Farmers Grow a New Stream of Revenue Through Vertical Farming
Cashmore is a for-profit farmer in Northern Illinois
In January, the open fields of Harvard, Illinois — a far northwestern suburb of Chicago — are biting and bone-chilling. Inside Kirk Cashmore’s barn, it is a fair 72°F, the perfect temperature for producing leafy heads of lettuce through vertical hydroponics — the practice of water-based gardening with vertically stacked shelving in a controlled environment.
Since 2011, Cashmore has been the only for-profit vertical hydroponic farmer in Northern Illinois. His pesticide- and chemical-free lettuce is served at Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen, a popular, Green-certified restaurant in nearby Crystal Lake. It's also sold at biweekly basket drops along the North Shore and in the Madison, Wisconsin, metro area.