No Fuss Aquaponic Garden Is Finally Here And To Stay
Conscious grocery shopping is a noble thing to do. It benefits both, the people behind the produce and yourself, as the consumer. Yet, do you really know what’s behind your organic bananas, your fair trade coffee or your clothing made in your home country? Let’s face it, if you do not actively do some intensive research yourself chances are high that you, in reality, barely have any clue. Three young and energetic entrepreneurs are about to change this state of uncertainty at least in one aspect by relocating our source of fresh food away from supermarket aisles into our very own living rooms.
In an attempt to make this world a better place, where the food we eat is not poisoned with pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers or genetic manipulation, Josh Rittenberg, Ben-Yam Barshi and Jared Kasner have created the Aqualibrium Garden, possibly the garden of the future. It is an easy-to-assemble-and-to-maintain gardening system based on an aquaponic and hydroponic system. A brief explanation: In aquaponic systems, fish and plants live in a symbiotic relationship where “the fish take care of the plants and the plants take care of the fish and the human gets to enjoy the benefits”. When used as an hydroponic system the garden doesn’t need the fish and, instead, nutrients are simply added to a water tank that is connected to the grow bed.
The Aqualibrium Garden covers an area of 2 square feet per piece, which can provide one person with enough nutritionial vegetables and fruits. It consists of two user-friendly modules that are based on the design of futurist Jacque Fresco, which can be mounted onto each other interchangeably. They are made of UV-protected, scratch-resistant and transparent plastic so you can follow the growth of your plants day by day. Plant lovers who have been unsuccessful in the past will also find use in the Aqualibrium Garden because it is entirely self-cleaning and self-watering, making gardening a piece of cake for everyone. The possibilities virtually expand to whatever your tummy desires. No effort, all your around.
The best thing about the Aqualibrium Garden? You know exactly where your food is coming from. It is as organic and local as it can get because all the food is coming straight from your home. There are no labels to lure you. Instead, there are no labels at all – just like in real nature. Wow, mind-blowing, we know. Though aquaponics and hydroponics are no new concepts in the urban gardening sector the Aqualibrium Garden has the potential to make these forms of self-sustainable gardening accessible and affordable for everyone, which, in turn, could revolutionize the entire supply chain of fresh produce. If everyone had his or her very own garden at home, on the long run, it will not only save a lot of money but it will give their owners full control of what they eat, making organic food the norm and pushing poisonous foods off the market. In addition, people will reconnect to the plants, re-appreciate the growth of food and learn something new about plants with hands-on experience within their own walls. It is, therefore, not only a source of food but also an educational tool for all ages alike.
The prototype of the Aqualibrium Garden has already proved to be very successful as it is growing beautifully edible plants in abundancy. To fully realize their dream, however, Josh, Ben-Yam and Jared have been looking for funds for the full production of the Aqualibrium Garden. With the help of the crowdfunding website Kickstarter they have now successfully met and exceeded their goal of USD 108,000 so hopefully production will start very soon.
