clareo
Registered Users
Posts:5
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| 08/08/2008 11:35 AM |
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I'm new to the site, so I don't know how much discussion, if any, there has been on vertical farming. I don't want to say that VF is the end all solution to agriculture and sustainability, but it does seem to help on many fronts. www.verticalfarm.org has the most accurate and comprehensive information on the subject, and I support the idea.
Another gauge of interest is how many people would be willing to somehow financially support this project - and I don't just mean hedge funds. How many individuals would be willing contribute time, money or work toward building this if it turns out that this idea really will help alleviate some of the food/agricultural issues we are faced with today? Here's an indicator of the contributions that civilians would be willing to make - what about professionals?
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smartwall
Registered Users
Posts:41
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| 08/13/2008 7:33 AM |
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| Is corn vertical farming,and pumpkin horizontal farming? |
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gregj
Registered Users
Posts:161
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| 08/13/2008 6:03 PM |
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| Why would anyone need to make any special contribution or financial support other than to buy the produce? If they can't sell the produce at a competitive price then it makes no sense. |
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clareo
Registered Users
Posts:5
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| 08/13/2008 6:12 PM |
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It wouldn't be a contribution to the sale of the produce, it would be a contribution to begin development of the project. Basically it's a smaller version of investing, so the return is that you get to see something you support succeed.
I would buy the produce after the completion of the project, but this is focused on the way to reach the completion (or start even).
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gregj
Registered Users
Posts:161
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| 08/13/2008 6:23 PM |
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Posted By clareo on 08/13/2008 6:12 PM
It wouldn't be a contribution to the sale of the produce, it would be a contribution to begin development of the project. Basically it's a smaller version of investing, so the return is that you get to see something you support succeed.
I would buy the produce after the completion of the project, but this is focused on the way to reach the completion (or start even).
Why would I want to donate money to a business I would not own or reap the fruits of? If they are selling stock or looking for investors then it would be worthwhile to look at.
But there is something to be appreciated about a business plan that can be summed up as: please send me money so I can start a business, get rich and keep all the profit to myself. |
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clareo
Registered Users
Posts:5
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| 08/13/2008 6:35 PM |
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Well, as the developer is not the one who started the campaign that's not exactly how it works. If you don't want to try to buy invest in this building project with $5-10 dollars, be my guest.
This is a way to measure the amount of interest. It's an action that can basically can be summed up as: I think this project is such a good idea, I will commit a small amount of money to be contributed in the future. Developers will know that everyone that joins feels strongly about the idea.
Thanks for your exceedingly positive contributions.
Support Vertical Farming |
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Bruce Frey
Registered Users
Posts:65
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| 08/14/2008 1:36 PM |
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Posted By clareo on 08/08/2008 11:35 AM I'm new to the site, so I don't know how much discussion, if any, there has been on vertical farming. I don't want to say that VF is the end all solution to agriculture and sustainability, but it does seem to help on many fronts. www.verticalfarm.org has the most accurate and comprehensive information on the subject, and I support the idea.
I'm not exactly clear on the concept. The verticalfarm.org link is dead.
Is this a high rise hot house? A "green wall" on the side of of a building? What sort of strcture, enclosure and climate control is needed?
Bruce
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clareo
Registered Users
Posts:5
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Bruce Frey
Registered Users
Posts:65
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| 08/14/2008 3:22 PM |
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Very amophous. Has anyone bothered to try to put together an outline spec or brief of what is required? The green wall concepts make nice pictures, but the idea of picking tomatoes with a window washing type rig seems a bit far fetched.
I suspect the price of veggies will have to get really expensive to make this even remotely viable.
Start with an adaptive reuse of an old class C building for a pilot or demonstration project and look for grants for funding.
Do you think you could make a business plan for this that you could take to a bank and get a loan (even two years ago when they were still giving away money)? When you can do that, developers will become interested.
Bruce |
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gregj
Registered Users
Posts:161
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| 08/14/2008 4:57 PM |
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Posted By Bruce Frey on 08/14/2008 3:22 PM
Very amophous. Has anyone bothered to try to put together an outline spec or brief of what is required? The green wall concepts make nice pictures, but the idea of picking tomatoes with a window washing type rig seems a bit far fetched.
I suspect the price of veggies will have to get really expensive to make this even remotely viable.
Start with an adaptive reuse of an old class C building for a pilot or demonstration project and look for grants for funding.
Do you think you could make a business plan for this that you could take to a bank and get a loan (even two years ago when they were still giving away money)? When you can do that, developers will become interested.
Bruce
The concept is just a way to separate gullible cityslickers from their money. Anyone who would take the time to think about it for 30 seconds would figure out it's a sham.
How much more would an acre of vertical steel and concrete cost than an acre of soil?
Would it cost more to plant on the ground or on the side of a high rise steel and concrete structure?
Would it cost more to harvest produce on the ground or on the side of a high rise building?
Would it cost more to water plants on the ground or on the side of a high rise building?
Would plants get more of the sun they need on the ground or on the side of a high rise building?
How many more plants per acre can you plant on the ground compared to the side of a high rise?
How many hours of direct, full sunshine do plants need a day to produce?
How many acres of farm land are there in the US compared to the area of the unshaded south side of every high rise in New York?
How many acres of back yard suburban gardens are there compared to the area of the unshaded south side of every high rise in New York?
Simple questions with very obvious answers that should make anyone realize the foolishness of the concept. Gullible city slickers, of course have no clue to the answers to those questions and will buy into the dream. And it's a lot easier to sell a dream than reality. If you stick to reality people will say you're not being exceedingly positive. LOL |
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Bruce Frey
Registered Users
Posts:65
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| 08/15/2008 7:00 AM |
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Well, I am not holding my breath waiting for a design brief or a business plan ;-)
I work for a real estate developer who does a lot of high rise buildings and has a long (before the word green was ever used) history of energy saving and IAQ initiatives. We are heavily involved in LEED and the USGBC (one of my colleagues was the chair of the C&S Committee) so I am always intrigued by some of the ideas that are put forward.
Hopefully ths is a case of overly wishful thinking and not a scam.
Bruce |
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clareo
Registered Users
Posts:5
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| 08/15/2008 9:50 AM |
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If you look at the way the site works (The Point) it shows that you only give money if the objective is met. For instance - another campaign just had $10,000 donated from over 150 people for a matching grant with the Crohn's and Colitis foundation. Their goal was $10,000 and no one paid until that number was reached. So yes, a bit of wishful thinking ;) but also a powerful tool!
But anyway - I don't claim to know all the logistics, but I do respect Dr. Dickson Despommier and I know he has been the head of most of this movement. I think it's great that many firms are involved with LEED and the USGBC, but I think it's always important to stay innovative on top of what's already out there.
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TerrawoRx
Registered Users
Posts:3
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| 08/15/2008 12:56 PM |
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How do they plan to grow the vegetation in this system? Is it Hydroponically? Will it be using Conventional methods?
Thanks,
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E.B.Spencer Burr
Principal
TerrawoRx, LLC |
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Chicano
Registered Users
Posts:17
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| 08/22/2008 2:40 AM |
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| Sound like a fascinating idea. Let robots farm....instead of the illegal immigrants! That way at least the US won't be losing jobs to foreigners! We'll be losing them to robots...err...made by the Japanese. (Please note the satirical humor, my wife is Mexican and I am for the Bush "guest worker" program as a way to keep food and other prices low.) Anyway, why do people with good ideas like this market them as solutions to impending doom? Never works...think global warming. I am interested because it looks healthier, more efficient, more modern and possibly could result in cheaper products if done correctly. (Think, no seasons, no disasters, no weather problems; just farming farming farming year around) Anyway, I agree with folks above that say if it isn't feasible as a money making business...it will and should die as an idea. I love all things "green" especially ICF construction, but at the end of the day it is not about the money....it is ALL about the money. |
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