Berlin – Start-up company Infarm turned to Swedish design studio Tomorrow Machine for the design of its first product, a miniature greenhouse that makes it easy for anyone to grow microgreens.
The recyclable plastic greenhouse folds into the shape of a teepee – it was inspired by the art of origami – and is semi-transparent so users can view the whole growing process. To grow a batch of microgreens – healthy, tiny green leaves that haven’t matured into vegetables – users simply have to mix agar-agar powder with water to create a gel, and then scatter the seeds. The agar-agar powder provides all of the nutrients needed while the enclosed greenhouse creates the ideal environment for growth. After 10–14 days, the greens are ready to be harvested, to be added to salads and other dishes.
Infarm wants to encourage city dwellers to consider where their food comes from and sees the Microgarden Growing Kit as a starting point for those who want to grow their own food in an urban environment. In our Rurban Revolution macrotrend, we predicted the rise of such companies that would facilitate a new kind of rural living suited to the city.