Project Springtime: grow delicious veggies in your backyard with open-source-style hydroponics

Virtually Maker Faire 2020

May 22nd-23rd

The grocery store isn't as well-filled these days. And who knows who sneezed on the veggies?

Let's grow our own veggies instead. In our backyard, using minimum space and no soil; from easily obtainable parts (hardware store, some on-line orders), using open-source-style instructions for construction and maintenance, this DIY deep-water hydroponics system has room for about 70 plants.

Inspired by somebody else's exhibit at Maker Faire Bay Area last year, I built my own system last summer and extended it once the virus got closer. Everything is documented on Gitlab, and it has its own website https://www.project-springtime.org/ . In the simplest form, it has no electronics, but lately I have added a solar panel, a Pi and an ESP32.

Some of what I grow, and you can, too: lettuce, basil, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, kohlrabi, beans, and various herbs.

In this session, I'll give an overview and, tech gods willing, will give you a live tour. There will be plenty of time for Q&A. Sorry, I can't let you taste :-) but trust me, it tastes better than any veggies I have ever tasted from any source.