Farm in a Box
March 3, 2011 by Robin Plaskoff Horton
Turn your empty wall or fence into a garden. It’s as easy to hang as a picture. It automatically waters itself and allows you to grow indoors or outdoors in any season. And here’s the real dirt (or not): it’s a hydroponic system.
It’s Farm in a Box™ EcoTech Design Studio, an innovative new vertical garden system that makes organic home vertical gardening a real no brainer.
Here’s How Farm in a Box™ Works
1. Attach one or several units to a wall or fence.
2. Place one of the specially designed Seed Pods into each opening.
3. Add water to the built-in reservoir.
4. Replace the cap
5. Grow your own food.
Farm in a Box™ square prototypes at the EcoTech Design Studio’s Malibu, California facility. Photo: Robin Plaskoff Horton
Farm in a Box™ automatically regulates the flow of water maintaining the optimal level of moisture. With its built-in water level indicator, you can easily check the water level. As plants begin growing, you begin adding EcoTech’s MagicGrow™ organic fertilizer to the water reservoir, which allows you to water and fertilize simultaneously and automatically.
Hexagonal prototypes
The Farm in a Box™ shell is sustainably made from a blend of bamboo fiber mixed with recycled plastic. Although the product is still in the testing phase, EcoTech’s intent is to combine recycled ABS or PVC plastic with a 30% blend of repurposed bamboo fiber mixed with sierra resin (which takes five years to breakdown in a landfill.)
EcoTech hopes to create a shell that will be as free of toxins as possible, but until testing (for VOCs, etc) is completed, they can not state for sure what the final shell composition will be. All of the packaging, made from 100% post consumer content, can be composted.
One of the nicest features about this product: EcoTech envisions it retailing for less than $20.
Note
Stay tuned in the next few days for upcoming post about EcoTech Studio’s big vision…
Category: Edible Landscaping, Greening, Hydroponics, Urban Agriculture, Vertical Gardens
Tags: California, sustainable farming, sustainable gardens, vertical farming, vertical gardening
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I want this! Where can I buy some?!
— March 3, 2011 @ 15:32
Sweeet! I love it! So0o co0ol
— March 3, 2011 @ 17:51
C-O-O-L!!! Love this!
May all your gardens grow,
Jan
— March 4, 2011 @ 08:29
Fabulous! I wish these were going to be available by summer. However, I am so impressed with the fact that Echo Tech is being so responsible and going through all of the necessary testing to make sure that they are providing a growing system that will be healthy for those eating the foods harvested from the boxes, as well as good for the earth as they fashion these planters from recycled , compostable content. No green-washing here!
— March 4, 2011 @ 09:30
A part of me (the designer part) loves this and wants it! Another part of me, the one that values getting my hands in the soil, says this is missing a lot of the important benefits of gardening – the relationship to the soil, to the earth and to your plants. I realize that not everyone has the space at home, but as the director of a diverse Community Garden in Greenwich, CT, I would encourage people to seek out a local community garden. An additional benefit not listed above is the community experience, which is as valuable and rewarding as growing your garden.
— March 4, 2011 @ 09:43
when can we get this
— March 4, 2011 @ 10:03
I was hoping farm in a box would have cows.
— March 4, 2011 @ 11:25
Tani thats a great idea. I can grow food in my back yard. but cows in a box, now that I would buy!
— March 4, 2011 @ 14:56
Annette and all of you who have asked–I will let you know as soon as these become available!
— March 4, 2011 @ 15:41
You make great points Patty. Community gardens are wonderful in so many ways–not just for the gardening experience, but as you say, but for becoming part of a community. I think EcoTech envisions this product as an inexpensive solution for people who may not have access to or time to be part of a community garden, or may not want to garden on a bigger scale. It is for those perhaps who need some food security and for whom growing at least some of their won food would provide that. Keep me posted on your community garden!
— March 4, 2011 @ 15:45
LOL Tani! That would require a really big box…:-)
— March 4, 2011 @ 15:46
I agree Victoria that taking the time to test things and being honest about the process is indeed a sign of integrity.
— March 4, 2011 @ 15:47
thanks for your thoughtful thoughts, robin. you are right, that there is a place for all kinds of gardening. and yeah, i think cow in a box is the next big thing!
not sure how else to keep you posted on the garden, so hope this is ok – we are just launching our website, armstrongcourtcommunitygarden.org and are listed on the american community gardening association site too.
— March 5, 2011 @ 12:50
Thank you Patti. I look forward to checking out the site and the gardens!
— March 13, 2011 @ 11:24
Ooooooooo! This is redefining cool! We’ve already been startling the neighbors with how lovely bok choy and beets can be in landscaping…I’d love to confront them with a poetry of lettuce all along the fence!
— March 29, 2011 @ 21:31
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— December 19, 2011 @ 15:03
great idea !!!
— March 21, 2012 @ 15:05
This is great â?? umbrella stands are unwieldy and ugly â?? this is so much better!
— August 17, 2012 @ 02:53
OK, it’s two years later…is it available yet???
— February 2, 2013 @ 23:58
OK, it’s two years later…is it available yet???
— February 2, 2013 @ 23:58
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— July 6, 2022 @ 09:38
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— March 3, 2025 @ 08:30
Your passion for the topic shines through in your writing.
— March 8, 2025 @ 07:29
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— March 15, 2025 @ 18:07
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— March 16, 2025 @ 07:34