grow your own
For the people and the planet
The market for Grow Your Own is gaining popularity at an exponential rate, with many different avenues opening up from hydroponics to technology-based smart growing.
W
ith people becoming more conscious of the environmental effects of their lifestyles, grow
your own is largely becoming a widespread hobby among consumers, and creating excellent opportunities for the garden industry. Industry members have said this to be primarily taken on by millennials and the younger generation, however it isn’t limited to different demographics and groups of consumers. Richard Hamilton, sales representative of
Eden Horticulture, says grow your own has a large number of benefits: “People now, and rightly so, are so much more conscious on the effect we are having on the planet and how food resources are being depleted. The younger generations especially are very aware that the time has come where we need to move toward a much more sustainable way of living and take a personal responsibility in preserving and protecting our environment. Grow your own also has benefits in terms of cost effectiveness, freshness, nutrition, quality of product and gives the opportunity to those who want to garden but previously did not have the means or space.” Eden horticulture promotes modern living by
promoting the benefits of hydroponic growing, which is the process of growing plants in sand, gravel or liquid, with added nutrients and water. Richard explains: “Indoor growing systems of all descriptions (including hydroponic systems) work by simulating the natural environment that a plant would grow in and the elements that it is exposed to, allowing you to manipulate conditions to produce bigger, better results, faster. You are simulating the perfect environment and creating an indoor
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garden where you have ultimate control over the light cycle (day to night), the strength of the light, the temperature inside your environment, and the humidity. Hydroponic or indoor growing offers you the potential to grow any plant, fruit, flower or vegetable you desire regardless on the season, weather or climate in which you live.” The ease of growing in this way has not only
seen plant growth, but market growth too, as Richard says the company has expanded to meet this demand: “From a company perspective we have, without doubt seen the market expand in the last 12 months with the number of hydroponics stockists growing rapidly. Here at Eden Horticulture we are the UK’s fastest growing hydroponics wholesaler,” he says. “We design, manufacture and distribute leading hydroponic products and brands throughout the UK and Europe. All of our products are tested to ensure maximum reliability and performance. Due to the companies continued growth and success, we have recently moved to a new facility to accommodate the company’s huge expansion.”
Veganism reinforces the trend Joe Denham, CEO of VegTrug says healthy eating and veganism supports the grow your own sector, he says: “Growing your own food at home continues to be a popular hobby for many reasons. Push back against pesticide use and the feeling of wellness in eating food you have produced yourself are all good reasons the trend continues. The hobby appeals to older people as well as children and everyone in between. The VegTrug and associated products have been leading this trend for the last 10 years.”
VegTrug developed the Grow Care range for
outdoor and indoor use, which is designed to be planted directly into the soil, and acts as a smart sensor which is connected to devices via bluetooth and provides information on soil moisture, fertility level, temperature and light intensity. Joe believes this type of technology will be popular as the grow your own sector develops: “People with no experience of growing their own or those that tend to ‘kill’ indoor plants appreciate the help that a smart monitor like Grow Care can offer them. Often overwatering or underwatering is to blame and this cannot be readily ‘seen’. Grow Care solves that issue and can be perceived as an expert in your pocket.” The plastic issue is encouraging lots of
people to grow their own produce, and Joe says this can only be a good thing: “I think the other benefits of growing your own food for health, finance and wellbeing are important, but the plastic issue is becoming more relevant as we learn the damage that is being done to our planet with the overuse of unnecessary packaging.” Richard agrees and thinks it continues to
spur the movement: “The environmental concerns that we are facing as a planet as a whole are one of the leading contributors to the rise of interest in the “grow your own” movement. The recent press coverage on the use of, and waste created by excess plastic packaging is definitely one of the concerns at the forefront of people's minds. Growing your own produce without doubt eliminates all plastic packaging as well as reducing the carbon footprint that would be otherwise made in the long distance transportation of your produce from farm, to shop, to home.”
GCU March/April 2019
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