Bitponics, A Kickstarter Project for Urban Gardeners

Having a garden is a great past time and hobby and it can get you some great benefits. However, it can’t be for everyone, especially those living in urban environments, where people don’t have the space or resources for a traditional soil garden. This has led to a rise in the popularity of hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil, and instead providing nutrients directly to the roots with a nutrient solution. This allows people, that live in city apartments, to have their own garden, but managing a hydroponic system can be difficult and it isn’t something everyone will understand how to do.

Trying to make the system less complex is a new Kickstarter project, Bitponics. The project is designed to have two parts, a sensor device and an online portion. You start by logging on and inputting what you’re trying to grow as well as what type of hydroponic system you have in place. You can then create your own growing plan, or let Bitponic do it for you. This plan will include things like how often to run water pumps, how much light to give them, and how to balance the nutrient solution. The sensors on the device will detect things like pH, temperature, water, and brightness; it will also notify you if anything is deviating away from your suggested growth plan as well as how to fix it.

The price point is slightly under $400, it may be steep for some, but Bitponics hopes enough people will buy in and create a community. This community of growers will be able to share their results and evaluate each other’s plans, which could prove very useful for amateurs just learning the basics.

"We created this project for everyone that loves plants. For people just starting their first garden and for old pros with experiences to share," said Amit Kumar (News - Alert), co-founder and lead software engineer of Bitponics. "In addition to helping people manage their own garden, we want to create that sense of community that gardens have always offered. A place for people to learn from each other, but with the knowledge structured in a smart way so it's super-easy for people to model their garden on proven successes. As the community grows, everyone's knowledge grows. And we all help each other make our world a little more green."

Amit’s dream is close to getting to its next phase, as the Kickstarter campaign is already halfway to its goal of $20,000, with 11 days to go. If you’re interested in this new take on urban gardening, then be sure to put in your pledge.