Zooey Deschanel's vegetable gardening hack makes growing our own food easy – experts say it's the 'future of gardening'
One piece of equipment majorly elevates the actress's at-home growing set-up – it's simple, effective, and growing in popularity
Zooey Deschanel's hydroponic Lettuce Grow farmstand is the easiest way to grow vegetables in your backyard. It's highly user-friendly, design-led, and effective.
In a consumerist culture, where we want everything more and faster, there is something undeniably appealing about the idea of vegetable gardening. There is a strong allure in the slowness of the process, the connection to the earth, and the easy availability of healthy food. However, many people find it difficult to find the time to spare to work on a garden, and it feels like too much specialist knowledge is required. Deschanel's device takes the guesswork out.
The Lettuce Grow farmstand is self-watering and self-fertilizing, making hydroponic gardening a breeze. It's pretty much the ultimate vegetable garden hack. It works with a water pump to keep your plants hydrated with no effort.
'Previously, I had not been able to keep a houseplant alive for more than a week…I was shocked, to be honest, and awash in leafy greens before I knew it,' One Lettuce Grow user says. It's no surprise, then, that it's Deschanel's go-to. It's available in both indoor and outdoor varieties, with the outdoor version showcased in the backyard she shares with Property Brother Jonathan Scott.
A post shared by Zooey Deschanel (@zooeydeschanel)
A photo posted by on
'I think it's fun to let what's growing to guide me on what to cook,' says Deschanel of how her Lettuce Grow has impacted her gardening habits. She continues, ' It inspires me to cook things I wouldn’t cook if I were just going to the store and grabbing ingredients.' The urge to start a vegetable garden this second has never been so strong.
'I like designing my weekly menus around what I have growing, then that leads me to find and discover what to shop for at the store that complements the ingredients I have growing on the farmstand.'
Zooey Deschanel's signature harvest plan includes marigolds, cherry tomatoes, and rainbow Swiss chard. The hydroponic growing stand is self-watering and self-fertilizing, making growing food for all her recipes simple. This particular set includes all the gear we need to begin: A farmstand, water pump, power cord, and timer.
Though the device seems fascinatingly novel in Zooey Deschanel's backyard, it's actually part of a much larger popular turn to hydroponic gardening. 'Hydroponics' refers to a form of gardening where plants are cultivated without soil and periodically watered with a nutrient-rich liquid, transforming growing plants into a simpler, cleaner process. These systems are most promising for the way they simplify indoor gardening, making for an increasing gardening trend as more and more people move to urban areas.
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
Thom Rutter, master gardener and content editor at Homes & Gardens writes: 'Hydroponic growing systems are shaping the future of indoor gardening. The potential of this innovative method of growing plants without soil is thrilling, enabling those who reside in rental units or those who do not have access to outside space to grow delicious crops.' Whether you are an avid outdoor gardener, or more of a citydweller, tools like Deschanel's farmstand are an excellent way to hop on the trend.
Zooey Deschanel's Lettuce Grow system is an inspiring reminder that growing your own food doesn't have to be a far off dream; it's right here, right now, and it's the future.
Sophie is a London-based News Editor at Homes & Gardens, where she works on the Celebrity Style team. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly excited when researching trends or interior history. Sophie is an avid pop culture fan. As an H&G editor, she has interviewed the likes of Martha Stewart, Hilary Duff, and the casts of Queer Eye and Selling Sunset. Before joining Future Publishing, Sophie worked as the Head of Content and Communications at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens and furniture brand. She has also written features on exciting developments in the design world for Westport Magazine. Sophie has an MSc from the Oxford University Department of Anthropology and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.
-
If you struggle to clean your home, the Japanese cleaning principle of Kiyomeru may be key
Kiyomeru can change the way you see chores for good
By Ciéra Cree Published
-
Kris Jenner sleeps on these surprisingly affordable sheets every night, so I tested them – they're softer than any luxury bedding I've tried, and I've never had more restful evenings
The Kardashian matriarch calls these the 'softest sheets I have ever felt,' and as a bedding expert, I agree – they've upgraded my sleep routine
By Sophie Edwards Published
-
Drew Barrymore's Beautiful collection embraces flower power – this one item literally lights up a room
The latest decor drop includes a vintage-inspired flower lamp, which retails for under $48 – and it was the first thing in our carts
By Hannah Ziegler Published
-
Diane Keaton's new decor collection is a celebration of wit and playful irreverence – directly inspired by her quirky home
The collaboration offers a humorous twist to the most simple color palette of all – bringing Keaton's flare to our entertaining spaces
By Megan Slack Published
-
RuPaul's kitchen is sleek and sophisticated thanks to this unexpected cabinet color
RuPaul's black kitchen cabinets are undeniably bold, yet have a surprisingly soothing effect that get the expert stamp of approval
By Hannah Ziegler Published
-
Justin Baldoni's anti-trend kitchen cabinet color serves as the perfect 'blank canvas' – this style will never fade
The actor knows that this color transcends fads, so he used it for his kitchen cabinets - experts swear by the classic, calming shade
By Sophie Edwards Published
-
Cynthia Nixon's sofa color is a 'cornerstone in modern interior design' – it's a classic for a reason
Cynthia Nixon's gray sofa proves that the neutral hue is anything but outdated, pairing the soft shade with some warm, natural materials for a trendy look
By Hannah Ziegler Published
-
Pastry chef Dominique Ansel shares the 3 most useful appliances every home baker needs in their kitchen
The celebrity pastry chef swears by these pieces of equipment to level up your home baking - and explains the one item he can't live without
By Sophie Edwards Published
-
Martha Stewart's dining room taps into this timely trend – here's how to recreate the look
Martha Stewart's Skylands property in Maine has been decked out with a summer-ready tablescape, featuring collectible plates and coveted glassware
By Hannah Ziegler Published
-
Jamie Lee Curtis's luxurious bedding is a favorite among sleep experts – and it's surprisingly low-maintenance
Jamie Lee Curtis's bedding has benefits for skin, hair, and sleeping temperature - experts say it is exceedingly simple to care for
By Sophie Edwards Published