Why do you grow herbs indoors? For most of us, it's a mundane yet symbolic act: that little pot of seedlings in damp soil on the windowsill tells the world that you're part of the grow-your-own movement, a locavore, a mini-allotmenteer, even if your two sprigs of parsley don't stretch to many meals. Still, growing herbs doesn't cost a lot, and if you get good at it, cultivating some basil and parsley could even save you some cash on those pots of supermarket herbs.
But what if you aren't so keen on getting your hands dirty or, god forbid, squishing the occasional aphid? The Power Plant Growing Machine could be the answer if you have £34.95 to spare. Over to UK distributor Firebox.com to explain how it works:
A result of pioneering Nasa technology (what wasted billions?) this mains-powered box of magic lets you grow plants, all season, without soil. Monty flippin' Don! It's ideal for all you garden-less concrete jungle-ites. You'll be snipping off bits of basil, admiring your pansies and scoffing strawberries before you can say 'aeroponics'.
You can watch a video of the Power Plant Growing Machine (with obligatory iPod-style casing) in action and read a blog about it too. The Nasa bit is down to aeroponics (not to be confused with hydroponics) which involves growing plants in air, spraying their roots with nutrient-rich water in a tightly-controlled environment. According to this Daily Mail story, the nutrient mix, which needs regular topping up, is not organic but "completely wholesome".
I'm in two minds about the Power Plant: perhaps it's a good way to encourage people who love gadgets who'd never venture into a garden centre to grow plants, but on the other hand, surely it's another unnecessary, wasteful gadget that will sit gathering dust in the kitchen alongside the smoothie machine and breadmaker?
What do you think? Do we really need Nasa technology and mains powered devices to grow basil in Basildon or parsley in Paisley? Would you buy a Power Plant?
