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In this episode of The Permaculture Vine Podcast, Cormac Harkin sat down with Steve Kuntz to explore a fascinating side of food production that goes beyond the garden bed—indoor, soilless growing systems. Steve has been working with hydroponics, aeroponics, and especially tower gardens for over a decade, helping schools, families, and communities reconnect with how food is grown.

From Grandma’s Cactus to Indoor Lettuce

Steve’s love of gardening started young—his first plant was a cactus given to him by his grandmother. Years later, in 2012, he was introduced to the tower garden, a vertical aeroponic growing system. The experience of cutting fresh lettuce in the middle of a snowy Indiana winter was a turning point, sparking a passion for indoor gardening.

How Tower Gardens Work

Tower gardens use water, nutrients, and light—no soil required. A pump circulates nutrient-rich water to plant roots that are suspended in air. This makes them compact, efficient, and easy to manage indoors or outdoors. Steve explained the differences between:

* Hydroponics: roots grow in water.

* Aeroponics: roots are misted in air.

* Aquaponics: combines fish and plants in a symbiotic system.

For beginners, Steve recommends smaller countertop systems like the LetPot Mini (about $60), which can grow herbs or lettuce in a kitchen or dorm room.

Bringing Growing Systems Into Schools

In 2015, Steve began introducing tower gardens into schools. With grant funding, his local district installed 15 units. These have become powerful educational tools, teaching children not only how food grows, but also reinforcing science, math, and healthy eating.

Steve shared stories of fifth and sixth graders teaching younger students about nutrition—complete with a salad party featuring their own harvest. Partnerships with Purdue University and community wellness educators have expanded the program across Indiana and beyond.

Benefits and Challenges

The systems are compact (about three square feet for a 28-plant tower) and work year-round. While some sceptics worry about taste or authenticity compared to soil-grown produce, Steve says one bite usually changes their minds. The biggest challenges? Occasional pump clogs, algae build-up, and the need to maintain proper light and water cycles.

Indoor Growing vs. Large-Scale Farms

Cormac also asked Steve about the scalability of indoor farms. While some large warehouse projects have struggled with energy costs, Steve sees promise in rooftop gardens, greenhouses, and small-scale community models. For him, the priority remains accessibility and education rather than industrial farming.

Seeds of the Future

Beyond tower gardens, Steve is also experimenting with permaculture ideas. Recently, he planted peach trees around his retirement community and has been slowly nudging neighbours toward replacing lawns with wildflowers and food crops. His story about growing a giant sequoia seedling—before donating it to a school greenhouse—shows his passion for the magic of seeds and growth.

Steve’s Advice: Just Start Growing

Steve’s closing message is simple but powerful: just start. Whether it’s a pot of herbs on your windowsill, a tower garden in your kitchen, or seeds in the soil, gardening is about learning, experimenting, and enjoying the process.

Learn More

* Steve’s book: Growing to Teach (available on Amazon)

* Website: keepitwatered.com

Indoor gardening may not replace soil and sunshine, but as Steve shows, it’s a brilliant way to grow food anywhere, anytime—and to inspire the next generation.

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