Would anyone recommend an Aerogarden?  

It's actually aeroponic instead of hydoponic in that the roots don't sit in water, they're just misted with water. You can read more about it at www.aerogrow.com. It looks like a pretty neat set up.

How would you go about building an aeroponic unit? I've read online how you can build hydroponic systems, but not aeroponic ones. The hydroponic systems are really quite ugly too, which if isn't going to have to be on display in our small place is an important drawback. A friend of a friend just got one of the less expensive Aerogardens and is growing herbs with quite a bit of success. They're still VERY small plants, and I haven't heard what's happened with them since setting up the unit. I would really rather grow the tomatoes or the strawberries though, and I think those would be more difficult to grow than the herbs.

You can grow strawberries and tomatoes in hanging baskets. If you have the space that might be an easier alternative.

Building an aero system is similar to building a hydro. To make it really simple you can get a plastic storage box. Drill holes where needed. Put an aquarium heater (if needed) and water pump in the reservoir.

Next make a spray bar by drilling holes into a plastic tube. Hook that up to the pump & you've got aeroponics.

I know my instructions are crude but there isn't much to it. As far as aesthetics are concerned that is up to your creativity. You might be able to get an old piece of furniture and cut a hole in the top for your aeroponic unit.

If you grow tomatoes make sure you get something that isn't going to be 8 feet tall. It will be hard to stake them and will not look very nice.

I made an aeroponic unit with 2 plastic shoe boxes to give you an idea size is not the issue.

Check out this book.
Title: HOW TO HYDROPONICS
Author: Keith F. Roberto

It covers hydro and aero. You will also find plans for the aero system that I crudely outlined making.

1 last thing...

Nothing beats the flavor of organically grown in soil. So take advantage of it when you can. You might be able to share the crop with a friend to grow it on their property.

Cool seeds - I totally agree with you that organically grown produce is better than conventionally grown. My mom always has a huge garden, and she switched to organic gardening 3 years ago. Her garden has never been more fabulous! Thanks so much for your helpful response. My hubbie and I are dicussing building one!

Wow - that sounds really amazing! We still haven't purchased one because of the price, but they sure do seem cool! I'm just afriad I'll get one and end up like your friend with nothing growing. You planted tomatoes? I gave up on growing my own since I'm in an apartment, but we just bought some fresh off the vine ones from an organic farm this weekend. I simply forgot what "real" tomatoes taste like!

I did buy the cherry tomato kit but have not planted it yet. We summer in California but not for long enough to get in a tomato crop, so I planted basil, marigolds, and dianthus, all fast-growing showy and presumably fail-safe choices, and we'll try some of the fancier stuff when we get back to Arizona in the fall. I bought snap peas and peppers and some other herbs to try, along with AeroGrow's Master Gardener Kit which lets people plant their own seeds. I want to see if I can get purslane to grow in it. I loved purslane even before the recent studies came out promoting its high Omega-3 content. It can be a pernicious week in a real garden, but I should think it would be just glorious in the AeroGarden.