Sally Dominguez

Only this afternoon I learned about the concept of Window Farming, a back to basics essentially low tech method of vertical gardening - check it out here.  Ironically I discovered this cool trend with upcycling benefits while tending to my big corporates: browsing the magazines in Barnes & Noble while waiting for my Starbucks Chai Latte en route home from Trader Joes.  Which suggests there is a place in the world for all of us.

So here is a basic window farm, consisting of hanging bottles nurtured with a range of nutrients depending on the plant type and the flavour you seek.  Up close it looks more like this:

But less you think this be child's play, the Window Farmers want you to know that "simple looks can be misleading. (Window farm kits) are designed to bring in beginners at hydroponic growing with a sophisticated design that takes into account for a bunch of stuff you can't even imagine until you grow your first few crops".  So you can choose the kit that includes the bottles, or go DIY on the bottle reuse and just get the essentials which include pump, reservoir, piping, "grower plug", the nutrients and various contraptions to help clean and grow.  And the seeds.
The site reckons a basic kit can yield " a salad a week" and the plants and trickling water bring healthy building benefits also.
I really love the big picture for window farming - a greened out metropolis full of healthy buildings and healthy, happy urbanites.  Flower to the people!