My dad’s latest engineering feat has been to install a hydroponics growing system in the spare bedroom of my parents home. Yes, they live in Colorado, no, they don’t seem to have new snack cravings or large sums of cash flowing in — this is a straight up tomatoes, lettuce and peppers operation (and hopefully strawberries to come). (I mentioned the origination of this project at the new year in my weekly column on Apartment Therapy)

Here is a little before and after of the progress….

Taken April 3rd, 2014

(my mom started these little guys from seed in March)

Taken May 5th, 2014

Note how not only have the tomatoes grown immensely in just one month (hydroponic growth rates are nothing short of amazing!!), but that there is also a whole other rig?  This is how these things go in our family (I think it’s an engineer dad thing) — in addition to this, a trellis growing system has been built-in the basement for peas and other vining plants — you see how these things spin right out of control…right? 😉

I’ve been working with Ebay to help promote their collections and I used the tools to gather Hydroponics related gear as part of a campaign related to Fathers Day.  As hobbies go— this is one for the engineering, tinkering types of dads with the side effect of getting great produce as part of the bargain. Check out the collection here.

And if this isn’t quite right….maybe the music lovers collection I created (As inspired by my husband) is more apropos. My guy is teaching himself to play the guitar and the banjo (the playing of instruments all started with the purchase of a toy store ukulele a few years ago – things have a way of spinning out of control in this house too — we now have a wall full of beautiful instruments…). Thinking of father’s day gifts, I know he will appreciate anything in this set.

 

This blog post was written as part of my collaboration with eBay. All images taken by my dad.