Have you ever thought about growing your own fruits and veggies? Being able to pop into the garden for some homegrown produce is an increasingly attractive proposition for those of us who want to eat fresher food with a lower environmental footprint. For many, it’s also a great way to teach children about healthy eating and where the food on our plates actually comes from.

Here in Ceredigion, big things are happening on the ‘grow your own’ front. Local start up Harvst have combined a love of gardening with cutting-edge technology to become one of the key innovators in the UK home-growing movement. Their smart mini greenhouses, known as ‘Harvsters’, are designed to take sustainable gardening to the next level, with space-saving, web connected, climate controlled, self-watering and solar power features.

While the technology is impressive, it’s the company ethos that really stands out. The focus is very much on creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way for people to feed themselves and their families for the future, as Harvst director Chris Tanner explains:

“The quality and sustainability of our food supply matters to all of us. When you only grow what you need and pick it straight from the garden you’re eating healthier, fresher food, cutting down on food miles and avoiding all that unnecessary plastic packaging.

Our products are designed to help gardeners save water and energy and we produce and ship everything with a sustainable life cycle in mind. We’ve seen a lot of enthusiasm from people looking for a smarter way to start planting their own greens at home and those who are already growing but want to achieve more consistent results all year round.”

While a passionate Harvst growing community has already sprung up, Chris and the team are also on the lookout for experienced gardeners and horticulturalists to test new equipment and share their own findings with fellow enthusiasts. To get involved, simply fill out their online contact form.

Or if the thought of finding a smarter way to pile your plate high with fresh, organic, homegrown produce is something you’re interested in, just visit the Harvst website and Facebook page.