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The Plant-Plant ChicagoIt may not look like much on the outside, but over the next few years a former food factory in Chicago is going to be turned into a lean, mean, food growing machine. Located in an industrial area in southeast Chicago, <a href="http://www.plantchicago.com/" target="_blank">The Plant</a> was once the home of Peer Foods - but it's set to become the city's first <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/vertical-farm/">vertical farm</a>. The transformation is already underway and over the next few years, the factory will become a zero-energy, food business incubator, research facility, education space, and working urban farm. Plant Chicago is already growing greens and mushrooms and will soon start brewing beer and kombucha and raising tilapia in a sustainable system with zero waste.1
The Plant-Plant ChicagoThe Plant is a large vertical farm in southeast Chicago that houses <a href="http://www.plantchicago.com/about-the-plant/frequently-asked-questions/" target="_blank">Plant Chicago</a> and a few other <a href="http://www.plantchicago.com/about-the-plant/who-is-here/current-businesses/" target="_blank">food producing tenants</a>.2
The Plant-Plant ChicagoThis first-ever vertical farm was started in 2010 and is expected to be fully operational by 2016.3
The Plant-Plant ChicagoThe factory has a long history of food production and was last owned by Peer Foods until abandoned and then Plant Chicago bought the facility and began to restore it.4
The Plant-Plant ChicagoPlant Chicago giving Chicago Mayor Emanuel a tour of The Plant.5
The Plant-Plant ChicagoThe Plant is already pumping out greens, mushrooms, bread and kombucha. Eventually, the integrated, sustainable, zero-waste facility will combine a tilapia farm, beer brewery, kombucha brewery, a communal kitchen, aquaponics and energy production.6
The Plant-Plant ChicagoBaby greens starting to sprout.7
The Plant-Plant ChicagoAquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (growing fish in a farm setting) and hydroponics (growing plants in water and without soil).8
The Plant-Plant ChicagoGreens and mushrooms grown at the Plant with a homemade sauce and bread by Carla.9
The Plant-Plant ChicagoThe zero-energy facility relies on an on-site CHP system fueled by methane produced in house through an anaerobic digester.10
The Plant-Plant ChicagoThe CHP system will provide energy, heating and cooling and steam for use throughout the facility.11
The Plant-Plant ChicagoAs part of the renovation, the team, which has been helped in part by Chicago-based <a href="http://www.shedchicago.com/" target="_blank">SHED Studio</a>, has gutted the interior, cleaned it up, installed the CHP system, a shipping container garden shed, aquaponics grow rooms and new energy efficient windows.12
The Plant-Plant ChicagoInstallation of the new steam boiler.13
The Plant-Plant ChicagoA shipping container converted into a new garden shed.14
