The Vertical Greenhouse

History

Built on the footprint of the north house, the one that could not be saved. It goes up rather than out because the land it stands on was never meant to hold a building again — and going up is the only reason it did not have to spread. Twelve hundred square feet of ground carries around three thousand of growing bed across four tiers. Every vegetable eaten in this house comes off it.

Right now

Being reglazed a panel at a time. The upper tiers have lost humidity, the orchids are wintering on the ground tier, and tier four is standing empty — which means no propagation space until it is finished.

Objects

• The potting bench

  Salvaged from the house that came down. Aspen found it under a tarpaulin and refuses to sand it.