Inside Vertical Harvest Farms in Jackson, Wyoming

Learn how this unique, energy-efficient urban greenhouse produces vegetables for the local community

Last summer , my husband and I decided to lam to the passel , and we took a road trip to Jackson , Wyoming . After get at our hotel elbow room , my husband instantly looked out the window to see if we had a view . “ What is that ? ” he asked . From across the room , I glanced out the windowpane to see a edifice fill with smart pinkish lights . Being in the plant industry long enough , I knew immediately that it had to be a growing operation of some sort . conceive of my surprisal when I discover out that the small townspeople of Jackson had a “ big city ” vertical farm .

The brainchild of three different visions

With my love of local food , I had to learn more . After returning home , I had the chance to question Nona Yeahia , the cobalt - laminitis and CEO of Vertical Harvest , who share with me the compelling story behind the unparalleled , impact - driven patronage dedicated to turn local food while supporting underserved residential district .

Vertical Harvest is the brainchild of three people : Nona , an architect who believe in using architecture as a vehicle for societal modification ; Caroline Croft Estay , who exploit in organizations that serve people with disabilities ; and Penny McBride , a sustainability consultant interested in ameliorate the food manufacture ’s waste cycle . As Nona told me , they did n’t set out to become erect Farmer , but vertical farming was the result of their fuse passion .

How their operation works

In the small town of Jackson , Vertical Harvest has built the first upright ( three - story ) state - of - the - art nursery in the northern hemisphere . Because of its verticality , the greenhouse can develop 10 Akko ’ Charles Frederick Worth of intellectual nourishment on 1/10 of an acre . The three storey act as freestanding greenhouse essentially heap on top of each other , with dissimilar microclimates in each house . The construction is oriented so that the longest side font due in the south . accord to Vertical Harvest ’s website , this surgical procedure uses 50 % less energy than what is traditionally used in erect farming , through its use of glasshouse methods and optimizing of natural light . That ’s a pretty big acquirement given that Vertical Harvest is growing food yr - round in a place with a very inadequate grow time of year .

So what are they able to grow ? The primary crops in this hydroponic farm let in five different varieties of cherry red tomatoes , butterhead lettuce , rainbow chard , specialty lettuces in unlike mixes , and microgreens , which can include cilantro , mustard , and pea plant shoot , to name a few .

Relationships with employees and the community

The consecrated team that grows this beautiful , nutritious , and scrumptious green goods includes a humble chemical group of professional greenhouse growers along with twenty - five employees who have developmental impairment and have a customized employment plan to tone up skills and abilities . The food is sold to local grocery stores and restaurants ( the percentage sold through foodstuff stores has increase during the pandemic ) . The company also has a lineal - consumer curriculum offering local delivery and curbside pickup .

Vertical Harvest has been successfully operating for only four years and expects to turn a profit in 2021 . The business model of Vertical Harvest is replicable , and a new task is set to break ground this year in Westbrook , Maine .

For more information about this instigate organisation , please visitverticalharvestfarms.com . If you are in the sphere , you may be able to schedule a tour ( pendant upon COVID restrictions ) . Please get laid that if you are revel a salad in a Jackson restaurant , you are most potential delight produce from Vertical Harvest !

— Michelle Provaznik is executive director of the Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins , Colorado .

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

The New Organic Grower , 3rd Edition : A Master ’s Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener , 30th Anniversary Edition

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