New Windowfarms! Pledge, do it - promise?

There are very few things that get me this excited - OK, maybe I'm exaggerating, but this thing I'm about to share with you definitely makes top 10.  The Windowfarms project is kick starting their newly designed farms.  Please please pledge to get the ball rolling on this project - I  did!  Do it here.

Think that you don't have a green thumb?
I'm a window farmer now, but at first I was a little intimidated to start a hydroponic garden - since I've killed several plants and barely kept some alive.  However, growing plants this way is surprisingly easy.  The plants in my garden are much healthier and more flavorful than the potted plants I've attempted to seed!  So don't let that discourage you from starting a farm.

Also if you just want to donate to the cause, you can donate how ever much you want just because you agree that we {as people who live in a community - in this case the United States} need to support and help grow businesses like these {i.e. a business that manufactures in our country and supports easy sustainable living}.  Ok, that's as political as I'm getting - I'm stepping off my soap box now.

More about my Windowfarm

It took some work at first, but now I have the beginnings of a hydroponic garden!  I've been eye-ing the Windowfarms™ project for some time now, and was lucky enough to attend their moving sale/potluck/learning session.  The project is pretty amazing, and I can't wait to see what they come up with, in the next stage of their window farm design.  Made from found and recycled water bottles, tubes, and an aquarium pump (and more but you get the point) the current home kit runs about $274 ($139 without the bottles).  Perhaps the first generation of the farms are very well thought out prototypes?  It sounds like Britta Riley, the founder of Windowfarms™ is taking her project to the next level with "fancy" Windowfarms™.  Meanwhile, I'm very happy and content with my farm... luckily my cats are leaving the thing alone.

I started out with these parts...

  

and then sprouted the seedlings in grow pods...

...and once the seedlings were a few inches tall, I transferred them into the bottles.  Easy right?  Go here for more detailed instructions.

Idea fest

So, I did make it to the Festival of Ideas but really I was more inspired to hang out with friends, have a few drinks, and enjoy the Saturday.  Here are some pics to sum up my particular run through. I found that there were much much better photos on the Gothamist, than the ones I took...

Some links of exhibitors and vendors to note:
*Bus Roots
*Agata Olek
*Brooklyn Soda Works
*Ari Tabei
*Space Buster

Got an idea?

Today I'm headed to the Festival of Ideas. It started a few days ago, and the list of exhibitors, seminars, and vendors is pretty intense. The freakish organizer in me wanted to make a check next to each item I am interested in... but I realized very quickly that I should just pick a day and throw myself in it. I will definitely post the ideas that get me (the most) excited. Would love to see your thoughts and ideas in the comments! Comment here on my blog page.

If you are in NYC, hope to run into you! Happy Saturday!

Southern comfort

Mr. Z and are in the process of purchasing a place (eek!) and our-place-to-be has all south facing windows, on the top floor. Is there a better place to start a window farm? I think not... During our rainy outing on Saturday, we stumbled upon The Windowfarms Project store. I can't wait to pick off a fresh piece of lettuce and basil for summer sandwiches and salads!

Aside from being super useful and helping us city dwellers get a bit of nature inside our homes, the Windowfarms organization has positive impacts all around the world, starting right here in Brooklyn.