Lettuce and biodiesel too, that’s the plan of Glen Kertz, CEO of Valcent Products of El Paso, TX. Kertz, who has worked in the greenhouse business for nearly two decades, believes the time has come to localize and simplify food production, and he says his Vertigro system will do just that. I spoke with Glen while he was attending an Orchid growers convention in Miami FL. We talked about his High Density Vertigal Growth System for both vegetables, and algae.
“The HDVG system grows plants in closely spaced pockets on clear, vertical panels that are moving on an overhead conveyor system. The system is designed to provide maximum sunlight and precisely correct nutrients to each plant. Ultraviolet light and filter systems exclude the need for herbicides and pesticides. Sophisticated control systems gain optimum growth performance through the correct misting of nutrients, the accurate balancing of PH and the delivery of the correct amount of heat, light and water“.
If you haven’t seen one of the many news stories on TV about Glenn’s system, you can visit the Valcent site and watch a video with Glenn on the High Density Vertical Growth System.
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Max Lindberg
My home state is Illinois, and my hometown a little railroad/farming community named Galesburg.We lived on a small farm during my high school years and I became very aware of nature and it's wonders. I loved the out of doors, working with animals, plowing fields and harvesting crops. Those were very good years.After a stint in the Army during the Korean war my broadcasting career took off at the local radio station, a 250 watt "teapot" as it was called in those days. My first job was as an engineer, then the ham came out and I became an announcer/newsman, graduating after several years to a larger market and a stint as a TV journalist/photographer. Cold, wet weather led me to the southwest where I've lived for most of the last 40 years, with a couple of years out to have fun working as a private investigator in San Francisco, and a few years working in Las Vegas hotels and casinos. In all, its been a real ride.After retiring a few years back I became fascinated with the efforts being made to find alternative energy sources. I've watched our environment deteriorate during my lifetime, and now it's my chance to join the chorus of intelligent and caring individuals making a difference one day at a time.
7 Responses to Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow? Vertically?
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Yes the vertical method is definitely the way to make the most out of your garden space. Similar to the old concept of building a trellis on which to grow your beans.
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This is the grow method of the future, giving up to 16 as much space as a traditional flat grow.
Thanks for the comments. Glen feels this system can be the answer to food shortages in blighted nations where the soil is generally too poor to grow crops. I’m hoping his idea will eventually feed thousands who are now starving.
This is a wonderful idea whose time has finally come.
beautiful system, quite innovative.
this is the future of food, and a real energy saver! 
[...] my interview with Glen Kertz, CEO of Valcent Products, Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow? Vertically?, he says one acre of corn will yield about 18 gallons of oil. The same acre of ground would produce [...]
[...] my interview with Glen Kertz, CEO of Valcent Products, Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow? Vertically?, he says one acre of corn will yield about 18 gallons of oil. The same acre of ground would produce [...]