Vertigro

Introducing your own Vertical Allotment - A brand new innovative solution to ‘grow your own’.

Vertigro image1 Most people dream of growing their own vegetables and becoming more sustainable; but a great many households do not have the space to do so.

Vertigro is a pioneering new gardening solution for small outdoor spaces. Its innovative vertical design, rather than a traditional horizontal garden or raised bed, saves precious space. A clever combination of a self-standing module and grow-bags, Vertigro can be easily assembled and reused year-in year-out. Just plant your plug plants into the sandwiched grow bags and place in the sun and water when necessary, and your plants will successfully grow to produce vegetables for your plate.

Manufactured in the UK and made from Aluzinc and treated PEFC (Programme Endorsement Forest Certificate) wood, Vertigro is virtually plastic free. Its clean design is perfect for balconies, roof terraces, patios, courtyards and small gardens.

Vertigro can be placed almost anywhere and is robust and weather resistant. Its dimensions are H 165cm x W 120cm x D 60cm. The easy use of grow bags means it can be reused with no mess and no fuss – ideal for maximizing a multi-used area.

Made entirely in the UK and designed by Brighton based Claude Lester, with practical, sustainable and stylish living in mind, the product was inspired by her own gardening needs. Having had health problems, she wanted to grow organic vegetables to improve her diet, however a lack of space, (and strength at the time to create a traditional garden), spurred her onto research a freestanding gardening solution. Frustrated with the lack of such a product within the marketplace, she used her extensive 3D and design skills to develop what is now Vertigro.

Claude Lester was born in the UK in 1966 and graduated from Cambridge University, Cambridge, England, with a MA in Architecture and History of Art, in 1988. Although, initially interested in architecture, she decided to pursue a career within the media and completed two further courses in computer animation and film and TV design. By 1991, Claude Lester was employed as a 3D Animator and Morphing Specialist by post–production house, The Bureau, Soho, London. Having developed her design skills, she moved to major post-production company, Framestore, alongside renowned 3D Animator, Mike Milne, to set up their own 3D department.

In 1993, she won RTS Award ‘Best use of Visual Graphics’; BPME Award ‘Best Corporate’ and was a D&AD Silver Award Nominee for ‘Most Outstanding Visual Effects’.

A consultant by 1994, Claude was soon training new users and dealers to learn animation in a fast paced industry where new technology constantly changed. Her curiosity about other cultures inspired her to travel extensively to Central and South America and France and Spain, where she embarked upon full immersion language courses. She returned to London in 1997, to freelance within a new digital era and to commence the challenging task of creating the inaugural PG Cert 3D Animation course at Central St Martin School of Art and Design, London. She was also responsible for developing the course into an MA (Hons), later on.

From 1998 to 2003, Claude Lester juggled her freelance animation work with her consultancy and teaching responsibilities at Central St Martin, University of Westminster and Surrey Institute of Art and Design. Busy setting up courses, designing course material and supporting onsite technicians, she began to feel exhausted, but thought the fatigue was not unusual in someone with such a full schedule.

In 2003, diagnosed with ME/CFS, Claude Lester stopped her work in the media to rethink her health and career. ME/CFS affects the system in many ways, with primary symptoms of extreme fatigue and brain fog. She decided to move from London to Brighton - Brighton being a smaller, friendlier and very holistic city, would be, she believed, be conducive to her health. While slowly recovering, she took a part-time job in a local business as a Design Project Manager. Concentrating on regaining her full health, Claude developed an interest in nutrition. In her new home, she had a small roof terrace and as she was trying to eat more healthily and organically, Claude started growing her own vegetables in containers. She rapidly ran out of space and began to design what became Vertigro. After 18 months of trials and tests, a proto-type was created and the freestanding vertical allotment was launched onto the market.

Vertigro will exhibit at The Edible Garden Exhibition, Stoneleigh Park, March 18th 2011 and the Grow Your Own Show, Sunday 1 May and Monday 2 May, 2011, Loseley Park Guildford Surrey.

www.Vertigro.co.uk Visit our website for more information on the Vertigro system and accessories, regular gardening tips from our resident garden expert, photo diaries, community forums and much more.

Source: Alana Pryce Tojcic, Media Promotions Consultant for Vertigro

This press release is presented without editing for your information only.

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