Vertical Farming on The Archers

Who Will Have the First Vertical Farm on The Archers?


The Archers is the longest running soap opera in the UK and has been running for almost 50 years now.  The story is set in the fictional West Midlands village of Ambridge and features several farming families including the eponymous Archers.  The show employs agricultural consultants...






Adam Macy - Brian Aldridge's Step Son


My money is on Adam Macy to be the first person to investigate the extra yields to be had from Vertical Farming.  He already is a poly-tunnel freak and has raised the growing beds for his soft fruit on the grounds that this makes it easier of the backs of his fruit pickers and quicker.  He should increase the height of his poly-tunnels and get the platforms fitted as soon as possible.  






David Archer


With the recent death of his father David Archer is quite depressed at the moment.  Add to this the trouble he is having coming to terms with his daughter Pip's adolescence he is not on the ball with farming methods.  He is the least obvious character to be first with a vertical farm and, apart from anything else his farming operation is more livestock based.






The Grundys


It would be very satisfying if Eddie Grundy was the first to go Vertical Farming.  This family are among my favourite characters and have had more hard times than the entire cast put together.  The Grundy's are always coming up with Get Rich Quick schemes and are more than a little resourceful.  I can see Eddie bashing up his own Vertical Farming platforms and (fingers crossed) making more money than the love rat who is Brian Aldridge... 

Turning Grass Cuttings into Car Fuel

The United States is researching the production of fuel from its corn crop. So far, the only problem is that, their method uses more energy to produce this fuel than the fuel itself – so, so far it is a complete waste of time.

However, Cellulosic Ethanol – fuel produced from grass cuttings, wood chips and other byproduct organic matter produces 80% more energy than its production. Cellulosic Ethanol is therefore the way forward. It is only very strange that in most places Cellulosic Ethanol has never been heard of.

Could it be the damage that a leak of Cellulosic Ethanol could cause? Of course not, this is just a wind up which seems appropriate at the moment. Appropriate because, as we edit this page, the biggest oil leak in all history is pumping out thousands of gallons per day and threatens environmental catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico.

But, this state of play points to a clue as to why the planet is in this inexplicable mess while solutions exist: So far big business and governments (perhaps with the exception of Brazil) have invested relatively nothing in Cellulosic Ethanol. Could it be that their vested interests lie with oil production? Are governments and big business worried that Cellulosic Ethanol might be difficult to contain and tax? This technology could lead to people having the equivalent of a private oil field in their back gardens – this is world saving stuff on more levels than on!  

Watch Part 5 of the introduction to Vertical Farming video below:

Part 1 CLICK HERE
Part 2 CLICK HERE
Part 3 CLICK HERE
Part 4 CLICK HERE

Vertical Farming in Warehouses | LCD Lighting Systems

Vertical Farming | The Sky is the Limit Even in Warehouses with LCD Lighting Systems

Once upon a time Vertical Farming (more precisely High Density Vertical Growing Systems or HDVGSs) in warehouses were too expensive to be viable. The expense was related to the energy for lighting and cooling the warehouse to achieve optimum growing environment and defeated the object of HDVGS. LCD lighting has made Vertical Farming (HDVGSs) viable.

Watch Part 4 of a Video introduction to Vertical Farming below:

Part 1 CLICK HERE
Part 2 CLICK HERE
Part 3 CLICK HERE

High Density Vertical Growing Systems | Vertical Farming for Smallholders and Gardens

Reaching the Sky and Saving the Planet with Vertical Farming

Increase the yield of greenhouse produce ten fold!  Vertical Farming offers the smallholder, allotment holder or gardener the choice to grow ten times more fruit, herbs or vegetables from the same space and without additional pesticides.  For commercial size operation the yields can be increased twenty times compared to traditional farming methods which are now being termed horizontal growing systems.

Watch Part 3 of this Video introduction to Vertical Farming.  Part 1 CLICK HERE.  Part 2 CLICK HERE

HDVGS and Vertical Farming | Making High Density Vertical Growing Systems

Vertical Farming | reaching the Sky and Saving the Planet

High Density Vertical Growing Systems (HDVGSs) are sited inside controlled environments such as greenhouses, glasshouses, poly-tunnels or warehouses.  HDVGSs are able to increase yield of the fruits, herbs and vegetables they are used to grow.  Compared to traditional farming (i.e. horizontal growing systems) HDVGSs can produce 20 times more fruit, herbs or vegetables per acre.

Watch Part 2 of this film about Vertical Farming below. For part 1 CLICK HERE

Make Your Own Vertical Farm | Vertical Farming and Vertical Hydroponics

The Sky is the Limit with Vertical Farming and Vertical Hydroponics

Vertical farming as opposed to the traditional "horizontal farming" could save the world.  Using hydroponics and growing food on stacked platforms increases the yield per acre of land by the quantity of stacked platforms added.  Experiments in the USA and Europe have shown that an acre of land using Vertical Farming methods which encompass hydroponics can yield twenty times more than traditional farming methods.  Watch the video for a quick visual introduction to Vertical Farming: