The market for more visually appealing indoor hydroponic (and aquaponics) kits is growing. This isn’t a new topic, and one I’ve covered a few times before. But with the marketing splash made by IKEA recently and some of the innovations as products are tweaked, it’s time to have a look again. And please do let me know your thoughts on the visual/décor aspects, cost and general efficiency of these growing kits!
Read MoreIt’s been a while. There’s a few reasons for that: work travels, exploring new places (ahead of a possible move) and the associated gardening setbacks. When I travel I am lucky enough that friends offer to come and water plants. However, that’s often not quite enough, so a few two-week trips later and the plants are suffering. I expect the next few months to be similar. So, I need your help!
Read MoreI recently had a friend visit who asked, “Why so many plants indoors, isn’t it messy and annoying?” That prompted a bit of a think about something I’d not thought much about – as I’ve been doing it so long – growing indoors. Why do it? My reasons are partly practical (climatic conditions), partly aesthetic (nice to look at), partly optimizing space, and partly therapy.
But why do other people do it?
Read MorePrevious posts have touched on the increasing number of products aim at those of us wanting to grow food in very small spaces. We’ve also written about how you can recycle/upcycle and repurpose items to maximise yield and space in your home. In this post we’ve picked a few specific products that promise to help you grow fresh produce indoors, and would really like to hear from you: which, if any, would you consider?
Read MoreSeemingly little or no room or space? No problem. From Chicago to Singapore, picking fresh cucumbers and lettuce is as easy as looking up. Vertical farms make growing crops possible in places where traditional farming is impossible. Think crowded New York City where the only backyard you have is a five feet by two feet balcony. In our last post we looked at recycling and re-purposing to use space creatively, so, in the interests of balance, this will look at the ready-made offerings in the vertical farming space. Both options help solve the "no space” problem but also produce less waste and are therefore usually better for the environment...
Read MoreAquaponics is growing plants and fish together. The theory is the waste the fish produce is fertiliser for the plants, who return the favour by keeping the water clean. I’ve seen this work on a large scale on a recent course I attended on all things ending ‘ponics. There I saw tilapia (a fast breeding and growing freshwater fish) being farmed in tandem with various Asian green veg. Lacking a room I could turn into a pond, I thought I’d have a go on a much, much smaller scale, learn from mistakes and adapt.
Read MoreTips, Tricks and Advice on all things urban farming, putting the fun and practicality back into it, in the heart of the city and from the comforts of home.
