Vertical Harvest

Dave Donley

Interesting hybrid non-profit/for profit hydroponics vertical greenhouse project in Wyoming:

http://verticalharvest.org/

RupertofOZ

I wonder how it is that startups such as this can show pictures... and make claims... when they haven't even built the system...

Quote:

Vertical Harvest has raised approximately $100,000 through grants, private donations and fundraisers. This money has gone to pay our greenhouse engineer, architect and other consultants that has allowed us to come up with preliminary design of the structure and growing systems as well as a comprehensive business plan.

Vertical Harvest is ready to apply to the Wyoming Business Council for a Business Ready Grant which will commit up to $1.5M for construction funding. Before we can submit our application we need your help by raising the required start-up capital and costs that covers six months of operation totaling $214,000

http://verticalharvest.org/#mission

And there's not a single person involved, other than the greenhouse consultant... that has any hydroponics, or growing experience...

UpNorth

If I sold my shares in the Sydney Harbour Bridge I could help out .....

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will46r

See through floors?

Batty

People make presentations to investors that fall for their bull. That's what I find grand, it is easier for BSers out there to pull in investor money than people who have skill and technical knowledge. Hence why there are different careers but doesn't that mean people with knowledge should learn to accept that it might benefit them to find a BSer who can pull it off for them to help them get ahead quicker? Yay free market.

Batty

As an example I know someone who just started up a "growers college" this month (In our state we just initialized medial marijuana) and this is the same person I taught the extreme basics to just 4 months ago. He pretty much got one grow cycle done and feels that he is qualified to rip people off with such a low skill set.

MaddieJH

Hi All,

I live in Jackson and I think it's a shame that you're criticizing the Vertical Harvest project. There are only 7 vertical greenhouse projects in the world underway right now, and the people who have the vision and desire to undertake a project like that should be applauded. Every innovative project has to start somewhere, there aren't always experts to guide the way. Fortunately, Vertical Harvest has an amazing architect, greenhouse engineer and a board full of very intelligent and talented people. VH will bring a hydroponics expert on board to help run the greenhouse when the project is complete to ensure that the produce will not fail. The project isn't only innovative in an agricultural realm, but also has a social cause - to help employ people with disabilities - and that should never be looked down upon. I hope this helps all of you to better appreciate it.

RupertofOZ

MaddieJH wrote:

Every innovative project has to start somewhere, there aren't always experts to guide the way. Fortunately, Vertical Harvest has an amazing architect, greenhouse engineer and a board full of very intelligent and talented people. VH will bring a hydroponics expert on board to help run the greenhouse when the project is complete to ensure that the produce will not fail.

The hydroponics expert may well ensure that the hydroponic side of the operation is "successful"...

And the architect and engineer... will unboubtably build an operable and/or even a fucntional design...

But in the end... the success or failure of the venture... will be solely determined by the balance sheet....

Quote:

The project isn't only innovative in an agricultural realm, but also has a social cause - to help employ people with disabilities - and that should never be looked down upon. I hope this helps all of you to better appreciate it.

Sorry, but this project is not in any way "innovative".. or new... there's a myriad of layered/vertical hydroponics systems around the world... both present and past...

And most of the past applications... have failed... due to the huge Capex startup costs.... and ongoing energy costs... especially related to growing under "lights"...

Medic4049

Opportunity centers have an advantage and may help the venture be successful. Opportunity. Enters have built in continual grants to aid in the success. Therefore the utilities are usually donated or at reduced cost, the treatment center can charge fees to state medicaid and medicare on bsasis of adult day care, and the produce is usually sought after by local. Usinesses due to the low cost. They just need to be near the break even point for the greenhouse. The greenhouse doesnt make money, it provides an activity for a lucrative part of the medical community of adult day care. The jobs the adults with handicaps do provides them with a menial task and routine to increase their quality of life (social interaction, opportunity to be productive, and a model of newer technology in a greenfield to be displayed for commercial use). We had one of the first hydroponic greenhouses to raise tobacco manned by an opportunity center. It has since been sold to a private farmer and he still employees a few individuals with down syndrome and he pays them prevailing wages too. The opportunity center now runs a recyclery and may be selling that soon. The major startup costs are funded by government grants. The initial costs, usually 10% is funded by donations or private adult day care centers. This is what it sounds like to me what this is.

RupertofOZ

All very worthwhile...

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