And Feeding the World
Several years ago when the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce was still active (we took a big hit during the Covid era), Bill Weems (charter member, President of Pathways and city mayor) invited a man from Montana to come and speak, who was traveling around the region encouraging communities and businesses to start “vertical farming” ventures. He provided some training resources and introduced us to some of the equipment used in the growing process: essentially, grow-towers.
He explained that vertical farming was the reason that small countries, like the State of Israel, could become net food exporters. He also claimed that the empty warehouse next to the Stimpson Lumber mill – which once manufactured straw board – could be repurposed and used for such an endeavor. The warehouse alone was large enough to feed the City of Plummer – a community of approximately 1,000 inhabitants – of the greens and vegetables for the entire population.
Since then, venues such as YouTube have become loaded with vertical “farmers” with “how-to-do” instructions. The reader is encouraged to do an internet such for more.
One of the challenges, of course, is start-up costs. The biggest expense appears to be the cost of the grow towers themselves. But a “do-it-yourself” work around that reduces costs can be found here: https://youtu.be/Ct5hqymicQs?si=qVl1c92r-MYYFxbF
Compare these start-up costs with dirt farming, that requires a tractor and implements: a mere fraction. Even watering doesn’t involve more than running a lawn sprinkler system.
Plant nutrients are another cost, but if you do your research, you can make your own slurry using conventional fertilizer (or organic) which are available off-the-shelf at your local home improvement center or hardware store.
Start in your garage and then maybe build a sun-porch to expand. Grow lights are available everywhere (the cheapest at places like Wal-Mart and Harbor Freight).
Vertical gardening allows you to do it year-round. Get started.
— McCroskey Agrarian, January, 2025