Our founder, Mark Woolbright was invited to spend an hour with host Brit Sastrawidjaya on the Land Language Podcast to discuss Living Retaining Walls and Regenerative Design. This lively interview delves into Marks passion for green building, the genesis of his product designs and the effect his and similar plantable retaining wall systems can have on the environments we live in.
Land Language S2E9: Plantable Retaining Walls and Regenerative Design with Mark Woolbright of Verdtech
Season 2 Ep. 9:
In this episode of Land Language, host Brit Sastrawidjaya sits down with Mark Woolbright, founder of Verdtech (verdtech.com), maker of Varden, a lightweight, plantable retaining wall and vertical garden block system.
Mark invented one of the first plantable concrete retaining wall systems in the US after seeing vertical gardens built into small Swiss retaining walls on a backpacking trip, spent decades engineering drainage, soil, and structural systems for that original system before industry consolidation moved him to sell, and has now rebuilt the idea from the ground up as Varden.
Mark shares the engineering lessons from his original concrete wall business, like why 20 degrees of face batter beat the industry-standard 5, and how the horizontal drain layer he invented back then still runs behind every Varden block today. He also explains why public bid rules requiring “three alternates” shut his walls out of highway projects for years, and how Varden’s hollow blocks have turned his own backyard into a haven for toads and bees.
Earth Day 2024: St. Louis company featured at Coachella, on Netflix, HGTV for ‘vardens’
St. Louis-based company, Vertical Garden Supply has been featured on “Rock the Block” and “Instant Dream Home.”
ST. LOUIS — Earth Day is a reminder to have a mutual relationship with our planet. A St. Louis garden company has snagged some big projects and publicity to match that mission.
Verdtech, Inc. operating under the storefront Vertical Garden Supply is a St. Louis-based company that makes components for vertical gardens and living retaining walls. Click here for the full story:
HGTV’s Rock the Block Season 5
Behind the Block: Rock the Block, Exterior Redemption
Leslie and Lyndsay installed a vertical garden as part of their balcony renovation, as seen on Rock the Block, season 5.
“This time around, we’re looking to add the most value to a waterfront home in Treasure Island, Florida”. Without a second thought, we knew that this home needed to undergo a huge transformation and stand out from our competitors, but also cater to the Treasure Island community–and that’s how we landed on the “tropical retreat” theme.
“Our goal: to add major curb appeal to the front of the home, create beautiful inviting spaces to unwind and relax and add as much value as possible for our future buyers”! “Lindsay and Leslie”
See it on the Lamb and Co. Blog Here:
- S5 E5, E6, E7
- March and April 2024
Synkd Magazine Podcast
Living Retaining Walls – the 30-year journey with Mark Woolbright
Meet Mark Woolbright who has been an inventor for living retaining walls for 30 years – hear his journey and what he’s up to now.
ALSO meet him at SYNKD live in Feb 2024 in Atlanta!!
Mark’s products are here:
- S2E2
- 51:49
- September 11th 2023
Adidas Flower Cube at Coachella ’23
Coachella 2023: 40+ Steal-Worthy Event Ideas From the Creativity-Packed Music Festival
Couldn’t make it to the desert this year? Here’s what you missed at weekend one’s most eye-catching parties, pop-ups, and activations from the likes of Adidas, American Express, NYLON, Lucky Brand, and more big brands.
For the First Time Ever, Dave and Jenny Marrs Literally Break the Bank on ‘Fixer to Fabulous’
No yard? Try a hydroponic garden wall:
“Since this is a second-floor apartment, we don’t have a yard or a garden, but we wanted to include a lot of greenery, so this is a really great solution,” says Jenny as she and Dave install a hydroponic garden along one of the deck railings. “This really unique feature is going to make this a true oasis for our friends.”
Realtor.com interview with Jenny Marrs of Fixer to Fabulous:
Innovative Gardening: Verdtech
AIM2Flourish Article:
“Verdtech’s vertical gardening system, known as the Varden, is a mountable living wall suitable for compact spaces. It allows for organic farms, city-dwellers, and others to garden without taking up a lot of square footage. The Varden uses much less water than traditional hydroponic systems and provides infrastructural resilience to food insecurity”.
Innovative Gardening: Verdtech
Outdoor Varden Selected for Dave and Jenny Marrs Holiday Gift Guide
Dave’s Christmas Gift Guide
Our friends Dave and Jenny Marrs from the hit HGTV show “Fixer to Fabulous” have selected our Outdoor Varden 24 and 36 vertical gardens as one of their favorite gifts for Christmas! We are excited to be included and look forward to our appearance in an upcoming episode of their show as well.
Dave’s Christmas Gift Guide
Green Wall takes root on York Avenue
Green Wall takes root on York Avenue
“The green wall, located directly across from the new AC Hotel Central West End, is the latest element in a series of recent street and landscape improvements on York Avenue, between Lindell and Maryland.”
Nicki’s Central West End Guide
Varden on HGTV’s Rock the Block Season 3
Rock The Block: Exterior Showdown
“We were able to team up with the crew at Vertical Garden Supply to make a vertical garden where we were able to plant all edible greenery.”
Lamb & Co | Lyndsay Lamb
Webster-Kirkwood Times
Saint Louis Magazine
Saint Louis Magazine
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Fox 2 Now
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
KTRS 550 – Inside Out Show
Feast Magazine
Town & Style
Media or press inquiries:
info@verdtech.com
