TreeHugger Picks: Grow Your Own Food
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA 
on 04.10.06
As TreeHuggers, carefully choosing the foods we eat is one of the easiest ways to live green and stay modern. There are lots of ways to do this, from sustainable to organic to vegetarian, but one of our favorites is to eat local foods (and judging by this survey, you readers agree), and it doesn't get more local than growing your own. It's gaining popularity as an alternative to the crapshoot that can occur when buying conventional food; here are our favorite ways to eat as local as it gets.
1) Hydroponic gardening is a great alternative for those short on space and sunlight
2) Mushrooms will grow just about anywhere, including your desk at work.
3) The Hortuba table allows you to grow fresh veggies with just one square meter of space.
4) Aeroponic gardening is the waterless cousin of hydroponic; just drop the pod in place and wait a couple weeks for your own indoor garden to grow.
5) Local Harvest is a great resource if your green thumb can't get anything to grow.
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This is especially helpful for city dwellers uncomfortable with gardening.
I just wrote a post, Grow Something, on this topic and linked to this post in the comments. Thanks for the tips!
Spring is coming!! Please consider telling folks about our Vegetable Gardening Slide Chart.
Chart has a sliding frost line, works all over North America and comes with a
National listing of frost dates, $3.50 postage paid.
It is an excellent tool for teaching vegetable gardening.
And very handy for the experienced gardener as well.
See web site: http://cdmplanning.hypermart.net
Site has a video & slide show explaining chart.
Thanks, Clyde
Clyde's Garden Planner
THE Vegetable Gardening Slide Chart
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I have to play devil's advocate here because there are a couple of concerns with what you've mention.
1. Hydroponic gardening - Is pretty cool but if you run an artificial light, the costs and usage of energy will not achieve really green results and will be quite expensive. Here in TN it costs about $40/month to run a 1000W light. Hydroponic gardening is cheaper and greener under direct sunlight. Problem is, you can only grow during certain times of the year due to weather. I hear LEDs maybe the future of hydroponic artificial lighting.
4. Again, aeroponic gardening is hydroponic gardening, but much more inefficient and costly. It's small, expensive, and takes up energy. You're also quite limited to what you can grow (one cherry tomato plant at a time or herbs) so it's really not functional. The cool thing about hydroponic gardening is 64 sq. ft in a hydroponic setting is the equivalent of 500 sq ft in the ground.
My choice would be to either buy locally at the farmer's market (often cheaper, better quality and often better for the environment...subject of debate) or to grow it yourself (preferably from seed and in the ground).
Growing food yourself (especially from seed) is beneficial in two ways: it's cheaper and you won't have to worry about getting your exercise as you burn about 300 calories per hour of work (don't quote me on that).
Just my thoughts!
Matthew08
Swaping and sharing seeds at www.seedtherevolution.com is very tree hugger friendly aussie site bro . .