With renovations at the forefront of my mind, one idea that has caught my eye is the concept of a green kitchen. We are not just talking eco-friendly materials here, we are talking a living breathing space. Immediately it is clear that there are some logistics that need to be thought through to grow plants inside.There are also different levels you can take this theme to, from a pot on the windowsill to a kitchen jungle. So how can we integrate a living green kitchen into our plans?
It all sounds very idealistic, but research recently conducted by Ikea has found that householders in UK and Ireland (where the research was done) not only ‘want a kitchen with built in energy efficiency, but they are looking for an inherently green space in which the garden and kitchen merge, allowing food to be grown in both areas’.
I love the idea of having a green kitchen, with fresh herbs, maybe even the odd strawberry or tomato on tap. But the reality for me is that I can’t keep plants alive. It seems I am not alone. Rigging up a system of hydroponics could be the answer, with inventions like the nano-garden taking low maintenance to a new level. However, I get the feeling the low tech option will require much less energy and material and will also do positive things for our internal air quality. So to incorporate living features into our green kitchen we need to consider a few things:
-
close to the sink so that water used to wash vegetables can be reused to water plants
-
easy access to a surface or outside for potting activities/or to put them outside to enjoy the sunshine/rain
-
over an easy wipe area to mop up overenthusiastic watering
-
may need to place the pots in a plate of water to prevent ants
-
direct access to sunlight
-
in an area that is easy to get to, but out of reach of toddlers
With the kitchen capable of generating up to a quarter of domestic greenhouse gases through cooking and refrigeration, I’ve already got the energy efficient appliances. I’ve got my waste separation area in my future kitchen all I’ve got to do now is persuade the bank manager, oh and get someone to design it for me.
