[wiether]

I don't know how much fresh food costs in the US, but I don't see how its possible to recoup the investment on this $900 setup in a lifetime!

Then you add the electricity cost and the seeds, and the maintenance time...

But it looks nice in a kitchen!

[buescher]

Fresh produce is pretty inexpensive here for the most part. But fresh herbs (like thyme, not a euphemism) are sold in small quantities (15g-20g) in plastic clamshell packaging in groceries for $2-$4 each.

You don’t need a $900 gadget to grow fresh herbs, either, of course. But that’s one way you could think of it “recouping” the capital.

[Scoundreller]

yeah, calories are cheap: grow for flavour/value.

In a backyard 5gal/19l bucket, I could get 3lbs/1.5kg of potatoes or 3lbs/1.5kg of cherry tomatoes. The latter is a better deal.

[michaelteter]

If you fully measure the output (benefit) vs cost, the numbers don’t look so bad.

For example, it is known that nutrient value in produce drops at an astonishing rate over time; so having locally grown food that you can pick and eat immediately means you’ll get vastly more benefit, beyond just calories and fiber.

Also, when supply chains get disrupted and your grocery has empty shelves, you still have good, healthy food.

You’re also reducing transportation effects, which is to say you are having a less negative impact on the environment.

Most of what we put prices on are ignoring real costs.

[BizarroLand]

I have a secret theory that the inherent depletion of some as yet unidentified "total nutritional value" of the foods we eat, due to mass farming and fertilizer reliance, plays some part in the American and global obesity crisis.

It's probably more of an issue in the pre-obesity stage, but since man does not live by bread alone any more than man lives by calorie alone, and given that a person can die of malnutrition with a full stomach, for instance by eating only rabbit or fish, I imagine that at least part of what causes the insatiable hunger or lack of satisfaction from eating that leads to obesity must surely be that there are some nutrient profiles that are missing from most of the food we have available.

[harrall]

I wouldn’t grow food hydroponically to save money, but growing food can get you really nice sweet varieties with stronger flavor than you can get in stores (since you can pick them at your convenience).

That said, I prefer growing outdoors if you have the space. It’s a total different maintenance (with way more bugs) but it also doubles as decor better than my hydroponic setup ever could.