A talented farmer named Jack Pantall has created his own tribute to the British National Health System (NHS) by using his tractor to plow a giant rainbow into one of his fields. The 33-year-old mapped out the NHS logo and “Stay Safe” in a rainbow shape, with respect to Britain’s healthcare workers – who are battling a pandemic that started months ago. Pantall used an aerial drone camera that was connected to his phone to capture all of it.
Creating a Masterpiece
The image is 196 feet tall and 500 feet wide, and it’s set on Jack Pantall’s farm near Staunton-on-Wye in Herefordshire. Pantall also managed to capture aerial drone footage of him creating the masterpiece. It took only 16 minutes to complete. He shared: “I was driving around trying to get it done in a hurry because the drone battery only lasts about 20 minutes and I had to be relatively quick on it. I managed to complete it in about 16 minutes, which was just in time, really.”
A Tribute Inspired by His Brother
The dad of two wanted to express his support to all the NHS heroes specifically because of two people in his life–Harry, his 31-year-old brother who is a paramedic himself, and his sister-in-law who works as a doctor. “I had one field left I could use before my spring planting finished so I decided to do it as soon as I could,” said Pantall.
Becoming a Symbol
The “Stay Safe” rainbow has become a symbol of support for anyone who wants to show their solidarity for health workers, who are working relentlessly in the front lines fighting this terrible virus. “My gesture was just something we thought that we could do down at the field. It’s just us showing a small amount of appreciation,” says Pantall. “At the very least it brings a smile to people’s faces and makes them know we are thinking of them,” he added.
Setting Up a JustGiving page
After Pantall’s broadcast message of support to the NHS workers, he decided to set up a JustGiving page to support hospital staffers – in the hope his viral stunt can help raise money and spirits of all of the doctors and nurses working out there in these troubling times. “The NHS workers are the main ones we must thank because they’re right in amongst it,” said Pantall. “It was all just to say a massive thank you to them. It really makes you feel good when they know there are people out there appreciating them. You never know someone is appreciating you until someone says.” He added.
Startup Turns Appalachia From a Coal Country Into an Agricultural Hub
AppHarvest is a revolutionary startup that aims to restore the economically suffering communities of Appalachia, the former coal country, and reposition it as a thriving agricultural hub. The best part? That plan is already on the way.
The Kentucky-Based Company With a Mission to Save the Appalachia
AppHarvest is currently building some of the world’s largest indoor farms, with its first harvest already on the shelves of stores like Kroger and Walmart. The company recently went public and managed to attract Martha Stewart herself as a board member. Several of its facilities are already producing fruits and vegetables, and AppHarvest is on its way to becoming the national leader in alternative farming.
Their three huge indoor farms are located in Appalachia and are able to produce 30 times more food compared to a traditional farm. Those numbers are a result of the cutting-edge indoor technology, space-saving, and rainwater recycling that AppHarvest is using in all of its facilities.
A Sustainable Approach to Food Production
In a recent press release, Martha Stewart praised the successful first harvest of the company, stating that its sustainable approach “is the future of food.” That future consists of nutrient-rich, pesticide-free, and flavorful produce that will really make a difference. The company’s Morehead Kentucky headquarters boast impressive numbers: they can grow about 45 million pounds of chemical pesticide-free, non-GMO tomatoes each year, regardless of the burden of the seasons. Stewart shared she’s already testing the first batch of tomatoes and can’t wait to use them in her famous recipes.
Carefully nested in Appalachia, the farms are just a day’s drive from more than 80% of the American population. That way, AppHarvest is both able to keep its promise to help Appalachian communities thrive and make sure its produce is reaching markets fresh and quickly.
The future’s looking bright, too. With over $1 billion secured in financing, AppHarvest is hoping to have a total of 12 indoor farms up and running within the next four years.