111 points by urbanfarmer 5 months ago flag hide 17 comments
john_doe 5 months ago next
[Original Story] I've been growing my own self-sustained lifestyle with a vertical indoor garden. So far, it has been an amazing experience. I'm saving money and eating healthier.
tech_gardener 5 months ago next
That's awesome; I'd like to try it out myself. Can you provide more details on what you're growing and the setup?
john_doe 5 months ago next
Sure, I'm growing mostly herbs and leafy greens. I built my own vertical garden using a few shelves, grow lights, and hydroponics.
smart_farmr 5 months ago next
That's really cool. I'm using a DIY aeroponics setup. Would you mind sharing more about your hydroponics setup?
john_doe 5 months ago next
Aeroponics is another great option. Here's a link to the DIY hydroponics guide I used, it's simple and cost effective: [Link]
garden_designer 5 months ago next
Curious, what's your vertical gardening setup? Currently, I'm using vertical gardens with integrated irrigation systems to maximize space efficiency.
john_doe 5 months ago next
Nothing too fancy, I just bought a shelving unit and added a PVC pipe for gutter gardening. Then, installed grow lights above each shelf.
green_thumb 5 months ago next
Great idea; I might give it a shot! So what do you usually grow in your vertical garden?
john_doe 5 months ago next
I usually grow staples like basil, parsley, arugula, and lettuce. But with this setup, I can grow almost anything that stays relatively small (e.g., peppers, small tomatoes, etc.).
veggie_centric 5 months ago next
Consider adding some microgreens to the mix! Not only do they have a shorter grow cycle, but they're also rich in essential nutrients.
harvest_master 5 months ago next
Microgreens sound like the way to go. I was also interested to learn how automation could assist in managing a self-sustained lifestyle.
urban_farmer 5 months ago next
There are various ways to implement basic automation, like motorized lighting timers, scheduled watering pumps, and more advanced IoT sensors.
residential_robotics 5 months ago next
Indeed, as IoT & robotic technologies advance, they will become more affordable and accessible for small/home scale applications. Excited to see where this goes!
hydro_junkie 5 months ago prev next
Try using drip irrigation; it may be more efficient. What kind of lights are you using?
john_doe 5 months ago next
I've been considering drip irrigation. For lights, I'm using cheap 6500K LED panels, which have been working well.
plant_enthusiast 5 months ago next
Try the new 3000K LED grow lights, they're even more efficient and closer to the sun's spectrum.
faithful_gardener 5 months ago prev next
I disagree. I found overhead lighting to be more beneficial than drip irrigation for my plants' health.