#kratky

[turtlesandfrogs]

It occurred to me that I hadn't talked about my malabar spinach on here, or at least I don't think I did.

So, basically, I wanted to try out a kind of hydroponics called the kratky method, and I found out I liked malabar spinach, so I stripped the leaves off a few stems and put them in an aquarium that I'd picked up from a free pile, and

They seem to be doing pretty well! Along with the Thai basil I also started from stems. Still learning how to do it well, but it's been a fun project so far. I haven't harvested any leaves yet, and I have a feeling I should figure out a better plan for the vines than "let them dangle".

[justfacilitatinglife]

Small Container Veggies for Table Decor

Hello and welcome back to Just Facilitating Life! Today, I’m excited to share a creative and practical idea that blends my passion for gardening with my professional life as a restaurant manager.

Transforming Our Patio Space

Like many businesses, our restaurant had to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of our most significant changes was setting up a spacious and inviting outdoor patio. It looks fantastic, but I wanted to add a touch of decor that would align with our brand’s emphasis on fresh, healthy, and local food.

The Initial Idea: Flowers

My first thought was to adorn the tables with flowers. They’re beautiful and add a pleasant ambiance, but maintaining fresh flowers can be quite a task. Cut flowers would need replacing every few days, which seemed impractical.

The Epiphany: Edible Decor

Then it hit me—why not grow vegetables as table decor? It would perfectly complement our farm-to-table concept. But the challenge was to do it in small, aesthetically pleasing containers.

Experimenting with Mason Jars

Initially, I considered using mason jars for a hydroponic setup. However, mason jars require a covering to prevent algae growth in the nutrient solution, which didn’t fit the rustic look I envisioned.

The Perfect Solution: Rustic Metal Milk Containers

A stroke of luck came when I visited a 99 cent store that was closing down. I found charming rustic metal milk containers labeled "Flower and Garden." They were perfect for our decor theme, and they were on sale! I bought every single one.

Overcoming the Leaky Containers

Excitedly, I brought them home, only to find that they leaked. Not ready to give up, I inserted food saver bags inside the containers, securing them with mason jar lid rings. This improvised solution worked perfectly, making the containers watertight.

Planting the Seedlings

With my containers ready, I planted a mix of lettuce seedlings. The result was adorable table decor that grows right before your eyes. I also planted a cucumber and placed it on a shelf in our patio area. The cucumber thrived, even producing fruit! I left one on the vine a bit too long, and it started to turn yellow, but that just added to the charm.

The Kratky Method: Low Maintenance

For these setups, I used the Kratky method, a simple form of hydroponics that doesn’t require pumps or electricity. Once set up, I didn’t have to refill the nutrient solution for the entire six-week lifecycle of the lettuce. It was incredibly low maintenance.

Rotating the Crops

Today, I’m refreshing our decor by replacing the lettuce with bok choy, dwarf tomatoes, and ornamental Thai chili pepper seedlings. These new plants will not only enhance our patio’s aesthetic but also spark conversation among our guests about our commitment to fresh, local produce.

Final Thoughts

Creating these small container veggie displays has been a rewarding experience. It marries my passion for gardening with our restaurant’s ethos, providing a unique and sustainable touch to our outdoor dining space. I hope this inspires you to think creatively about how you can incorporate plants into your decor, whether at home or in your business.

Stay tuned for more gardening tips and stories from my journey. Until next time, happy growing!

[michaelpaulhenderson]

Micro Tom tomatoes. #michaelpaulhenderson #theparkwaygarden #microtomato #kratky https://www.instagram.com/p/CqoS1SOATin/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[atomic-chronoscaph]

The Pied Piper (1986)

[hydroponicgardeninglove]

Hydroponics: The Kratky Method: The Cheapest And Easiest Hydroponic System For Beginners Who Want To Grow Plants Without Soil

Hydroponics: The Kratky Method: The Cheapest And Easiest Hydroponic System For Beginners Who Want To Grow Plants Without Soil

Hydroponics: The Kratky Method: The Cheapest And Easiest Hydroponic System For Beginners Who Want To Grow Plants Without Soil Product Description & Features: Locale : en_US Name : Guides Demeter Role : Author Kindle EditionDigital Ebook Purchas *** Estimated Price: $5.98 Shop now at Amazon.com – CLICK HERE for more product details including updated prices, images & customer reviews Affiliate…

[lordpufik]

Kratky and Yoshka

Порисульки

[bumblebeeappletree]

The Kratky Method was first published in a paper in 2009 by B.A. Kratky, and describes a beautiful method of growing plants in a non-circulating hydroponic system. It's a very simple, yet effective, way to grow plants hydroponically. Great for leafy greens like lettuce, kale, spinach, and a variety of herbs.

I've even seen people do Kratky tomatoes or Kratky cucumbers, though I haven't grown them myself (yet)!

IN THIS VIDEO

→ Full Article: http://www.epicgardening.com/the-krat...

→ The Original Paper: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawaii/do...

-→ 5 Gallon Bucket: http://amzn.to/2avdVgM

→ Net Pots: http://amzn.to/2aym4Pc

→ Hydroponic Nutrients: http://amzn.to/2am0B8W

[yhancik]

What kind of cinema is appropriate for the age of Palm Pilot and Google? Automatic surveillance and self-guided missiles? Consumer profiling and CNN? To investigate this question, Lev Manovich, one of today's most influential thinkers in the fields of media arts and digital culture, paired with award-winning new media artist and designer Andreas Kratky. They have also invited contributions from leaders in other cultural fields: DJ Spooky, Scanner, George Lewis, and Johann Johannsson (music), servo (architecture), Schoenerwissen/OfCD (information visualization), and Ross Cooper Studios (media design). The results of their three-year explorations are the three "films" presented on this DVD. Although the films resemble the familiar genres of cinema, the process by which they were created demonstrates the possibilities of soft(ware) cinema. A "cinema," that is, in which human subjectivity and the variable choices made by custom software combine to create films that can run infinitely without ever exactly repeating the same image sequences, screen layouts and narratives. Mission to Earth, a science fiction allegory of the immigrant experience, adopts the variable choices and multi-frame layout of the Soft Cinema system to represent "variable identity." Absences is a lyrical black and white narrative that relies on algorithms normally deployed in military and civilian surveillance applications to determine the editing of video and audio. Texas, a "database narrative," assembles its visuals, sounds, narratives, and even the identities of its characters, from multiple databases. The DVD was designed so that every viewing of each film generates a different version.

[smgardener]

[justfacilitatinglife]

Squash, Seasons, and Skylar: A Family Tradition Through the Years

It feels like just yesterday I was chasing after Skylar as a toddler, and now, here she is—my growing, curious 3rd grader, standing tall next to a display of heirloom squash at the Heirloom Expo in Ventura. Yesterday, I had the chance to take her to the expo with her mom, and it was such a special day exploring rare varieties of fruits and vegetables, along with checking out the impressive poultry exhibit together.

But the moment that really stuck with me was when I snapped a photo of Skylar next to a vibrant squash display. It made me pause and think about how quickly time flies. As summer comes to an end, we find ourselves entering the reflective season of fall—a time of change and harvest. The shifting seasons always get me thinking about what to plant in my growing zone, and squash always finds its way to the top of the list.

It’s funny to look back through the years and realize how many times Skylar has posed next to a squash. It’s become a bit of an unintentional tradition. Each year, she grows taller, and the squash displays get more colorful, yet the joy of being out in nature, learning about the earth’s bounty, and spending time with my family never changes.

Fall has always been one of my favorite times of the year—a season of harvesting and preparing, of making plans for the next growing season. It’s a reminder of the cycles we go through—both in nature and in life. And as Skylar continues to grow, I’m grateful for these little moments that remind me to pause, reflect, and enjoy the harvest, both in my garden and in life.

Here’s to another season of growth and many more photos of Skylar, her mom, and their beloved squash!

[musclemanmontage]

[michaelpaulhenderson]

Lettuce in a tote. #michaelpaulhenderson #saladnight #theparkwaygarden #kratky (at East Memphis, Memphis) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpjPGTvtb1B/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theaskew]

Cestmir Kratky (Czech 1932-2016), From the series Catastrophes, 1963. Silver print, 30 x 20.5 cm. | 11¾ x 8 1/8 in.

[grouchydairy]

the kratky method, I am trying