Road to Self-Sustainability: Chapter 1 - DIY Hydroponic Farm

In my journey to explore food waste and self-sustainability, I decided to build a small hydroponic farm as part of my project work. This idea was sparked by a UNEP report I came across, which highlighted the importance of food waste reduction but also emphasized self-sustainability as a deeper, long-term solution.

Reducing food loss and waste, which account for 8% of greenhouse gas emissions globally, is low-hanging fruit to reduce heat-trapping emissions. Adopting more sustainable diets, in particular shifting away from meat consumption, while difficult for social and cultural reasons, could lead to an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the agriculture sector. (UNEP, 2021)

I wanted to explore this idea practically, so I set out to build a DIY hydroponic system from scratch. I didn’t want to just buy a kit and plug it in. I wanted to figure it out myself, to really understand the process.

Right from the start, getting the materials was harder than expected. I went to several DIY stores around Limerick—B&Q, Woodie’s, and a few others—but couldn't find proper pipes for the plant channels. I ended up using air ducts instead, which meant I had to 3D print end covers since they didn’t come with any. The costs added up quickly, going over €100. I had to buy a €27 garden hose, even though I only needed a fraction of it, which felt pretty wasteful considering the whole point of this project. Building the system took time but wasn’t too difficult. I borrowed a silicone gun to seal the pipes, but since I had never really used silicone before, the pipes ended up leaking anyway. The air ducts I bought were also too short, so I had to glue two together, adding even more leak points. Drilling holes for the plant cups was another challenge. I had a drill but not the right attachment for the size I needed, so I ended up ordering the proper hydroponic cups online along with the sponges and clay pebbles to fill them. Most of this stuff wasn’t available locally, which was surprising.

One of the most difficult aspects of the build was managing the water level. I had designed the system with holes at both the top and bottom of the air ducts, thinking the water would rise just enough to reach the plants and then drain once full. But when I started the pump, the water didn’t even reach the plants properly. When I adjusted the setup, the water ended up sitting too high, almost flooding the plants. I’d have to drill another hole to fix it, but it’s still something I’m figuring out. I didn’t expect perfection, but it definitely made me realize how much small design tweaks can affect the whole system. Then there was the bucket. I used a massive bright orange water bucket for the reservoir. It works, but it’s bulky, awkward, and definitely not something I’d want sitting in the middle of a living room. Hydroponics should be space-saving, but this setup didn’t feel practical for a home. I ended up keeping the whole farm outside for now, but that led to another problem. Right as I finished the build, temperatures dropped to -3°C, and everything froze over. The only time Ireland has ever had snow in the last couple years and I decided to build my farm. Of course, nothing was ever going to grow in the middle of winter, but I was more focused on getting the setup working, not getting immediate results. The biggest mishap happened when I left the system alone for just 10 minutes, thinking it was finally working fine. The hose, which wasn’t properly secured to the bucket, slipped out, and water spilled everywhere in my garden. Worse, the water pump was exposed and ran dry, which could have easily damaged it.

Key Lessons and Recommendations:

• Finding materials can be frustrating: Many of the parts I needed, like hydroponic cups and clay pebbles, weren't available locally, so I had to order them online.

• Water flow balance is tricky: Getting the right water level was harder than expected. Small design changes, like the size of the drainage holes, can really affect how well the system works.

• Secure everything properly: The hose spilling out and nearly breaking my pump could have been avoided if I had fastened it better. Lesson learned.

• Consider the look and size: The big orange bucket works, but it’s clunky and not ideal for a home setup. A sleeker, more compact reservoir would make a huge difference.

• Expect mistakes: This project was far from perfect, but that’s part of the process. I learned a lot and know that with some tweaks, it could be a great way to grow food at home.

This whole experience reminded me why self-sustainability matters so much. Growing your own food, even on a small scale, can reduce waste and make you more aware of the effort that goes into producing what we eat. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about taking small steps toward being less dependent on the food system. I’m going to keep experimenting with this farm, and hopefully, I can refine the setup even more. This was one of the small 'experiments' I conducted in order to help me with my final year design project, where I aim to design a speculative design product to help household sustainability and minimize food waste.

Hydroponic Farm Photos

Photos taken while working on the farm.