http://ask.metafilter.com/tags/frenchbeans Questions tagged with 'frenchbeans' at Ask MetaFilter. Wed, 17 Jan 2007 01:26:04 -0800 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 01:26:04 -0800 en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://ask.metafilter.com/55184/Hydroponic%2Dandor%2Dsolarpowered%2Dcontainer%2Dgardening Solar-powered and/or hydroponic apartment gardening: have you done it or something like it? Do you like or dislike any commercial solar kits or hydroponics kits, or suppliers of seeds &amp; equipment for container gardening? I'm good with plants, but I haven't gardened with a focus on producing food since I was a kid. I've started doing research on container gardening, minimal solar systems, and hydroponics -- both on mefi &amp; elsewhere. I'm looking to set up a system that will pay for itself within a couple of years (cost of all the gear vs. what I'd pay for the amount of organic produce it produces), so we're probably talking under $1000.<br> <br> So this question is about putting those three elements together with budget as a big factor, and about specific crops to try. I'm thinking cherry tomatoes, strawberries, basil, mint -- generally, any stuff I like that's both expensive to buy organic and decently efficient to grow in a container.<br> <br> Have you done this or anything like it?? What were your successes &amp; failures? Do you recommend any particular suppliers of hydroponic kits, solar kits, or seeds?<br> <br> For reference: I'm in NYC, facing south-by-southwest with sun all day; I pay for my own electricity; and I have only a fire escape (no balcony), so I can only put very minimal amounts of stuff outside -- we're talking shallow windowboxes plus hydroponic containers just inside the windows with additional (artificial) lighting. Thanks for all thoughts! tag:ask.metafilter.com,2007:site.55184 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 01:26:04 -0800 apartment basil frenchbeans garden gardening greenbeans greenhouse hydroponic solar solarpower strawberry tomato window windowbox allterrainbrain