Hearts of Glass

Learn more about Vertical Harvest, an innovative experiment in growing crops and providing meaningful employment for people with disabilities.

Hearts of Glass, airing Saturday, December 17 at 3 p.m. on WXXI-TV, tells the story of the critical first 15 months of operation of Vertical Harvest, an innovative experiment in growing crops and providing meaningful employment for people with disabilities. Directed and produced by Jennifer Tennican of JenTen Productions, Hearts of Glass is presented by KRCB/Northern California Public Media and distributed by American Public Television (APT). 

In a mountain town better known for extreme sports than extreme horticulture, Vertical Harvest (VH) strives to fill critical community needs including year-round produce and good jobs for an underserved population. Hearts of Glass follows the young business as it pushes the boundaries of social entrepreneurship and local, sustainable agriculture on a tiny sliver of land in downtown Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Through its three-story futuristic glass and steel façade, viewers see the two key components of the hydroponic greenhouse – innovative technology and an inclusive workforce. The film weaves the story of VH’s launch with the personal journeys of employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Plants and people grow together in this intimate portrait of innovation, inclusion and community.