As the world struggles to find space to grow food, an expanding market has emerged in the most unlikely places. One of the most popular practices is known as hydroponics, or growing without soil. The technique has enabled people to grow plants where traditional methods would never work. While the method of growing plants without soil is not a new concept, the technology and innovations to perfect the practice is, and getting better all the time.
These unassuming shipping containers can produce the equivalent of about an acre and a half of outdoor growing space. Using high-tech, energy efficient, enclosed growing environments that reduce the exposure to pest and disease pressure.
In our quest to meet some of the most innovative hydroponic entrepreneurs for this episode, our first stop was a restaurant parking lot in downtown Atlanta. Matt Liotta, founder and CEO of Podponics has developed a hydroponic growing system that uses shipping containers to grow edibles.
The lettuce from this salad was picked minutes earlier and just a few steps from the restaurant’s kitchen door. It doesn’t get any fresher
Restaurants are particularly well-suited for such systems. With many embedded within urban environments, few have access or enough space for traditional garden plots. Podponics containers can be placed anywhere on the property. In such cases, farm to table is then only a matter of a few steps away.
Check out the website link below for more information about their story and additional coverage.
Windowfarms founder, Britta Riley on the rooftop of her Brooklyn, NY apartment building
On another stop in the making of this episode, we meet Britta Riley, founder of Windowfarms™. Her quest to grow something fresh, green and edible in her one-window Brooklyn, NY apartment led to something much bigger than she ever imagined.
The Windowfarms world headquarters also in Brooklyn, attracts many pedestrians to stop and take a closer look at the attractive Windowfarm growing systems adorning the front windows
Britta’s successful endeavor to enjoy her own apartment grown salad greens in winter, blossomed into the start of a thriving business that now serves over 45,000 other window farmers worldwide.
For more information:
- Windowfarms.org – Vertical Hydroponics for Urban Windows
- Podponics – the website of the system using shipping containers for hydroponic growing featured in the show.
- DIY hydroponics instructions (PDF) or purchase kit
- Joe’s blog post for Episode 206: Hydroponics
- Chef Nathan’s recipe for Basil Pesto with Angel Hair Pasta and Parmigiano-Reggiano
About GGWTV
Growing A Greener World is a national gardening series on Public Television that features organic gardening, green living and farm to table cooking. Each episode focuses on compelling and inspirational people making a difference through gardening. This gardening series covers everything from edible gardening and sustainable agriculture to seasonal cooking and preserving the harvest.
Windowfarms website may be compromised. There are some questionable links in the text of posts, and there is no way to actually purchase any of the product (at least, not that I can find). Additionally, I cannot find a way to register on the community site and accept community terms of service in order to access the plans for building a DIY window farm.
Maureen,
Thanks for pointing this out. We will follow up to find out about Windowfarms.
Maureen,
I am not sure that Windowfarms is still in business. If I find out any additional information, I will post it here on the GGW site.
What is aeroponics
4Light vertical,lights on a wheeled stand,submersible pump.
Where do you find it
Home Depot
Cal,
Here is a definition of Aeroponics. Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in air or mist environment without the use of soil. Not to be confused with hydroponics or peeponics, aeroponics is the process of spraying or fogging the roots of the plants with a nutrient solution. The plants are usually housed in troughs, tubes or foam, with the leafy part of the plants separate from the roots. Moreover, the roots are usually fully exposed and constantly sprayed with micro bursts of atomized water.
For more information about sources for products and materials for hydroponics refer to our show notes for episode 624. Here is a link, I hope this helps. https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/hydroponics/ Happy Holidays!
Windowfarms.org link is not longer working…what’s up?
I think they took the website down Linda. We filmed this episode in 2011 have not been in touch with them since then.
My question is how do you grow hydroponically without bees to pollinate the plants?
For the plants that need pollination, you can hand pollinate. I use a small soft artists paint brush to transfer the pollen.
Would like to start a window garden in my kitchen. I have french doors and would like to us that for my garden. Would like to use as much recycled materials as possible. Could you tell me how to do this with as little cost as possible. Currently not working so money is short. Please help me start my garden. Tried to go to the Windowfarms website but could not connect.