Advantages of Vertical Farming

Year-round crop production; 1 indoor acre is equivalent to 4-6 outdoor acres or more, depending upon the crop (e.g., strawberries: 1 indoor acre = 30 outdoor acres)
No weather-related crop failures due to droughts, floods, pests
All VF food is grown organically: no herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers
VF virtually eliminates agricultural runoff by recycling black water
VF returns farmland to nature, restoring ecosystem functions and services
VF greatly reduces the incidence of many infectious diseases that are acquired at the agricultural interface
VF converts black and gray water into potable water by collecting the water of
evapotranspiration
VF adds energy back to the grid via methane generation from composting non-edible
parts of plants and animals
VF dramatically reduces fossil fuel use (no tractors, plows, shipping.)
VF converts abandoned urban properties into food production centers
VF creates sustainable environments for urban centers
VF creates new employment opportunities
We cannot go to the moon, Mars, or beyond without first learning to farm indoors on
earth
VF may prove to be useful for integrating into refugee camps
VF offers the promise of measurable economic improvement for tropical and subtropical
LDCs. If this should prove to be the case, then VF may be a catalyst in helping to reduce or even reverse the population growth of LDCs as they adopt urban agriculture as a strategy for sustainable food production.
VF could reduce the incidence of armed conflict over natural resources, such as water
and land for agriculture

Massive investment in HVDC High Voltage Direct Current transmission lines.

More energy efficiency in all federally subsidized buildings and infrastructure projects. Creates greater demand for energy efficient services and products.

Trade-in rebates on the 10% worst polluting vehicles. Jump starts auto/vehicle industry.

Subsidize trash cleanup projects. Gets every section of major road and all urban streets cleaned up.

Comprehensive federal survey of the nations infrastructure needs. This would employ a lot of people checking out roads, bridges, nations power-grid, water resources, telecommunications, shipping, etc. The initial survey information would be data submitted by the state. Information missing or believed to be outdated or inaccurate would be verified in the field by data gathering teams hired for the survey.

If the economy is not recovering, begin implementing projects based on obvious needs as determined by the current survey data. Pass a bill authorizing at least one major project in every state in the union for infrastructure priorities.

Actually fund and clean up more the nation’s contaminated and decrepit structures and sites. (I’m thinking that Detroit alone might well employee hundreds of thousands of folks for years here…)

Great post!

How do you propose a ladder up for people who have minimal life skills – showing up for work on time, completing their assignments on time, etc?

They’ve voted in the past and will vote again. They voted down Prop 87 in California. They were told that the ’green’ future was not their future and it would cost them. They don’t see the programs your presenting as a ladder up.

It’s easy to extend new energy jobs to at-risk youth and low-income minority communities. It’s much easier not to do so.

There’s the political trap and the political opportunity: Extend a hand, especially when we all need a hand.

The only way we’ll be rescued from this economy is if we rescue everyone. The wealthy don’t understand, at least most don’t.

fund environmental organizations so we can eliminate pollution. fund campaign finance reform.

FUND INDEPENDENT MEDIA.

.Even strong salaries aren’t doing the trick. Registered nurses made an average of $62,480 in 2007, ranging from a mean of $78,550 in California to $49,140 in Iowa, according to government statistics. Including overtime, usually abundantly available, the most experienced nurses can earn more than $100,000.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts about 233,000 additional jobs will open for registered nurses each year through 2016, on top of about 2.5 million existing positions. But only about 200,000 candidates passed the Registered Nurse licensing exam last year, and thousands of nurses leave the profession each year.

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