I designed Grow Floats so that everyone can bring the freshness of herbs and vegetables in to their kitchen and have access to healthy, organic food year around.
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Simple Beginnings
Grow Floats started with an idea where I could use hydroponics to grow fresh vegetables and herbs in my own kitchen or out on my deck and be able to pick and use them anytime I wanted year around. It has evolved into a project to make hydroponic growing more simple and accessible for everyone to use. Something that everyone can have in their kitchen for fresh and healthy food, without all the complexities of large growing systems, extensive water pumps, accidental flooding or an advanced understanding of fluid dynamics.
The first system I made was too large for a normal kitchen, but it worked extremely well, and provided for more lettuce and greens than my family and I could consume. I started my Grow Float system in flat trays (as shown above) and later modified them to a closed flat tray. My basil, pepper, and tomato plants quickly outgrew the flat tray system... growing 3' high or more, and required a Grow Float design that would fit in buckets of various sizes. With the basil and peppers, what we didn't use in great batches of pesto or salsa, we dried so as not to wast it. As for the basil, we rarely use what we dried because we have an ever ready supply of fresh basil always on hand.
I experimented with a number of materials for the Grow Float, as well as a number of shapes and sizes. In the beginning, Styrofoam was my material of choice.... easy to cut and shape, light weight and buoyant, but it could not be professionally finished and more importantly, it slowly absorbed water, becoming a little mushy .... and became dirty quickly.
After much trial and testing I have solved the material problem with a heavy duty, closed cell foam that is durable, can finish well, is safe and will not allow for unwanted growth. Next came the refining of the shape and size.
Because many plants do well in small spaces, others get quite a bit bigger and just need the weight support below of a larger container, so the plant does not tip over. I have created the first of three designs for the Grow Float to fit both in a kitchen counter top container ... or to work equally well in a larger container such as a 3 gallon or 5 gallon bucket. These larger plants (such as tomatoes or cucumbers that want to climb and become top heavy) do extremely well. While these larger plants grow well in a standard Grow Float, they are better suited for the Grow Float Max which with funding, I hope to be able to make available soon, however, don't hesitate to use the Grow Float with these plants... just use the larger sizing rings and baskets.
Container Sizes
The kitchen counter top container (1 1/2 gallon) is the perfect size to grow most herbs, greens and smaller vegetables. For this reason it is the size I want to first develop. Right now I hand cut each container to size, sand the outer and inner surface, polish the edges, air brush the color on and then hand trim each piece. Your support will allow me to injection mold to the final designed shape, and incorporate the color right into the product .... making for a stronger, longer lasting product. The container now is made of safe and stable plastic, however, with your help and the creation of new molds, the finished product will be made from safe, food grade plastic. One container, holding three plants, will supply most of your cooking and salad garnishes. With your help, multiple colors will be available to fit in to your home decor.
With two or three counter top containers you can rotate your plantings and never be without fresh salad ... harvesting one or two heads of lettuce a week along with fresh herbs or other greens.
For larger plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc. you may want a larger container (3 gallon) or a patio size container (5 gallon). The grow float works just as well in any size.
Grow Float Disks
Grow Float discs use a new design for hydroponics to allow you to grow year around. Each disc will hold three plants and will support growth from a seed to supporting larger plants. I initially created prototypes of the float out of Styrofoam but found this was not as durable as I would like. The Grow Floats were next hand cut out of closed cell foam. I have now found that an NC machining process, using the high quality closed cell foam gives me the quality and durability that I desire for the final product. Mostly air, the Grow Float will support even heaver plants, floating on the nutrient solution, but not absorbing any liquid or allowing unwanted growth.
Sizing Rings
The Grow Float disc is specially designed to hold a custom fit "sizing ring". The sizing rings come in different sizes depending on plant size and growth. At this time, they are individually hand cut and polished to fit the Grow Float and the individual baskets. Your support in helping me fund this this project will allow me to create a custom mold so that these parts can be injection molded for a consistent, quality, product.
For really large plants, and with your help in funding, I soon hope to introduce the "Grow Float Max". A disk able to hold a single plant of really large size.
Grow Baskets
Within each sizing ring is a grow basket. Start with a seed in the grow basket and as it grows the roots hang down into the hydroponic grow solution. The sizing ring allows the root ball to grow, and when you are ready to harvest your plant... it allows for easy access and removal of the root structure.
Most herbs and vegetables will not need to be up-sized, but if you have a plant that does get bigger, you can easily transfer it to a larger grow basket and sizing ring.
Grow Medium
The Grow Float system will be supplied with clay beads, however can work well with any grow medium of your choosing.... clay beads, glass beads, rock, sand, or rockwool.
Aerator Assembly
The mini aerator that is included in the set up, adds needed oxygen to the water solution. I have created the above clear grow float container as an example only to show how air is introduced into the system. Normal Grow Float containers are not clear. At this time, the air supply line is introduced into the back of the system through a special gasket (seen in the video above and the picture below).
The final container will not have this gasket but will have a line that enters from the top of the container, yet still under the lid.
In the video, notice the Grow Float and baskets floating on the water. Over time, as the plant uses up water, the grow float will slowly lower with the water level. Just add water as needed, but for most plant life cycles, this will not be needed until the plant is very large and ready to harvest. The air only needs to run a few minutes each day and if desired, can be plugged into a timer to turn on for a few minutes twice a day. However, the system is so quiet and energy efficient, you can leave it on constantly and not be aware that it's running. If you don't want electricity at all... a mini bulb pump will supply all of the oxygen needs with just two or three squeezes of the bulb pump a day.
Nutrient Solution
The kitchen counter top container only requires 2 teaspoons of organic hydroponic nutrient solution per growing cycle. Add the solution to the water filled container and your plants are ready to grow. Unlike large commercial systems that nourish hundreds or even thousands of plants, your solution can be easily changed after a few months and the harvesting of a number of cycles. Because of the size, which is suited for home use, you will most likely not need to monitor Ph and ppm as is done in commercial operations. If you like, you can choose to use your own hydroponic nutrient solution (found in most nurseries and plant stores today).
Just Some Of The Things You Can Grow With Hydroponics
- Lettuce (most kinds)
- Spinach
- Peppers
- Egg plant
- Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Strawberries
- Basil
- Parsley
- Thyme
- Mint
- Oregano
- Chives
- Much more
How The Funds Will Be Used
$14,000 dollars of the initial funds will be used in making molds for the container, lid and rings. Because of their size, there is considerable expense in just the manufacture and material of the various molds alone. These are outsourced expenses and will go out immediately to the manufacturers of the tooling. Once the molds are made, the injected parts, while still somewhat expensive due to their size (container and lid especially) will become more affordable to produce. The grow float is laser NC cut and makes up about 20% of the overall cost. Other smaller parts, grow medium and nutrient solution make up the remaining costs. The amount I am seeking from supporters will make up about 60% of the overall expense of the project. The remaining 40% are funds that I will continue to put in to see the project through.
If additional funds are raised that exceed the $18,000 dollar goal, this will be used to develop additional products and accessories that I have planned. Your support in this will allow me to establish a greater market plan and, hopefully, introduction into a retail environment.
None of these supporter generated funds will be used for my living expenses. I will continue to work at my regular job and supporter funds will go exclusively to the development of the project.
Risks and challenges
I hand make each Grow Float and their counter top containers at this time. I am hoping to be able to create molding to simplify the process so that I can produce higher quantities for distribution worldwide (hence my Kickstarter project : ). Raising funds for the custom molding is the goal. With custom molding, I will be able to produce the highest quality Grow Float system possible, while maintaining a cost effective model that will allow Grow Floats to be sold at the most competitive price.
However, anytime a project is put into the hands of a manufacturer you set the stage for potential delays and set backs. If any delay or set back should occur, you can rest assured that you will have 100% transparency from me. When I know, so will you. After all, your purchase of a Grow Float system allows me the opportunity to professionally mold and mass produce Grow Floats. You are a part of my dream and creation, by funding me through this process. To that, I will work tirelessly to make sure you receive your product on time, or as close to it as humanly possible!
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Funding period
- (45 days)