Vertical farming in the big Apple

[V Chic Chick]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6752795.stm

I could understand if it was for educational purposes, but it would never be economical for proper food production. If it was for educational purposes then it would be very much like the horizontal city farm where I volunteer . . .

 

[SunChick]

Now they just have to convince "the Donald" to build it!

 

[rrrsmom]

Wow, that is so weird. I was on that webpage a couple of days ago when I ws trying to figure out what to plant in the coop. Great chicken minds must think alike. I would love for my little itty bitty tiny plot of land to sustain my family. I'm thinking solar and a little small vertical garden.... maybe hydroponics. I dunno. This might end up being my retirement project. I just need to do the research in the next 5 years.

 

[kansas_twister]

maybe we could use donald's Tupee as a nest?

 

[dlhunicorn]

Quote:
...have a look at this group...GREAT ideas here!!!
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/barrelponics/
I live in the city with a modest sized yard (probably really small by USA standards) and I am going to use some of the principles to add a couple barrels next to my pond and make use of it as a feed resource...

 

[MissPrissy]

Before purchasing our current home and land we lived in Metro DC in a townhouse. I was newly from a farm in Georgia and not real happy with a backyard no larger than the size of 2 parking spaces. What we did have was a 2nd story balcony off the kitchen overlooking that tiny yard. (Up here basements only 1/2 dug in from the back are HUGE with builders.)

In that tiny backyard I grew vegetables that fed us as a family of 5 all summer. My tiny plots of raised beds and careful landscaping had amazing results. From the deck I filled hanging baskets with things like lettuces and spinach. I had productive strawberry jars. In 2'x6' raised beds I grew tomatoes, squash, and peppers. In deep pots I grew cherry tomatoes that I used the deck supports as trellises. Those tomatoes grew to the top of the 2nd story deck. We had an abundant harvet of everything! Sweet peas will easily grow in trough style planters against a fence for support. Tomatoes will even grow in 5 gallon buckets (even hanging upside down.)

The 2 zucchini plants grew so much squash my husband was sick of eating them by end of summer. He would visably shiver when offered zuchinni at a meal. (He is not a big veggie lover at all.)

People in our subdivision always commented on the lush greenery and how they wanted to come sit in my little landscaped garden. When invited to partake of my park bench they were amazed that it was all vegetables. People even told me it reminded them of a tiny Italian terrace.

You can grow ALOT in small spaces if you plan it out and tend your garden properly.

Here is a shot of part of my current garden. The squash plants are measuring more than 47" across. This photo is a couple weeks old. I am now harvesting veggies and they are so good. From 6 plants I am pulling 6 - 10 squashes. I have given away many but now and enjoying the harvest and putting things in the freezer for winter.

The white hoops are my homemade chicken wire pea arbours.

(edited for spell check)