I know this was about the journey, but for anyone interested in home hydroponics (without the journey of building it), I have had a Gardyn[1] for 6-7 years. It works well. It has a 6 gallon (20 liter) tank and a couple of strong vertical growth lights, in a sleek package that looks good in the home. Plants are fitted into pods, in standard-size rockwool blocks that you can get from any grower shop.
The fact that it works at all after a number of years, is surprising to me, given everything that goes on with it: You've got a moist environment with water pumped through it multiple times a day, fertilizer in the water crusting up in places, living plants with their roots growing into the pipes, algae growth, and a lot of parts that are shuffled around often.
There might well be other systems around these days that are the same or better, I wouldn't know, the Gardyn is just what I ended up with when I researched it years ago and I'm happy with it. For downsides, seeds are expensive from Gardyn, but you can plant your own. I do buy some from Gardyn because they have a big selection, and they usually come out good, which regular seeds often don't for whatever reason. They try to push their subscription service but I don't need it, so don't use it.
Hope this doesn't come off as advertisement, as I said there may well be better options (would like to hear about them), but this one works for me for a pretty hassle-free experience.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
What's the power consumption like?
Edit: just checked the specs, 47 kWh/mo, roughly 65W on average