Gardening system helps families grow healthy food

Submitted by KERRI-LYNN NETKO

Kerri-Lynn Netko is part of a gardening effort that uses an aeroponic system to allow families to produce fruits, vegetables and herbs in less than two feet of gardening space and without soil.

The aeroponic system is a fully automated self-contained growing system with the same technology used by NASA that recycles and uses 98 percent less water, grows three times faster and provides 30 percent more yield as compared to conventional gardening in a small amount of growing space, without soil, and it waters itself.

“It comes with everything you need to get growing — including me as your guide. It is simple to set up, requires very little maintenance and turns either the back yard, porch, sunroom, rooftop, kitchen, balcony, patio, classroom or even the office into an indoor or outdoor year-round farmer’s market with no digging, weeding or manual labor required,” Netko said.

People of every age and ability can have the satisfaction of sustainably growing 20- plus varieties of plants at a time. There is even a teaching curriculum for growers in every age group. Children are more likely to eat what they participate in growing.

Netko said she became involved with the system after her son saw it at a friend’s house.

“Our 5-year-old saw it in a friend’s kitchen and asked if he could pick off some lettuce, then asked for more! That’s a parenting win. Also, a close family member had recently experienced a health crisis, and as a nurse I knew the importance of making our health a higher priority,” she said. “This was like the easy button and an effective way to get more good food into our bodies. I was tired of throwing out slimy bags of produce or buying herbs for one recipe and them drying out before I could use them all. We now have multiple vertical gardens and no longer have to make frequent trips to the grocery store. As a bonus, our family is saving money!”

She said her son did all of the planting, filled the bottom with water and the minerals provided and they plugged it in. She said he is now in first grade and orders salads for lunch at school. “Within two weeks we were enjoying fresh produce. It provides all of the rewards of a garden without any of the work, while at the same time caring about the planet and reducing our carbon footprint,” Netko said.

“We are all looking for convenience and this is the healthiest fast food available. It helps that this produce is in plain sight and because it is still living, both the aroma and flavor are incredible. Not many people realize that grocery store produce has lost about 50 percent of its nutritional value before it is even available for us to purchase,” she said.

When a person’s goal is eating well, it’s helpful to understand that most produce is picked weeks before it ripens, meaning it lacks the vitamins and minerals their bodies require, so it ends up being harder for peoples to get the nutrition they need.

Also, the system helps to avoid harmful chemicals being sprayed on what users eat, the use of genetically modified seeds, heavy metals and contaminants from the soil, or any recalls due to bacteria. “When we give our body higher quality nutrients, we get to enjoy greater wellbeing. Plus, it’s so fun clipping off what we are eating for our next meal and seeing it grow back in record time,” Netko said.

According to Netko, aeroponics is a failproof method that does not require any skill, so the person with a black thumb all the way to an avid and experienced gardener will find a lot of joy with it. It can be a great solution for someone without a lot of time or space as well.

The taste is fresh, airy, and crisp all at the same time because the roots are suspended and infused with oxygen, minerals and water all while getting to hear a peaceful waterfall.

“Previously, we have tried every method of gardening known to man and either did not have enough land or sunlight or had the garden overtaken by weeds, animals and pests after so much time watering and hard work invested. I have seen a growing desire for people to become more self-responsible in truly knowing where their food is coming from and having the ability to safely and efficiently provide for themselves or their family. With the continual rising prices of groceries and store shelves often being empty, being able to grow your own organic produce for pennies is a smart decision! And you aren’t limited to vegetables because you can also grow fruit, herbs, and flowers,” Netko said.

She said the system empowers families to improve their health and habits by growing their own wholesome foods. Whether making omelets for breakfast, salads or sandwiches for lunch, a stir-fry or soup for dinner, snacks, smoothies or juicing, there are endless ways to enjoy clean and nutrient-rich foods.

“We went on vacation last summer and returned after a couple of weeks to watermelon, spaghetti squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, eggplant, celery, parsley, dill, chocolate mint, stevia, snap peas, peppers, basil, okra, arugula, kale and more absolutely thriving,” she said.

The tower garden system can be found in community gardens, airports, restaurants, office cafeterias, retirement homes, schools and neighborhoods. “This is the future of gardening. Having the satisfaction of ‘I grew that’ and it being even better than farm to table is possible because you can’t get more locally sourced than this, and it is such a fun way to experience gardening 365 days a year,” Netko said.

For more information, visit www. fruitandveggielife.com.