Compostable Changes Make the Greenhouse Even “Greener”
Vertical Harvest is paving the way to an even more sustainable future with two recent changes:
- Transforming the vast majority of our produce waste into fertilizer, and
- Switching to 99% compostable packaging
Greenhouse Waste = Fertilizer
Working with WyoFarm Composting, each week we send 320 gallons of produce waste to decompose into fertilizer instead of rotting in a landfill. Most of what we use to grow food — cellulose medium, peat moss plugs, hemp — and our vegetable waste now composts down into a substance that will be used to grow even more food. “It feels great to contribute to this full circle,” says Molly Belk, Vertical Harvest Packaging Coordinator.
Composting can help tackle global warming by diverting organic waste away from landfills where it produces methane. Decomposed waste then creates a natural fertilizer for plants that can replace nitrogen fertilizers, which produce nitrous oxide, an extremely potent greenhouse gas. It’s a win-win all around.
A Shift to Plastic-Free Packaging
Vertical Harvest also is converting to 99% compostable packaging made by Good Natured. All of our microgreens are now packaged in this compostable, plastic-free option. Durable, plant-based, and with a built-in snap seal, your Vertical Harvest greens will stay fresh in your fridge for days. We currently are in the process of transitioning our lettuce packaging, as well, and hope to have all of our packaging updated in 2021.
![We sat down to talk with disability advocate, civil rights lawyer and entrepreneur, Gina Kline. Here is what we learned!
🔍What is Social Security Income?
"The Social security system was conceived during a time with great economic inequality in this country. It is part of the very important fabric of the Public Safety Net in the United States and many of the folks that are qualified for Social Security are among the most economically vulnerable Americans and have the most sort of obvious or material unmet needs in terms of healthcare as well."
🗝What are the eligibility requirements of benefits?
"The Social Security eligibility is really a means tested program. Which means that folks that folks are eligible or below a certain income threshold and also have medical needs. There's a medical documentation part of it and a income documentation part of but on balance what it means is that you have not access to a certain level of income and you have disability needs."
💡What are the current issues that individuals face when receiving SSI benefits?
"For a while there is a low current threshold on the amount of savings that people Americans with Disabilities can have at any given time. I believe it hasn't been updated since the 19 early 1980s so that's how it's not it's not chained to the current cost of living with a disability. So, what we have is a community that is searching for viable upward mobility, meaningful work in a world in which so often people are given a Hobson's choice between being able to save and save for a rainy day and being able to access health care and needed benefits and support from these programs."
Watch the full video on youtube linked in our bio!
[Video Description: Female with hair to the side talking to the camera with caption in the forefront that reads "What is Social Security Income?" "Read the caption!"]
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