Forget the Supermarket: This Indoor Garden Could Feed Your Family Year-Round

Former orchestra conductor Mattias Lepp saw a pressing need for sustainable food solutions and envisioned indoor gardens as the answer. His innovative idea was to create a farmer’s market in a box, allowing people to grow their own fresh produce at home. In 2018, Lepp founded Click & Grow to turn this vision into reality. The company's mission focuses on combating future food shortages through accessible and efficient indoor gardening technology.

Click & Grow successfully raised $11 million to develop cutting-edge materials and hardware for their indoor gardens. This significant investment underscores the potential and promise of their hyper-local farming approach. The team has been dedicated to creating advanced technologies that make indoor gardening both easy and effective. These innovations ensure that growing fresh, nutrient-rich greens is accessible to households around the world.

Lepp describes his technology as 'hyper-local farming,' emphasizing the importance of producing food right where it’s consumed. Unlike traditional vertical farms that still rely on long supply chains, Click & Grow eliminates many inefficiencies such as waste and transport emissions. By growing food at home, the system ensures fresher produce while minimizing environmental impact. This approach sets Click & Grow apart in the market of sustainable food production.

The Click & Grow 25 is the latest product offering, currently available through Kickstarter for $399 for early backers. This compact system includes a sturdy frame, containers, and specialized lights designed to support plant growth. Plants are grown in earth nuggets similar to coffee pods, simplifying the planting process. The Smart Soil pods provide the right amount of nutrients, and the system automatically waters the plants, making home gardening effortless.

Lepp aimed to make the Click & Grow 25 as small and user-friendly as possible. Designed to fit into limited living spaces, the system can occupy just 80 square feet of wall space, making it ideal for urban apartments. The ease of use ensures that even those with busy lifestyles can successfully grow a portion of their food at home. Additionally, an accompanying app notifies users when to add water and when the greens are ready to harvest, enhancing convenience.

Click & Grow 25 represents a significant step forward in sustainable home gardening, offering a practical solution to future food challenges. With over $227,000 already pledged on Kickstarter, the product has garnered strong support and interest. Scheduled to ship in February 2022, the Click & Grow 25 is poised to help families and individuals grow their own fresh produce with minimal effort. This innovation not only addresses the need for sustainable food sources but also fits seamlessly into modern, urban lifestyles.