In this experiment, a recycled glass container and a plastic water bottle are transformed into a basic Kratky (standing water) hydroponic system. As the simplest of all experiments provided on this website, it requires the fewest supplies and tools.

Reducing waste and energy consumption is a large part of our climate change response. This experiment is geared towards utilizing food-safe containers that would otherwise be recycled, keeping their embodied energy to produce food. It is the first experiment to use a water pump and flowing water to implement the nutrient film technique. It is also the first to get a bit more challenging in its construction. While this experiment provides a challenge, it will also provide a stable and efficient system that uses less water and less nutrients.

Upcycling is a great way to transform otherwise underutilized materials into a means to produce food. While only limited by the imagination, the possibilities are nearly endless. Experiment 5 demonstrates one possibility of an unused carport structure being transformed into a backyard hydroponic greenhouse using simple construction materials.

This experiment makes use of food-safe containers that would otherwise be recycled. It features a simple, low-cost introduction to hydroponics by using an aquarium air pump to aerate nutrient water. The added oxygen allows plant roots to grow faster and avoids an unwanted anaerobic environment.

This experiment demonstrates how we must rethink the way we grow and consume food. Food production through hydroponics should be incorporated even into the simplest aspects of our lives. Experiment 4 incorporates a simple hydroponic system within a retrofitted coffee table. While the possibilities are limitless, this coffee table focused on a budget-friendly modification to an existing piece of furniture.