After our review and comments from last week, several issues/arguments arose that I need to take a closer look at. The first being making the case for the site in Milwaukee, WI. Initially the site was attractive to me for the reason of converting and rethinking the post industrial era along the Milwaukee River. How could the old industry be transformed into the 21st century? It’s the Midwest, with a substantial farming industry and seemed like a good place to introduce the vertical farming program.
The key to the site is the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan, two huge bodies of freshwater. Besides land use being an argument for vertical farming, water use makes a strong case. Currently 60% of the United States freshwater is being used to irrigate our crops, totaling 137 billions of gallons per day1. This is water that is not replaced, and is often contaminated with chemicals and waste after being used. In Wisconsin, there is great debate over the water line, what counties get to use the freshwater from Lake Michigan, and those that don’t. As time goes by, water will become a rare commodity just as oil. Can vertical farming practices alleviate that water use and set an example of better irrigation practices?
Yes. Through the use of hydroponics water savings can be upwards of 95% (in extreme cases), and there is no need for soil. Plants still receive their nutrients from various natural media. Aeroponics, a somewhat newer technology uses 70% less water than hydroponics, by exposing plants to misting water 3. Water can be recycled within the building through a living machine cycle, reducing use even more.
The site I have chosen is situated just north of a development project for the Port of Milwaukee that just got approved by the city last week. The big catalyst for the plan being the UWM School of Freshwater Sciences2. This thesis would be a good demonstration of how vertical farming could reduce water use, adding to the new identity of the Port.
((Oh, this is kind of an aside. For the record, Milwaukee isn’t too small. Its city population is 602,000, with a metro population of 1,544,000. Compared to Portland, which is 550,000 city and 2,175,000 metro (based on 2007 numbers). It’s no NYC, but no Fargo either. Land is cheap as well, making it a good candidate to demonstrate this type of farming and better land use))
Sources
1 – U.S. Geological Survey
2 – Port of Milwaukee Redevelopment Plan
3 – Despommier, Dr. Dickson. The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2010.
Your expanded background information and justification on why Milwaukee is a good place for vertical farming is adding some really great justification for your decisions. The UWM School for Freshwater Sciences and Port of Milwaukee redevelopment Plan seem like great real world catalysts and context to test your idea within. I’m curious if there are any other buildings on the great lakes that make a conscious effort to treat/cleanse the water they take in before it goes back into the lakes. Possibly in Chicago?
p.s. I KNEW milwaukee was bigger than Portland – glad you’ve set that straight!