The Plant is a project that has taken over an 85-year-old meatpacking building to create a "vertical farm" on Chicago's South Side.
South Side's vertical farm —
The Plant is a project that has taken over an 85-year-old meatpacking building to create a "vertical farm" on Chicago's South Side.
Courtesy Plant Chicago/NFP/Rachel Swenie
Despite still being under construction The Plant currently has five tenants, including aquaponic farms, a hydroponic farm, bakers, tilapia fish breeders, a mushroom garden and a kombucha tea brewer
Germination beds —
Despite still being under construction The Plant currently has five tenants, including aquaponic farms, a hydroponic farm, bakers, tilapia fish breeders, a mushroom garden and a kombucha tea brewer
Courtesy Plant Chicago/NFP/Rachel Swenie
The Plant will use an anaerobic digester and a "combined heat and power system" to produce all its energy from waste.
Growing arugala —
The Plant will use an anaerobic digester and a "combined heat and power system" to produce all its energy from waste.
Courtesy Plant Chicago/NFP/Rachel Swenie
Waste from Tilapia fish farmed at The Plant provides nitrates that are used to feed to plants growing in hydroponic beds. The plants absorb the nitrates, cleaning the water, which is then returned to the fish.
Breeding fish —
Waste from Tilapia fish farmed at The Plant provides nitrates that are used to feed to plants growing in hydroponic beds. The plants absorb the nitrates, cleaning the water, which is then returned to the fish.
Courtesy Plant Chicago/NFP/Rachel Swenie
Founder and executive director John Edel, center, recently showed Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, right, around the growing facility. Edel says: "The key to this farm is the closing of loops: energy loops; resource loops; money loops, by keeping jobs local. If you can close the loops, you can make things more sustainable."
Chicago mayor takes a tour —
Founder and executive director John Edel, center, recently showed Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, right, around the growing facility. Edel says: "The key to this farm is the closing of loops: energy loops; resource loops; money loops, by keeping jobs local. If you can close the loops, you can make things more sustainable."
Courtesy Plant Chicago/NFP/Rachel Swenie
As a small grassroots organization, it relies heavily on its volunteers. Edel says: "We have a range of volunteers of every skill level."
Volunteers at The Plant —
As a small grassroots organization, it relies heavily on its volunteers. Edel says: "We have a range of volunteers of every skill level."
Courtesy Plant Chicago/NFP/Rachel Swenie
The Plants tenants produce food sold to local restaurants, cafes and markets.
Lunch time —
The Plants tenants produce food sold to local restaurants, cafes and markets.
Courtesy Plant Chicago/NFP/Rachel Swenie
Edel hopes that the success of The Plant will encourage other business to make green adaptations. He hopes the plant will be fully operational by 2014.
Pushing others to change —
Edel hopes that the success of The Plant will encourage other business to make green adaptations. He hopes the plant will be fully operational by 2014.
Courtesy Plant Chicago/NFP/Rachel Swenie