Philadelphia City Council Passes 'Vertical Farming' Resolution
by Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia City Council, Thursday, passed a resolution to help make the city an international center for something called "vertical farming."
William Penn always wanted Philadelphia to be a Green Country town, but he certainly didn't envision this.
"Plants that are stacked one on top of another with artificial light and instead of soil uses hydroponics and other media," said Councilman Al Taubenberger.
Councilman Taubenberger can see it: Philadelphia's abandoned warehouses turned into vertical farms, and a "school" for sharing the technology with others.
Jack Griffin, Wall Street banker turned farmer, says he's gotten the process to a point where anyone can turn 36 square feet into a farm that generates a net profit of $1500 a month.
"Our objective is to share this technology and make it available. People could say, you know what, instead of opening a 7-11, I'm going to open a farm and I'm going to feed people," said Griffin.
It was a few years ago that Griffin advised against it when a client presented the idea, but he was so intrigued he decided to work on making it a good investment.
"Our electrical use is 75% less, we've got the water use down to 98% less water," said Griffin.
Griffin has been growing crops in a shipping case supply firm, but is ready to expand. Councilman Taubenberger, an agronomist by training, got interested and sponsored the resolution.
City Council hopes the vote of support and hearings on the process will help spread the word.
