And we do mean fresh!

Our very own Marco Centola has installed a crop of hydroponically grown herbs right here at The Brooklyn Kitchen. An enthusiastic gardener, Marco also works for Brooklyn Farms, Brooklyn’s Hydroponic Superstore in Cobble Hill.

From our herb garden, you can pick up hydroponically grown basil, mint, sage or thyme: cut to order and sold by weight. Buy just what you need, so you don’t have to store or toss unused herbs! And watch as we expand our selection to include lovage, thai basil and more!

Long associated with the more (ahem) illicit side of agriculture, hydroponic gardening is also a fairly practical way to grow your own food, a very gratifying activity too often unavailable to city folk. There are so many crops you can grow hydroponically, even exotic edibles that aren’t normally native to our region, that your garden will quickly pay for itself in saved grocery store costs.

It’s always nice to add a little greenspace to your home and for city dwellers, who often find themselves away from home from dawn until the wee hours of the night, the minimal daily attention a hydroponic garden needs to thrive is also a pretty enticing feature of hydroponic gardening.

Despite the lack of soil, growing herbs and vegetables hydroponically actually uses about 30% less water than your usual soil garden. And you have complete control over what is going into the plants you’ll eventually be putting in your body!

If you have any questions about the herbs we’re selling at The Brooklyn Kitchen or hydroponic gardening, email Marco and he’ll be happy to answer them! And if you’re ready to take the plunge and get your hands wet with a garden of your own, stop by Brooklyn Farms at 521 Hicks Street in Cobble Hill.

Click on pics for larger photos.  From left: view over the top of our herb garden; the full set up: lights, garden, water!; Brooklyn Kitchen’s herb garden.