GMG's Friday Find: Roll Out the UrbMat and Welcome the Produce

Photo Credit: Urbnearth.com

With spring around the corner, are you starting to think about planting delicious herbs and veggies to harvest for that farm to table freshness? Are your excuses no land, no time, and no green thumb? Then roll out an UrbMat and welcome the produce.

An ingenious idea from UrbnEarth, the UrbMat is an outdoor growing system designed to take the labor and fuss out of gardening. Created for urbanites with small spaces, the 2'x3' UrbMat is exactly that, a mat that rolls out onto soil or a raised bed with a complete diagram of 12 plant types. The holes on the map are spaced and labeled so there is absolutely no guesswork. You just push the seed ball starters, called GrowUps into the holes (with your brown thumb), water, and voila!  Herbs, flowers and veggies will soon be sprouting and producing for your dining pleasure.

The UrbMat has several cool features. It has companion planting integrated into it's design, both marigolds and catnip are included to deter pests. It has a weed control layer and hose-ready irrigation system built in. There's a compass to determine optimal sun exposure and the planting instructions are right on the mat.

Photo Credit: Urbnearth.com

The pre-planted GrowUps are a mix of chili powder, compost, worm castings and packed with non-GMO seeds offering a great start to the plants life. The seedlings that emerge can be thinned and replanted. The UrbMat lasts for up to 3 years and more GrowUps can be ordered as needed. .

The veggies and herbs that come with the UrbMat include kale, chard, basil, parsley, cilantro, radish, carrot, spinach, lettuce and arugula. You can grow enough produce and leafy greens to last an entire growing season.

Photo Credit: liveoutsideblog.com

As an added bonus, for every mat purchased the company donates two meals to kids suffering from hunger in the U.S., partnering with 2 Degrees Food and Feeding America.

With this produce growing mat there is no excuse not to grow fresh herbs and veggies for yourself and family. Do you think this is an easy, efficient and fun way to garden in a small space?  We'd love to hear your thoughts.

~Peggy
Garden Media Group