Vertical Farming

This year we're dreaming about the future, and thinking about ideas to get us there. Some ideas take a while to catch on, others seem inevitable. With more and more of us on the planet and living in densely populated cities, sustainable food production is an ideal topic to think about. Is there a better way to farm?

In SOM's (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) vision of future cities, many crops are grown right in the city, ensuring fresh produce and eliminating the need for transporting it over long distances (see Cities of the Future). In some places this is happening now through hydroponics (the growing medium is nutrient-rich water, instead of soil); aquaponics (water and fish waste is the medium); or aeroponics (air and nutrient rich mist is used). With these alternate methods, plants can be stacked in vertical racks, rather than planted in soil horizontally.

Growing lettuce vertically (photo attributed to Valcenteu)

But could these methods be done on an even larger scale? A few companies seem to think so, and are proving their concepts at both the commercial and residential levels). True Garden offers vertical tower garden systems that use aeroponics, for both markets. Plenty is located right here in the San Francisco Bay Area and grows greens vertically for the commercial market. Gardener's Supply even offers a high-rise, low-footprint solution for the home gardener that uses soil and drip irrigation.

Of course, there is always a counterpoint to consider (see 9 Reasons Vertical Farms Fail). But overall these are exciting trends to watch, both for the commercial grower and the backyard gardener.

Indoor Hanging Garden

Several years ago, my husband and I vacationed in Zion and Bryce National Parks in beautiful Southern Utah. We love to travel in fall, and visited in late October when deciduous trees were either bare, or sporting red and gold leaves; and only a few fall flowers were in bloom. It is difficult to beat the golden fall light, the warm days and crisp nights, and the stars.

I was especially struck with the beautiful Weeping Rock in Zion National Park. I loved how the water seeped over the rock face and dripped off overhangs; and how moss, algae, and aquatic plants clung to rocks, and were bathed in the water. At the time, I thought what a great idea it would be to emulate this hanging garden in a home or public garden (see: Hanging Gardens).

Hanging garden at a restaurant in Bend, Oregon

Last summer I saw a hanging garden in a restaurant in Bend, Oregon, that could have been inspired by Weeping Rock. Smaller scale, of course, but it captured some of the elements of the Zion National Park. I love this idea of bringing a bit of nature in doors!

Innovative Irrigation

This vertical garden caught my eye at Persimmon Place, which is a new shopping center that opened in 2015. It is located close to the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station, and across the street from the Hacienda Crossings center.

Vertical garden at Persimmon Place in Dublin, CA

Several store fronts, including HomeGoods, sport substantial trellises on which containers are mounted. A drip irrigation system waters the plants, using Dublin’s gray water system. This is a really innovative idea, and quite attractive.

Containers are mounted on the trellis

I wonder how well the container plants will do in the hot, inland climate, and how much maintenance the drip irrigation system will require (speaking as one who periodically replaces emitters in my own drip system). The containers provide an attractive green cover, while vines start growing from below. I’ll check on progress periodically, and let you know how sustainable this hanging garden idea is.

Gray water is delivered to containers via drip irrigation