i wanted to remove plastic from the equation so this is built entirely from fda approved materials.

i used food grade silicone tubing in black to reduce algae, food grade silicone sealant to connect tubing to bottom pots, terracotta pots that i sealed with beeswax, gaskets made from cork coasters, net pots made from foodgrade silicone muffin pans, a 5gal antique stoneware butter churn for a reservoir, stainless steel rod as a support for the tubing in the reservoir. i got seeds from organicseedpeople and started them in plugs around 2 weeks ago. they been under cree daylight leds from homedepot. i transplanted them to the wf 2 days ago and they seem to love it! no wilting or shock, in fact just the opposite.

in this window are 2 columns with 5 pots each. i have 4 windows of this size all facing east and, as you can see, a lovely view of a brick wall so next up will be filling all my windows with plants; not only will it be more productive but it’ll improve the view too.

cherry tomatos, basil, catnip, cree led supplemental light

basil, parsley, catnip, pepper

parsley

cherry tomatoes, basil

arugula

It occurred to me the other day that terracotta pots would be a good container for a window farm for the following reasons:

1. They already have a wide top opening and a center hole in the bottom.
2. Terracotta is a tough material that won’t degrade when exposed to sunlight or water.
3. They are opaque which will discourage algae growth.

The disadvantages are:

1. They are heavy, unless you use plastic flower pots.
2. They reduce the amount of recycled material used in construction.
3. Terracotta can chip, crack, or break, which would cause leaks.