Windowfarms is one of the coolest hydroponic projects that I’ve seen in a long time. It’s a simple DIY drip system that is made from recycled materials, specifically built for placement in a window. The garden has a flexible design but is generally uses plastic waterbottles, with plants growing in hydroton or other lightweight soilless media. Each plant hangs above the next, and a simple pump waters and feeds liquid nutrients.

The project began as a response to the idea of vertical urban farming. Instead of waiting for the agricultural model to change it’s infrastructure, Windowfarms encourages individuals grow cheap food in their owns homes now. But beyond hydroponics, Windowfarms is a great example of a web 2.0 online community. According to the short video I watched on their site, the founders, Britta Riley and Rebecca Ray are determined to build a crowdsourced platform that creates widespread social change. Users are encouraged to sign up, download instructions and build their Windowfarm. Growers then troubleshoot their gardens online with feedback and guidance from other members. With support from a network of users, it becomes natural for participants to innovate and evolve the Windowfarm project.

To learn more, or get involved, visit the Windowfarm website. The project takes full advantage of social networking as well, with a Flickr page, a kickstarter page for funding, and twitter.

Photos by Nicholas R. Clark