Patella Crescenda, The Microgreens Growing Kit

There are many aspects to consider when it comes to sustainable products and design: materials, production, energy, transport, the ecological footprint… but above all, we must ask ourselves, in an ever-growing global economy, that creates obsolescence to keep selling, does it make sense to create new collections every few months? Does it make sense to continue to stimulate a throwaway economy and culture?

These are the questions Jana Flohr & Thomas Linssen asked themselves and their answer is House of Thol. A house, design studio and workshop on the outskirts of the small village of Overasselt, near the city of Nijmegen, in the Netherlands, where Jana and Thomas design eco-conscious products that contribute to a truly sustainable lifestyle.

Through their method, called Future Proof design, they want to focus on creating a green healthy world based on a true-cost economy that can be sustained for generations to come. An example of their approach is their latest project, Patella Crescenda. The new product aims to reduce food waste, prevent unnecessary movements and increase our own food security, by growing fresh and healthy vegetables in any environment.

In order to be more sustainable and have fresh products, we should have a vegetable garden. However, it requires space, time for maintenance, and proper planning, as harvesting takes place only at certain times of the year. Fortunately, there is another way to grow your own vitamins: microgreens, young seedlings of edible vegetables and herbs (such as cabbage, lettuce, carrot…). Research by the University of Maryland in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture proves that, depending on the variety, the concentration of vitamin C, vitamin K, Bèta-Carotene and anti-oxidants can be up to 40 times as high as in the adult plant.

However, even in this case, a domestic micro-cultivation requires water and soil, and needs care. With Patella Crescenda, House of Thol addressed these problems, ensuring everyone the possibility of self-producing their own microgreens quickly and easily.

Patella Crescenda consists of four elements: a plate on which a terracotta base is placed, blocked by two stainless steel growth disks. The last component, and the most important one, is the (mini) water tank, which is placed in the base. Its shape creates a vacuum inside, releasing the water as needed. The shape of the disks allows you to place different types of seeds and program your own production. Like other House of Thol projects, prototyping and production are done at their own workshop.

Not only Patella Crescenda helps us to eat better, but it also teaches us that there is a sustainable alternative to the way we eat and buy food today. For more information on the project visit House of Thol and follow them on Instagram!