hbadesign.com/">Hirsch Bedner Associates</a> are responsible for the design of this $2 billion skyscraper home, so I think we can safely assume that hydroponics is catching on as a financially viable design element within the architecture community. We'll take it. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="lingo_region" id="lingo_span">This massive complex won't be considered a vertical farm, not even close. But it certainly will add to the growing body of work demonstrating that the ideas we've been promoting for the past decade are, in fact, the ideas for our cities' future. With each 27-story billionaire's home that integrates any element of what a vertical farm will perform, the chorus of support grows louder and louder. </span><br />
<span class="lingo_region" id="lingo_span"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="lingo_region" id="lingo_span">Do you know of any similar developments that we should share with our readers? Let us know via email--theverticalfarm@gmail.com. </span><br />
<span class="lingo_region" id="lingo_span"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="lingo_region" id="lingo_span">(Check out the full story (and pictures!) <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/30/home-india-billion-forbeslife-cx_mw_0430realestate.html">here</a>)</span>The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-49280479423139371592010-07-09T11:23:00.000-07:002010-07-09T11:23:25.579-07:00Reforming the ChickenDana Blankenhorn over at <a href="http://www.smartplanet.com/?tag=header;logo">Smart Planet</a> published a nice article about the FDA taking some initial steps to curb our outrageous food system towards something more sustainable, humane and less fattening. Here's an excerpt from it:<br />
<blockquote>We’re fat because we are reacting rationally to the incentives government has placed in the food supply market. These incentives favor quantity over quality, protein over vegetables, and things like corn syrup over cane sugar. </blockquote><blockquote>Change the incentives in the production and manufacturing of food, I argue, and consumers will respond. Just saying “eat healthy” when you have an unhealthy production system won’t get the job done.</blockquote>I recommend heading <a href="http://www.smartplanet.com/technology/blog/rethinking-healthcare/fda-takes-first-step-toward-food-system-reform/1346/">over there</a> to check it out.The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-83640114100257964062010-07-03T14:06:00.000-07:002010-07-03T14:28:58.984-07:00BEST. COMBO. EVER<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8zIj7_L1KaY-7u9LJajq8sG-iROenPXKcUClUO3E_otSaBac9MLjJ0cTULC2LgL4-sMeVlXxYoDoFVpHLMk4inLLialQ8BJ_vqf7fPpYi387DX7N5zv6w62yUwlOFxWRpl9nm9Nb5X0/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8zIj7_L1KaY-7u9LJajq8sG-iROenPXKcUClUO3E_otSaBac9MLjJ0cTULC2LgL4-sMeVlXxYoDoFVpHLMk4inLLialQ8BJ_vqf7fPpYi387DX7N5zv6w62yUwlOFxWRpl9nm9Nb5X0/s400/IMG_0076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489789774604132770" border="0" /></a>=Roasted Beets + Fried Egg<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Scrub beet. Wrap beet in foil, skin and all. Roast beet in 400 degree oven for 45 minutes. Remove foil (carefully!). Wash beet under cold water and scrape off skin with spoon. Dice beet and mix with vinegar, dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Top with fried egg, however you like it. Break egg yolk and enjoy slowly.<br /></div></div>meeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15217982300145311908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-15263540980469307052010-06-25T23:52:00.000-07:002010-06-30T17:06:00.622-07:00Big Fish, Small Pond<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kKh6WnUESZTGc-jcf12xZganlH2cp1Hw3g6mLxrm16AYuBHP7qZymVZBp2O2izqW6GOLeZ9GfiApwU2hwzp1Cua64KVh7msESZTfxKFVOxqklBHizxygu3zIz63qJkUKxNm9Z9j-geA/s1600/SALMON-popup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kKh6WnUESZTGc-jcf12xZganlH2cp1Hw3g6mLxrm16AYuBHP7qZymVZBp2O2izqW6GOLeZ9GfiApwU2hwzp1Cua64KVh7msESZTfxKFVOxqklBHizxygu3zIz63qJkUKxNm9Z9j-geA/s400/SALMON-popup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486976571965444130" border="0" /></a><br />We’ve all seen it before – the massive, globe-like apples at the grocery store, strawberries the size of your fist, and peaches that give <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_and_the_Giant_Peach">James and his peach</a> a run for their money. Genetically modified food, or fruit in particular, is ubiquitous in our grocery stores. We're so used to seeing it around, that organic produce looks languid in comparison. But the second you put that <a href="http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/database/plants/32.strawberry.html">GM strawberry</a> in your mouth, you will the difference. Unlike the dewy rubies you used to pick from your backyard, the GM variety lacks that tangy, fragrant strawberry flavor you grew up with.<br /><br />So main concern when I heard that <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/26/business/26salmon.html?scp=2&sq=salmon&st=cse">genetically altered salmon</a> would be hitting my local seafood counter was what the hell it would taste like. I have unnerving visions of pallid, flavorless sushi and bland lox bagels. What do you think it'll taste like?meeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15217982300145311908noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-837178799749449742010-06-25T10:00:00.000-07:002010-06-25T14:06:15.295-07:00Chicago's Mayor Daley Wants One Too!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrmsiUEmDEabG9iUd-VzkIOlJB5UPVlh6ljrjGV-3US-cytmsVUgjqvZzh287TM4JhK-1XQRy7e44RPm5BkqawIR6AXW9gNOWRxcdpdeaosGJV-TxlZL4EVZZr-8bT5XdNlTRDKmao2E/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-06-25+at+1.03.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrmsiUEmDEabG9iUd-VzkIOlJB5UPVlh6ljrjGV-3US-cytmsVUgjqvZzh287TM4JhK-1XQRy7e44RPm5BkqawIR6AXW9gNOWRxcdpdeaosGJV-TxlZL4EVZZr-8bT5XdNlTRDKmao2E/s320/Screen+shot+2010-06-25+at+1.03.19+PM.png" /></a></div>Thrilled at the notion of growing healthy food just blocks from where he spent his childhood, Chicago's Mayor Richard M. Daley said last Friday that he would support efforts to establish vertical farming in his hometown. Who will be first, Newark, Chicago, or somewhere else, I don't know. But the race is on!<br />
<br />
Read the full story at <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/96704184.html">Journal Sentinal Online</a>.<br />
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Update: check out <a href="http://www.plantchicago.com/">Plant Chicago</a>, the group pushing for VF in Chicago.The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-71840668336672560932010-06-20T20:30:00.001-07:002010-06-20T20:56:46.950-07:00Offally Delicious<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPppM-liHiTAxKzyaIhDc6jrlVGpo1fGoDXAquyFrvFdlbjf9y6hfIKvFjfQKwbzuy4DfcecJFDJE5YAdxIbn6Lkn3zRrgYoVQNlR7itxg8AExubEAatw_irIfemay-TzM2J8SaA9yL8/s1600/Chef_Chris_Cosentino.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPppM-liHiTAxKzyaIhDc6jrlVGpo1fGoDXAquyFrvFdlbjf9y6hfIKvFjfQKwbzuy4DfcecJFDJE5YAdxIbn6Lkn3zRrgYoVQNlR7itxg8AExubEAatw_irIfemay-TzM2J8SaA9yL8/s400/Chef_Chris_Cosentino.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485068741790098338" border="0" /></a>
<br /> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/michelletchuang87/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Pig ears, smoked tripe, chicken neck, and braised gizzards. As I scanned the items in the deli fridge at the Chinese supermarket on Walker St., it became obvious very quickly that I wouldn’t be finding roasted turkey much less any American cheese.<span style=""> </span>To my delight the fridge was chock-full of all the bits, pieces, odds, and ends that never make it into deli counters at American supermarkets. Even duck tongues made an appearance. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">In recent years, with chefs like <a href="http://www.offalgood.com/">Chris Cosentino</a> popularizing all things offal, eating a plate of </span><span style=""><a href="http://www.momofuku.com/ssam-bar/menu/dinner/">spicy honeycomb tripe</a> at David Chang’s <a href="http://www.momofuku.com/">Momofuku</a> has become a sorta right-of-passage in the ‘cool’ kids club in the foodie world. Now that offal has become a mainstay at fine-dining establishments everywhere, when do you think we’ll start seeing it at our local grocery stores?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> meeshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15217982300145311908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-46441757908154190732010-06-18T14:00:00.000-07:002010-06-18T14:08:26.623-07:00Vertical Farming Gets...Stung?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBuKLwwva17Fk521XvBAHJ5yf4ffdjcPOkJH7QS_J_rO3a__u-oXUsagpZuojikH179dTCb6hxnoTQIrUyL9eYnNJJZG0v4NsEH_9HnvbN27KKVKB1INvJbXtUtNrFQlipPW7n6_9Isg/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-06-18+at+4.55.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBuKLwwva17Fk521XvBAHJ5yf4ffdjcPOkJH7QS_J_rO3a__u-oXUsagpZuojikH179dTCb6hxnoTQIrUyL9eYnNJJZG0v4NsEH_9HnvbN27KKVKB1INvJbXtUtNrFQlipPW7n6_9Isg/s320/Screen+shot+2010-06-18+at+4.55.57+PM.png" /></a></div>It's been terribly hard to keep this a secret, but now it's finally out: Sting has acquired the movie rights to the <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Vertical-Farm/Dickson-Despommier/e/9780312611392/?itm=4">Vertical Farm Book</a>! Check out <a href="http://www.deadline.com/2010/06/sting-harvests-vertical-farm-for-documentary/">Deadline</a>, where the news broke first.<br />
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Basically, wherever the first vertical farm gets built, Sting has first dibs at making a documentary about it. Who knows, with <a href="http://verticalfarmblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/its-happening-in-newark.html">Newark chomping at the bit</a>, he might not have to wait long. <br />
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Also check out the <a href="http://www.rainforestfoundationfund.org/Home.htm">Rainforest Fund</a>, which he and wife Trudie founded.The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1085064657529434123.post-11781896935577681292010-06-18T10:37:00.000-07:002010-06-21T06:37:56.893-07:00BP Spill and VFI hope we’re all still outraged over the BP oil spill. I hope that those people out there who call this the <a href="http://people-press.org/report/19900628/the-age-of-indifference">Age of Indifference</a> are wrong. I hope this catastrophe doesn’t get forgotten in all the miscellaneous hoop-la. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHvPTBl9CTbKM1cs2nVDvORb2NbXVp6dnpANVgaTcEQNwoZmghyEF2yjnvuCX0FJGK8xYj9H6PvIWIZs5XXiGUK3L_jaI-OHjfcd9yYRn85MAk8Pa39jMlVRUKhIzYMPX33537-7IR_0/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-06-18+at+1.43.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHvPTBl9CTbKM1cs2nVDvORb2NbXVp6dnpANVgaTcEQNwoZmghyEF2yjnvuCX0FJGK8xYj9H6PvIWIZs5XXiGUK3L_jaI-OHjfcd9yYRn85MAk8Pa39jMlVRUKhIzYMPX33537-7IR_0/s320/Screen+shot+2010-06-18+at+1.43.09+PM.png" /></a>If you watched <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh76oepKFc8">President Obama’s speech last week</a>, you were probably left a little bewildered. What exactly is the plan? This oil accident is profoundly devastating to local economies which rely on a non-oil-laden ocean; hopefully, BP will recoup them for current and projected future losses. But this oil spill affects us all.<br />
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I have to admit, part of me is concerned that this is a spill from which the world will never recover. I thought how ironic it would be if this were the end of man; no atomic bomb, no massive sea level rise (by the way, <a href="http://www.newser.com/tag/52772/1/al-gore-divorce.html">what’s the deal with Al Gore</a>?), no meteor; just an accident from capitalism as usual. But then I looked at a world map: Earth is BIG. It will recover; however, whether we’re fit to stick around is another matter. <br />
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As I sit here, typing away on my keyboard, I wonder about all the luxuries we’ve become accustomed to; is the BP oil spill the price we all pay for our cheap food and affordable toys; is this the cost of the American dream?<br />
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This oil spill shines a spotlight on an urgent need: the need to commit to an energy source that doesn’t come from a mile beneath the surface of the sea. Solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, (dare I say nuclear?); these methods are viable, today. The idea of pumping oil from the ground in one area of the world, then shipping it around the globe to the highest bidders, is simply a bad one. Spills happen. And they ruin lives. We can and we must do better. If that means making a huge investment in a country-wide renewable energy grid so that New Yorkers can use the solar energy harvested in Arizona, then so be it. I bet we could find some spare money in the <a href="http://www.startribune.com/business/11223441.html">$280 billion farm bill</a>.<br />
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Now, I think vertical farming is something which should get more attention in light of the recent calamity. Not only because we could raise seafood in them, which is obviously a hot issue now, as our most productive Gulf Coast fisheries have been severely crippled; but we also have an energy incentive to move toward cities that are self-sustaining and move away from the Age of Big Oil. <br />
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The idea that the present state of the world is the best we can do, is simply absurd. Oil, when drilled, is toxic to our planet, and hence, to us. Who said it was OK to poison our air, our water, our fellow living things? Not me.<br />
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Please, BP, pay billions and billions of dollars to the people you’re accident has affected. We know <a href="http://www.bp.com/extendedgenericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7061409">you’ve got the money</a>. But then, please, BP, do the good thing—which is different than the savvy thing—and encourage every government which panders to your wishes to adopt a different sort of capitalism.<br />
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It isn’t beyond the scope of human capacity to enact rules and financial incentives which encourage clean energy. I know it’s not easy; any economist will agree that adjusting incentives is ridden with the unknown. But the principle should be an easy one to stand behind: Enact laws reflective of our collective values. I hope I need not worry that care for our planet makes the grade. Don’t you?<br />
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If you're interested in anti-BP social groups, check <a href="http://www.reefrelieffounders.com/drilling/2010/06/09/top-10-anti-bp-protests/">this out</a>.The Vertical Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410587738249905961noreply@blogger.com0