For many years, many of you have followed me as I planted my annual Salad Bowl. Using large planters, I would plant my spring and early summer salad greens and harvest them right from the "bowl." This year, I am taking a more technical approach with the Lettuce Grow unit by Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Penshenik. I saw this advertised via email marketing and read up on its mission.
The mission of Lettuce Grow is to provide fresh, clean, and unprocessed food to our table. Who wouldn't believe in this mission? I know that as I have dealt with more and more health issues, I have wanted to supply my body with the best nutrition available to me. Part of that is buying groceries that are grown within 100 miles of my house. Another part is to grow some of my own food. Lettuce Grow is helping me grow a lot of food in a small area of my backyard in the summer, and inside during the winter.
Another mission near and dear to this retired educator is this: The Lettuce Give program partners with the Whole Kids Foundation and schools, nonprofits, and community organizations to grant one Farmstand for every 10 sold. To that end, if you are interested in purchasing a Farmstand, use this code to save money on it! I'll get a perk, too! Use this code: FRIEND-WC3G
The Farmstand is a self-watering, self-fertilizing unit that can grow up to 36 plants. After some research, I decided to purchase the smallest unit for my husband and me, which will grow 12 plants. You need a water source, a level spot about 3 feet by 3 feet, a power source, and seedlings. When the kit arrives, you will receive the following: All the gear: Farmstand, water pump, power cord, and timer; Nutrients. Plant food for 130+ plants, Supplies, pH Testing Kit, pH Down for water health, stir stick, scoops, and a cute sticker. Directions for setup are included. In the 12 plant setup, I can grow any combination of the following: 3-6 Veggies, 3-6 Herbs, and 0-6 Leafy Greens.
The Farmstand is made from 80% ocean plastics and uses 95% less water than conventional gardening. It is BPA-free and FDA food grade. I feel very good about growing my family's vegetables in this unit!
It's so easy to set up. The directions are clear and well laid out. My husband assembled the unit in less than 20 minutes. We found a location and set it up. We set the timer, the hardest part of the project so far, and it was only about a 15-minute job. After we set the timer, which is what turns on the electric pump to water the veggies, we filled the container with water, added the nutrients, checked the Ph and "planted" the plants! It was so easy! I am excited to see what we grow this season!
Here are the choices we made to grow:
Mini CucumberWe chose a lot of the veggies that are harvested and grow again. We wanted a food supply that would run through the summer. The mini lettuces are the only plant that is a single serve and we will probably plant more of those in our raised bed garden.
I'll keep you posted on what we learn through this process, but in the meantime, for nostalgia's sake, enjoy these past Salad Bowl Garden posts:
I love this. It kind of reminds me of the strawberry pots that were so popular. GREAT idea! xo Diana
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