VERTICAL GARDENS & GREEN LIVING - LEAVE THE COW BEHIND

When an opinion is hell bent on the notion that animal agriculture is "beneficial" or "natural", I enjoy taking the opportunity to show them what "sustainable food" really looks like: I'm referring to sky gardens, living walls and vertical farms. Highlights:

1. Year-round crop production; No weather-related crop failures
2. VF food is grown organically: no herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers
3. Virtually eliminates agricultural runoff by recycling black water
4. Converts abandoned urban properties into food production centers
5. VF may prove to be useful for integrating into refugee camps
6. Dramatically reduces fossil fuel use (no tractors, plows, shipping.)

but this one: "We cannot go to the moon, Mars, or beyond without first learning to farm indoors on earth."
reminds me of a sci-fi I saw... the crew of a spaceship lived and traveled on resources of hydroponically grown vegetation... Their whole journey depended on plants for food, water and air.
And here on earth... a future where hydroponics, aquaponics and horticulture would sustain the world many times over. I imagine floating platforms with acres of produce, perhaps greenhoused? Using a fraction of (desalinated) water? These platforms could also be an energy source - with wind farms and solar panels? Are we talking about (almost) "free" food ? For the world? Maybe....

But clearly we will not get there on the course that animal agriculture is taking us, so says Scientific America "Only energy production generates more greenhouse gases than does raising livestock for food."

So when boarding that spaceship into the future - given the option of the cow or the plant - as much as Provoked loves cows... She's bringing the plant. ;)

Go Vegan

Living Walls
The Living Tower
Times Slideshow