Click and Grow

Last updated
Click and Grow
IndustryIndoor gardening
Founded2009
FounderMattias Lepp
ProductsSmart Flowerpot, Smart Garden, Wall Farm
Website eu.clickandgrow.com

Click and Grow is an Estonian indoor gardening company, founded by Mattias Lepp in 2009.[ where? ] It develops consumer electronic products for growing edible plants indoors.

Contents

History

Click and Grow was founded by Mattias Lepp, in Estonia, in 2009. In 2010, he won a local Ajujaht business idea competition with his idea for a 'Smart Flowerpot'. [1] The idea took two years to develop before it was sold as a product. [2] [3] [4]

As of 2018, Click and Grow employed 42 people, with offices in San Francisco, Tartu and Tallinn, and had more than 450,000 customers. [5] In the same year the company received investment from INGKA Holding. [6]

Between March and May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Click and Grow saw sales that were three to five times higher than normal. It was claimed that this was due to fresh food shortages and fear of them continuing, [7] an effort to improve mental health, [8] and in order to reduce food shopping frequency. [9] [10] [11]

Products

Click and Grow's products are self-irrigating and the system uses 'plant pods' that contain plant seeds, a growing medium and a controlled-release fertiliser. [12] [2]

Smart Flowerpot

The Smart Flowerpot was introduced in 2011, as a battery powered, indoor plant pot that did not require manual watering or fertilizing. [13] By 2012 Click & Grow had sold 90,000 Smart Flowerpots. However, customers in Nordic countries found that they had insufficient natural sunlight to grow many varieties of plant. [4] [14]

Smart Herb Garden and Smart Garden 3

Click and Grow Smart Garden Click & Grow Smart Garden 27.jpg
Click and Grow Smart Garden

In 2013, Click and Grow used Kickstarter to raise $625,000 for a Smart Herb Garden, which included an LED grow light, and could grow three plants at once. [15] It began selling the Smart Herb Garden in January 2014. [4] [16] In 2017, a second generation of the garden was released called Smart Garden 3.

Smart Garden 9 and 27

In 2016, Click and Grow launched a bigger version of the Smart Herb garden through another Kickstarter campaign - the Smart Garden 9, capable of growing nine plants at a time. [12] The nine-plant unit is stacked using a three-tiered stand, to become a Smart Garden 27. [10] [17] [5]

Smart Farm

In 2015, Click and Grow introduced a larger indoor plant growing product which can grow up to 250 plants. [18]

Wall Farm

In 2016, Click and Grow launched the Wall Farm, which can grow up to 51 plants at a time. [5] [3] [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chives</span> Edible species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae

Chives, scientific name Allium schoenoprasum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae that produces edible leaves and flowers. Their close relatives include the common onions, garlic, shallot, leek, scallion, and Chinese onion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gardening</span> Practice of growing and cultivating plants

Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants as part of horticulture. In gardens, ornamental plants are often grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants, such as root vegetables, leaf vegetables, fruits, and herbs, are grown for consumption, for use as dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raised-bed gardening</span>

Raised-bed gardening is a form of gardening in which the soil is raised above ground level and usually enclosed in some way. Raised bed structures can be made of wood, rock, concrete or other materials, and can be of any size or shape. The soil is usually enriched with compost.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forest gardening</span> Agroforestry food production system modeled on woodland ecosystems

Forest gardening is a low-maintenance, sustainable, plant-based food production and agroforestry system based on woodland ecosystems, incorporating fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables which have yields directly useful to humans. Making use of companion planting, these can be intermixed to grow in a succession of layers to build a woodland habitat. Forest gardening is a prehistoric method of securing food in tropical areas. In the 1980s, Robert Hart coined the term "forest gardening" after adapting the principles and applying them to temperate climates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urban agriculture</span> Practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in or around urban areas

Urban agriculture,urban farming, or urban gardening is the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around urban areas. It encompasses a complex and diverse mix of food production activities, including fisheries and forestry, in cities in both developed and developing countries. The term also applies to urban area activities of animal husbandry, aquaculture, beekeeping, and horticulture. These activities occur in peri-urban areas as well, although peri-urban agriculture may have different characteristics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victory garden</span> Private food supply gardens in the World Wars

Victory gardens, also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Germany during World War I and World War II. In wartime, governments encouraged people to plant victory gardens not only to supplement their rations but also to boost morale. They were used along with rationing stamps and cards to reduce pressure on the food supply. Besides indirectly aiding the war effort, these gardens were also considered a civil "morale booster" in that gardeners could feel empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown. This made victory gardens a part of daily life on the home front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Market garden</span> Small consumer-oriented agriculture

A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. The diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically from under 0.40 hectares to some hectares, or sometimes in greenhouses, distinguishes it from other types of farming. A market garden is sometimes called a truck farm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herb farm</span>

An herb farm is usually a farm where herbs are grown for market sale. There is a case for the use of a small farm being dedicated to herb farming as the smaller farm is more efficient in terms of manpower usage and value of the crops on a per acre basis. In addition, the market for herbs is not as large as the more commercial crops, providing the justification for the small-scale herb farm. Herbs may be for culinary, medicinal or aromatic use, and sold fresh-cut or dried. Herbs may also be grown for their essential oils or as raw material for making herbal products. Many businesses calling themselves an herb farm sell potted herb plants for home gardens. Some herb farms also have gift shops, classes, and sometimes offer food for sale. In the United States, some herb farms belong to trade associations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Container garden</span> Practice of growing plants exclusively in containers

Container gardening or pot gardening/farming is the practice of growing plants, including edible plants, exclusively in containers instead of planting them in the ground. A container in gardening is a small, enclosed and usually portable object used for displaying live flowers or plants. It may take the form of a pot, box, tub, basket, tin, barrel or hanging basket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vertical farming</span> Practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers

Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers. It often incorporates controlled-environment agriculture, which aims to optimize plant growth, and soilless farming techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics. Some common choices of structures to house vertical farming systems include buildings, shipping containers, tunnels, and abandoned mine shafts. As of 2020, there is the equivalent of about 30 ha of operational vertical farmland in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flowerpot</span> Container in pottery or plastic in which flowers and plants are held

A flowerpot, planter, planterette or plant pot, is a container in which flowers and other plants are cultivated and displayed. Historically, and still to a significant extent today, they are made from plain terracotta with no ceramic glaze, with a round shape, tapering inwards. Flowerpots are now often also made from plastic, metal, wood, stone, or sometimes biodegradable material. An example of biodegradable pots are ones made of heavy brown paper, cardboard, or peat moss in which young plants for transplanting are grown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitchen garden</span> Garden area used for growing edible plants

The traditional kitchen garden, vegetable garden, also known as a potager or in Scotland a kailyaird, is a space separate from the rest of the residential garden – the ornamental plants and lawn areas. It is used for growing edible plants and often some medicinal plants, especially historically. The plants are grown for domestic use; though some seasonal surpluses are given away or sold, a commercial operation growing a variety of vegetables is more commonly termed a market garden. The kitchen garden is different not only in its history, but also its functional design. It differs from an allotment in that a kitchen garden is on private land attached or very close to the dwelling. It is regarded as essential that the kitchen garden could be quickly accessed by the cook.

Controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) -- which includes indoor agriculture (IA) and vertical farming -- is a technology-based approach toward food production. The aim of CEA is to provide protection from the outdoor elements and maintain optimal growing conditions throughout the development of the crop. Production takes place within an enclosed growing structure such as a greenhouse or plant factory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urban horticulture</span> Science of growing plants in urban environments

Urban horticulture is the science and study of the growing plants in an urban environment. It focuses on the functional use of horticulture so as to maintain and improve the surrounding urban area. Urban horticulture has seen an increase in attention with the global trend of urbanization and works to study the harvest, aesthetic, architectural, recreational and psychological purposes and effects of plants in urban environments.

There are many ways to garden in restricted spaces. Often a small or limited space is an issue in growing and cultivating plants. Restricted space gardens can be located on small lawns, balconies, patios, porches, rooftops, inside the home, or in any other available place. Gardening in small places can be applied to edible or floral plants. Growing food has many benefits including saving money; healthier, fresher, and better tasting food; knowledge of pesticide and fertilizer exposure. Gardening is a good form of exercise and has been proven to be therapeutic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windowfarm</span>

A Windowfarm is a hydroponic urban gardening system that was originally developed by Britta Riley using open-source designs. A Windowfarm is an indoor garden that allows for year-round growing in almost any window. It lets plants use natural light, the climate control of your living space, and organic “liquid soil.”

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foodscaping</span> Ornamental landscaping with edible plants

Foodscaping is a modern term for the practice of integrating edible plants into ornamental landscapes. It is also referred to as edible landscaping and has been described as a crossbreed between landscaping and farming. As an ideology, foodscaping aims to show that edible plants are not only consumable but can also be appreciated for their aesthetic qualities. Foodscaping spaces are seen as multi-functional landscapes which are visually attractive and also provide edible returns. Foodscaping is a great way to provide fresh food in an affordable way.

Urban Cultivator is a hydroponics company based in Surrey, British Columbia that creates indoor gardening appliances, which can grow herbs, microgreens, vegetables, and flowers for residences and commercial kitchens. It was founded in 2010 by Tarren Wolfe, Myles Omand, and Davin MacGregor.

Gardening Naturally is a TV show series hosted by Barbara Damrosch and Eliot Coleman. It was created from 1993 to 1994 and ran until about 2003. It first aired on TLC and later reruns were shown on Discovery Home and Leisure.

Bowery Farming is a New York-based vertical farming and digital agriculture company with farms in New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. It grows and delivers pesticide-free lettuce, leafy greens, and herbs. The largest vertical farming operation in the United States, it serves major retailers at over 850 locations throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, including Whole Foods and Walmart, and supports local, fresh produce supply for a number of food-delivery companies.

References

  1. "Click & Grow – the most successful alumni of Ajujaht". ajujaht.ee. October 20, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Issie Lapowsky (April 22, 2015). "This Indoor Farm Can Bring Fresh Produce to Food Deserts". Wired . Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Beren Dere (August 3, 2018). "Interview with Mattias Lepp, Founder and CEO of Click and Grow, about Indoor Farming Solutions". bontena.com. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Svetla Marinova; Jorma Larimo; Niina Nummela (November 6, 2016). "Click & Grow Moving Forward with High-Tech Plant Growing". Value Creation in International Business. Springer International Publishing. 2: 41–49. ISBN   9783319393698.
  5. 1 2 3 Kalev Aasmae (December 7, 2018). "Smart soil, automated LED lights, this tech can grow anything from herbs to sequoias". Znet . Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  6. Silver Tambur (November 1, 2018). "Ikea invests in Estonian smart herb garden producer Click & Grow". estonianworld.com. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  7. Mandy Behbehani (July 3, 2020). "Pandemic gardening moves indoors with a smart garden in the kitchen". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  8. Ellise Pierce (March 25, 2020). "Quarantine garden boom: Local growers are delivering starter food farms to your door". The Dallas Morning News . Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  9. Matthew Kronsberg (February 17, 2021). "Is Growing Your Own Indoor Garden Worth It?". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Virtually You". BBC Click . July 4, 2020. BBC News . Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  11. "In Fashion". BBC Click . August 8, 2020. BBC News . Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  12. 1 2 John Biggs (November 19, 2016). "The Smart Garden 9 is a self-contained kitchen garden for your "herbs" and vegetables". TechCrunch . Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  13. Katie Pilkington; Megan Wollerton (March 26, 2014). "Click & Grow Smart Flowerpot: Smart gardening for everyone (hands-on)". Cnet . Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  14. Julie Strietelmeier (February 10, 2013). "Click & Grow Smartpot flowerpot review". the-gadgeteer.com. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  15. Biz Carson (August 19, 2015). "This startup is building a Keurig for fresh herbs". Business Insider . Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  16. Brian X. Chen (July 19, 2017). "Going Low-Tech to Solve Everyday High-Tech Problems". The New York Times . Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  17. Larry Olmsted (April 1, 2020). "Fresh Vegetables: Why I Just Bought An Indoor Garden". Forbes . Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  18. Adele Peters (June 19, 2015). "Grow A Full-Size Garden In Your Dark, Dingy Apartment With This Smart Farm". fastcompany.com. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  19. M. Moon (September 28, 2016). "Raise veggies like an astronaut with these Wall Farms". Engadget . Retrieved March 31, 2021.