Great Solution for Cook's with Brown Thumbs!

There are a few gadgets that have come out in recent years that have had a tremendous [positive] effect on how I run my house. This is certainly one of them.

I love cooking with fresh herbs, but find that, living in a condo, it's an awful lot of effort to try to grow my own. That's why I was so intrigued when I first saw the Aerogarden several years ago. Fresh herbs around here are expensive-- about $3.00 for a tiny packet that lasts a very few days. I'd long wanted to start making my own basil pesto, but found that by the time I bought enough basil to meet the 2 cups required by most recipes, the cost was pretty prohibitive. When I saw the Aerogarden, it seemed like the perfect solution for us; I immediately ordered one along with the Gourmet Herb seed kit.

Set-up was simple; just plug in the light bulbs, fill the basin with water, toss in the included plant food tablets, pop in the seed pods (placed according to the "map" in the lid of the seed kit box) and plug 'er in! The light cycle is determined by which cycle you select on the front panel and the nutrient tablets are also customized for each seed kit.

Within about 5 weeks, I had a beautiful herb garden ready to start harvesting. The plants were beautiful to look at, glossy and healthy. With the Aerogarden, there's no danger of pests nibbling away at your plants, so insecticides are unnecessary. They're also protected against all the air- and soil-borne diseases that so many plants are prone to. You get a gorgeous crop of super-fresh herbs at your fingertips! The quality of herbs is so superior to the grocery store variety... Larger, thicker, and much more fragrant.

And, as an added bonus, they scent my kitchen with the heady aromas of basil, chives, mint and dill. I keep mine on a "pass-through" shelf in my kitchen, so that, as I'm cooking, I can simply pinch off whatever herbs I'm using for that meal. Even if what I'm making doesn't require any herbs (a rare event), the smell is so relaxing and satisfying.

At this point, we've already purchased a second garden; one specifically for basil, and one for mixed herbs. We've had both gardens going since August of 2006 and, except for a short period where a family illness rearranged our priorities, have kept at least one going at all times. You can also get seed kits for different flowers, salad greens, tomatoes and several vegetables, as well as "specialty" gardens-- a salsa seed kit, French herbs, Italian herbs, etc. Seed kits run from $19.95 for the basic type we use to $39.95 for "double season" and customizable kits. Herbs cuttings, potted, also make a thoughtful housewarming or hostess gift.

Maintenance is a must. Like any plant, the garden does need to be pruned to prevent it from becoming too leggy and/or woody. The lamps do have to be replaced; ours last us about a year before burn-out. We had trouble with one machine's pump after a period of inactivity, but I called Customer Service and was immediately sent out a replacement pump at no cost, along with a very detailed illustrated booklet on its installation. The whole replacement took about 15 minutes. Cleaning the garden thoroughly after a kit's season has ended is important and requires pumping a mild bleach solution through the water pump system. None of which has decreased our ardor for our garden!

The Aerogarden is 16" across the front panel, and 10 inches deep at its widest point. Its height goes up to 20" when plants are fully grown, and the lights lower and rise to accommodate the height of the plants. Weight is about 21 pounds and, of course, much heavier when filled. At 5'6" and 112 pounds, I have no trouble moving the unit around to clean under it, or to clean it out at the end of its season. It makes a lovely kitchen display (along with raising a few eyebrows when first-time visitors first see it... "What are you growing there?"). I don't find the lights overly bright at all. As I mentioned, I work in my kitchen facing my garden and it has never bothered me in the least. The running water of the pump is something I find soothing, but has a... subliminal... effect on my husband! Our Aerogardens cost approximately $150. each.

All-in-all, I highly recommend this to anyone who craves fresh herbs but doesn't have the space or the time for a conventional herb garden.