City-Dwellers Can Become Self-Sufficient Gardeners With This Indoor Vertical Farm
If something were to happen today, tomorrow, six months down the road, or even three years into the future, would you be able to sustain yourself and your family?
A large percent of Americans do not have any resources – financial or otherwise – saved up in a case of an impending disaster, which would make them incredibly dependent on the government if hard times hit (that is if the government was still functioning).
While one may always purchase silver or stock up on canned goods, having a sustainable source of live, nutrient-dense food could be one’s saving grace in the wake of an economic disaster.
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For this reason and many more, this gorgeous vertical farm is a God-send for many urban-dwellers who may want to reduce their food costs or just live more sustainably while in the city.
As Treehugger reports, the NutriTower – a seven-foot tall vertical farm specifically designed for tiny spaces – is the solution to urban gardening problems many have been asking for.
Designed by Byrce Nagels of Montreal, the NutriTower fits in small spaces and allows plants to thrive inside by delivering water and nutrients to the bottom of the plant pots.
Nagels (below) relies heavily on his own NutriTower and uses it to grow a continuous supply of lettuce, Swiss Chard, spinach and an abundance of herbs such as mint, parsley, basil and oregano. He can even grow melons and tomatoes.
How does it work?
The NutriTower is a hydroponic system, no messy soil is required. Water and nutrients are pumped up from the base to each of the pots, and the plants are supplied a ‘nutritonic’ that is custom designed for the tower. The mixture is predominantly plant-based and is derived from all sustainable sources.
Because the tower comes with its own lighting system, it can be suitably set up in any location. And – wonderfully, it only takes up one tenth of the space that a horizontal planting bed needs.
The cost of one of these towers is $1,299 – quite expensive for most families, but likely worth the investment if you consider the long-term benefits of growing your own food.
Above all, the company hopes the invention will be used as a learning component. In fact, they’re even offering a special curriculum to anyone who would like to have the NutriTower play a part in the classroom. From the germination of seeds to the actual harvesting of fruits and vegetables, the curriculum serves to ensure kids not only know how to play a part in growing their own food but enjoy the process of doing so.
Just in time for Christmas, the item will be released on December 1, 2015. You can, however, pre-order the incredibly unique and innovative invention here. And, for every 50 NutriTowers sold, the company will give one to a school for free.
What are your thoughts on this urban solution to growing food? Comment below and share this news!
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