No green thumb to speak of? That’s no problem at all if you have a completely self-sustaining garden. And that appears to be what Atlanta-based startup Replantable is promising with its Nanofarm, a glass box that lets you grow food (or rather, grows food for you) in your home.
Perhaps the most foolproof in-home gardening solution to date, the Nanofarm claims to take 100 percent of the guesswork out of farming in your kitchen. All you have to do is decide what you want to grow, and this little contraption does the rest. Start by choosing a crop to grow, then order the appropriate plant pad from the Replantable website. These pads, made of “multiple layers of paper and fabric,” contain seeds and customized nutrients for your plant of choice. Because there’s no soil involved, these pads won’t become a safe haven for insect eggs or bacteria like E. coli.
From there, all you have to do is ensure that the Nanofarm’s removable tray is filled with water, whereupon you’ll place the plant pad on top. Then, once you’ve slid the tray into place, you’ll be ready to start using the controls on the Nanofarm. It’s not rocket science — there are just two options on the contraption. The weeks dial allows you to set your growth cycle to the appropriate number as indicated on your plant pad, whereas the start button begins the growing process. When the harvest light turns on, it’s harvest time.
The tray is dishwasher safe, so once you’re finished with one growing cycle, you can wash it and use it again. And because of the Nanofarm’s modular design, you can purchase multiple units, stack them atop one another (up to four units high), and always come home to fresh produce.
Currently, you can preorder a Nanofarm from Kickstarter for $350, with an estimated delivery date of October of next year. So if you’re looking for a way to introduce more fresh greenery into your life, this may just be the place to start.