Smart countertop farm promises fresh vegetables in just 8 days

People living in city center apartments probably won’t have access to an outdoor garden. That’s why growing your own vegetables can be a challenge. Technology can free your plants from crowded planters and put a microfarm in your kitchen.

Home Harvest is the latest contender in this indoor smart garden space, with two appliances designed to turn microgreens, herbs, and salads into something halfway between a countertop convenience and a gardening project.

The UK-based startup launched Harvest One and Harvest Three on Kickstarter, with the project team calling the system “the world’s smartest kitchen farm.”

The idea is much simpler than it seems. It automates most of the growing and then harvests small amounts of fresh produce just before eating. And according to the company, some crops can be ready in as little as eight days.

The system is designed to be quite simple to use. Lay out one of the pre-seeded soilless mats, fill the water tank, scan or select the crop in the app, then close the door and let the system do the rest. Full spectrum LED lighting, watering, temperature, humidity and airflow are automatically controlled, with an HD camera, circulation fan and built-in sensors monitoring conditions.

The app provides real-time monitoring, harvest reminders, and recipe ideas, plus a vacation mode to slow down growth while you’re away. If you prefer, you can also use your own seeds and growing media, so you are not locked into Home Harvest’s own mats.

The smaller Harvest One uses a single tray and is aimed at one or two people. It measures 36.4 x 31.3 x 42 cm (14.3 x 12.3 x 16.5 inches) and consumes about 25 W of power. The larger Harvest Three has the same base footprint, but measures more than twice as tall at 32 inches (81.3 cm), adds three trays and a 3.5 L water tank, and fits into homes of three to five people. Both products use the same underlying configuration and will be available in six different colors.

It’s debatable whether Home Harvest is truly the “world’s smartest” kitchen farm, given existing options like AGWA’s camera-based climate control or LG’s Tiiun smart garden. This system, on the other hand, is distinguished by a fully enclosed, climate-controlled cabinet and a launch catalog featuring more than 38 crop varieties and eight select blends.

Your Health Companion can also suggest crops and recipes based on the wellness goals you choose (although it’s important not to treat these recommendations as medical guidance).

The project also has an unusual engineering story behind it. A specially adapted solar-powered prototype traveled more than 8,000 nautical miles, over almost six months, across the Pacific with rowers Jess Rowe and Miriam Payne, providing them with fresh vegetables throughout the journey. The company makes it clear that this was independent of consumption models, although it appears to have played a role in the evolution of the product.

Kickstarter pledge levels currently start at £249 (around US$330) for the single-tray model and £299 (around US$400) for the three-tray version, with first deliveries estimated for February 2027. Home Harvest’s pre-seeded mats will be an ongoing consumable cost, although you can avoid that ecosystem by sourcing your own seeds and growing media.

All crowdfunding campaigns carry an element of risk, and backing a well-developed Kickstarter is not the same as purchasing a ready-made finished product. This is also Home Harvest’s first Kickstarter, and the startup says the concept has been proven with more than a year of testing in homes, restaurants, and schools. The design is assured, but things like tooling, certifications, and volume manufacturing need cash backing. If all goes according to plan, manufacturing is scheduled to begin in December.

Source: Kickstarter

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