A notable Kickstarter for the urban gardeners out there – Elegant Farm. Made from all-natural recycled materials (glass bottles, ropes, leather straps, recycled whiskey barrels), this hydroponic system allows you to grow your veg in style. The principle is low tech and simple. Bubbles of air from the air pump lift water up to feed the plants. The liquid nutrients drain down through each planter to the reservoir and the plants drink as much as they need. Tiny rocks in each bottle give the plant roots something to hold onto so there’s no soil. Refill once a week and repeat. Available for purchase through Kickstarter.
Repotting a plant is a big chore (and in my case, a sure death sentence to a plant). Which is why London based studio Ayaskan created Growth, a smart adaptable pot that changes its size to fit its inhabitant’s needs. The origami-like creases unfold to add volume. A simple and elegant solution. And it makes the dreaded procedure a lot easier. Just add soil, and it’s done.
Here is another exciting launching campaign – Tableau, an automatic self-watering system that includes a tray, inverted water reservoir and three elegant planters. The principle is simple and ingenious: the water reservoir supplies moisture to the tray, and the tray delivers it to the plants through holes in the pots. No fuss, no guess work, and no electricity. Perfect for forgetful home gardeners or people who travel a lot. Currently Kickstarting.
(via swissmiss)
A beautiful flat packed planter, made in NYC from reclaimed sails? Yes to that idea! Designers Miriam Josi and Stella Lee Prowse, together Garden Apartment studio, created Nomad, an eco-friendly planter with us, urban gardeners, in mind. The piece is adaptable to a variety of environments. It can hang from a rope, sit on the coffee table, or be transported to the window for more sunlight. You can even choose to only plant one side and hang it on the wall to create a vertical garden. The open ended design leaves the placement up to the user. Available for purchase here.
This bookish planter by Yuki Yamamoto of Japanese design duo YOY is not only a thing of beauty, but a thing of utility as well. Disguised as a tome, it sits on a shelf or a table next to your actual books, bringing a touch of greenery to your room. The piece is made of PMMA and PVC for waterproofing. If you open the cover page, the planter stands on it’s own, and you can see the soil inside. The title of the book is “The Life of Plants.” Clever.
This beautifully simple self-watering planter makes a lot of sense. Created by Boskke, the piece features an in-built reservoir and a “slo-flo” internal irrigation system that supplies plants with up to 4 weeks of moisture. The body of the pot is made of clear plastic, so you can witness the growing process. And also see when the water level is low. Neat. Available for purchase here.
Repotting plants is such a dread. In my case it is also the time when a plant usually dies (my love for indoor gardening is largely unrequited). And this is why this pot by Helsinki based Italian designer Emanuele Pizzolorusso is so very clever. Aptly called Fold Pot, the piece grows along with the growing plant. It is made from rubber, so it is flexible enough for adding soil without having to remove the plant. And thanks to the ability to unfold, the Fold Pot doubles its capacity. Available for purchase from designer’s website.
As someone who constantly tries to build a herb garden (with inconsistent results), I always welcome new modular planter ideas. This one comes from Finland based designer Niko Laukkarinen. The Hookie planter can be suspended from your ceiling, freeing windowsills and counters for other important objects. Each piece has a hook on the bottom, so you can combine several planters for a beautiful and space-saving display. The piece is currently being launched at FundedByMe.
It’s almost time for balcony gardening, and this compact solution can be a perfect contender for a limited outdoor space. UrbMat is a small-space garden idea that takes the guesswork out of growing your own herbs, vegetables, and flowers. All you need is a small area of dirt or a raised bed 3X2 feet in size to get started. The seeds come in protective encasements, GrowUps, that already include all that is needed for a plant to flourish – a mix of chili powder, compost, worm castings, and clay. Simply lay UrbMat on top of the soil, press the GrowUps into the corresponding holes, and leave it to do its magic. I think, even I can do that.
German designer Jörg Brachmann is the creative force behind these cool products. His brand Urbanature is dedicated to bringing greenery into small city apartments. Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, each item is thought out with space limitations in mind. I especially love the hybrid of a herb garden and a cutting board – wishlisted. Watch the video after the break to learn more about these designs.
